Boy Scouts versus Cub Scouts (& Yes, Girls Can Join)

[Anonymous]

After a year of Covid, you may be thinking it's time to get your child outside or replace a sport that fell by the wayside! Consider Scouts BSA.

Here is how it works: Kids 5th grade and below are Cub Scouts and in a Pack. Kids 11 and above are in Scouts BSA and in a Troop. (If your child is ending 5th grade this spring, look for Troops. If your child is 4th grade or below this spring, look for Packs.)

To get started, find a group near you: https://beascout.scouting.org/

What do BSA Scouts do? hike, camp, fish, canoe, (learn to) swim; learn to cook, learn to budget, learn knife skills, learn leadership skills, learn to build a fire, complete service hours, explore career & hobby options by earning merit badges; learn interpersonal skills in diverse groups; learn fitness; learn to fix a bike; learn about conservation; explore STEM; tie knots; archery; learn to fold the American flag; learn to use a compass; build character; make friends...

Wondering if it is too late for your high schooler to join? It is not. Troops are for ages 11 - 18. After finding Troops near you at https://beascout.scouting.org/ ask questions of the Troop p.o.c.

What questions should you ask? Here are some ideas: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/01/09/16-essential-questions-to-ask-when-selecting-a-troop/
In addition to these questions, consider the following: Ask not just when or how often the Troop goes camping, but where the Troop camps. Some Troops have their own campsite and only camp there. Other Troops camp in different locations over the course of a the year. If able to attend an event in person watch to see who is giving the direction, the adults or the Scouts. Ask where the Scouts are in school (some Troops may draw heavily from certain schools, while other Troops may have Scouts from all over). Ask about parent involvement and anything else you want to know.

Finally, visit more than one group. Troops in particular (ages 11 - 17) are used to hosting Scouts who will also be visiting other nearby Troops and may even be able to make suggestions as to where to visit if your child needs a smaller or larger group or one focused more on the outdoors than STEM. It may take visiting two or three Packs or Troops to find the right fit for you and your child.

With Spring coming, this is a great time to consider Scouts BSA.

[Anonymous]

Our all-girl Scouts BSA Troop for Girls meets on Saturday mornings in the District near the Zoo and camps every month. We now have over 50 Scouts and 9 Scoutmasters (majority women). We have actively posted on this site for two years and are pleased to share that many found their way to our Troop in this manner. http://www.ScoutsBsaDcGirls.org Just show up with your daughter any Saturday we are meeting and we are happy to answer your questions.

[Anonymous]

This is a very odd post... Borderline spam.
My boys are in scouts and love it. However, I would not make a huge post about it. Particularly considering all the councils are going to have to shell out millions of dollars to cover the abuse victim compensation... meaning registration fees are going to double... even though they doubled already in the last 3 years.
Fundraising is difficult with COVID, plus all that money is going to pay for the sins of the previous generations.
If it wasn’t for the fact my kids like it (and Eagle Scout is good for college applications) - we would quit and just go camping on our own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a very odd post... Borderline spam.
My boys are in scouts and love it. However, I would not make a huge post about it. Particularly considering all the councils are going to have to shell out millions of dollars to cover the abuse victim compensation... meaning registration fees are going to double... even though they doubled already in the last 3 years.
Fundraising is difficult with COVID, plus all that money is going to pay for the sins of the previous generations.
If it wasn’t for the fact my kids like it (and Eagle Scout is good for college applications) - we would quit and just go camping on our own.

It’s in the “Classes, Workshops, Camps and Playgroups” forum. That’s where these sorts of posts go and seems appropriate. No need to rain on someone else’s parade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a very odd post... Borderline spam.
My boys are in scouts and love it. However, I would not make a huge post about it. Particularly considering all the councils are going to have to shell out millions of dollars to cover the abuse victim compensation... meaning registration fees are going to double... even though they doubled already in the last 3 years.
Fundraising is difficult with COVID, plus all that money is going to pay for the sins of the previous generations.
If it wasn’t for the fact my kids like it (and Eagle Scout is good for college applications) - we would quit and just go camping on our own.

It’s in the “Classes, Workshops, Camps and Playgroups” forum. That’s where these sorts of posts go and seems appropriate. No need to rain on someone else’s parade.

Most classes, workshops, camps and playgrounds don’t require registering for an entire year...
and just pointing out FACTS about BSA financial issues, which anyone interested in joining should be made aware of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a very odd post... Borderline spam.
My boys are in scouts and love it. However, I would not make a huge post about it. Particularly considering all the councils are going to have to shell out millions of dollars to cover the abuse victim compensation... meaning registration fees are going to double... even though they doubled already in the last 3 years.
Fundraising is difficult with COVID, plus all that money is going to pay for the sins of the previous generations.
If it wasn’t for the fact my kids like it (and Eagle Scout is good for college applications) - we would quit and just go camping on our own.

It’s in the “Classes, Workshops, Camps and Playgroups” forum. That’s where these sorts of posts go and seems appropriate. No need to rain on someone else’s parade.

Indeed (and I say that as someone who is counting the minutes until my own kids decide to quit scouts).

[Anonymous]

Can we join cub scouts now or should we wait until the start of the school year?

[Anonymous]

Can we join cub scouts now or should we wait until the start of the school year?

I would wait if I were you. You can technically join but the year is almost over.

[Anonymous]

BSA is desperate for membership and filed for bankruptcy protection a year ago. Apparently, the Mormons and Baptists don’t want to prop them up anymore since the organization arrived in the late 20th century and decided gays and atheists might be okay. After, of course, refusing gay members for years while covering up the sex abuse and bullying, which they are trying to get out of paying judgments for via bankruptcy.

Great organization - have fun!

[Anonymous]

STEM Scouts is a thing in this area. BSA with all STEM activities. It looks awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STEM Scouts is a thing in this area. BSA with all STEM activities. It looks awesome.

There are also Sea Scouts. https://seascout.org/about/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STEM Scouts is a thing in this area. BSA with all STEM activities. It looks awesome.

As a long time scout parent, I think that’s a bad idea. Is it for cub scouts or Boy Scouts? If it’s Boy Scouts, all stem will close them out from Eagle Scouts and other great aspects of the program. For Cubs, I think it’s just too specialized. They do plenty of Stem in the usual program. All stem exclusive scouts group is just marketing to certain parents but silk be detrimental to the overall experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM Scouts is a thing in this area. BSA with all STEM activities. It looks awesome.

As a long time scout parent, I think that’s a bad idea. Is it for cub scouts or Boy Scouts? If it’s Boy Scouts, all stem will close them out from Eagle Scouts and other great aspects of the program. For Cubs, I think it’s just too specialized. They do plenty of Stem in the usual program. All stem exclusive scouts group is just marketing to certain parents but silk be detrimental to the overall experience.

STEM scouts can be done on top of regular Boy Scouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM Scouts is a thing in this area. BSA with all STEM activities. It looks awesome.

As a long time scout parent, I think that’s a bad idea. Is it for cub scouts or Boy Scouts? If it’s Boy Scouts, all stem will close them out from Eagle Scouts and other great aspects of the program. For Cubs, I think it’s just too specialized. They do plenty of Stem in the usual program. All stem exclusive scouts group is just marketing to certain parents but silk be detrimental to the overall experience.

STEM scouts can be done on top of regular Boy Scouts.

STEM Scouts is like Sea Scouts and Explorers, it is it's own program. It is for kids in grade 3-5 and 6-8. It is a seperate program that can be done with Cub Scouts or a BSA Troop. Ds is going to be participating next year and will continue on with his Cub Scout program.

Some of the skills learned in STEM Scouts will translate to a Pack or potentially badges for a Scout in a Troop.

DS has loved the NOVA program that is a part of Cub Scouts and is super excited for STEM Scouts.

STEM Scouts is also likely to reach a group of kids who have no interest in the traditional activities for Cub Scouts or BSA Troops. It is a totally different program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BSA is desperate for membership and filed for bankruptcy protection a year ago. Apparently, the Mormons and Baptists don’t want to prop them up anymore since the organization arrived in the late 20th century and decided gays and atheists might be okay. After, of course, refusing gay members for years while covering up the sex abuse and bullying, which they are trying to get out of paying judgments for via bankruptcy.

Great organization - have fun!

I am the parents of a Cub Scout. I am one of the Committee members for his Pack. I don't like how the National Council treats the Scouts and the Local Units. I don't like how they raised dues after the year started without any advanced warning because of the costs associated with the sex predator suits. I don't like their internet presence, there are far too many sites doing too many different things. It is confusing and hard to navigate. I don't like the lack of real support to local Packs and Troops. National BSA does little, in my opinion, to support the Local COuncils and groups. If I could do Scouting without National I would be all in. But I cannot.

I love the Local Council and our Pack. There are lots of involved parents who work hard to provide kids camping options as well as canoeing, fishing, rocket launches, pool parties, and other fun events. DS enjoys his Den and the mix of social activities, outdoor activities, and STEM activities. Our Den Leader is big into STEM and has added on the NOVA elements for the Den to participate in.

I would guess that would be less happy with Scouting as an option if I lived in different parts of the country because your experience really is based on the local Packs and Troops. There are still parts of the country where the Local Councils probably reflect the old school approach to Scouting and their Packs and Troops reflect that. We would not participate in such a Pack or Troop. The good news is that the vast majority of Packs and Troops in this area are far more diverse and open to change then other Packs and Troops.

BSA is not perfect, god knows that it has its flaws have been on full display for the last 20 years or so. Our Pack takes the 2 deep adult communication seriously. Most of our events, even Den meetings, end up having 3-5 Leaders who have completed the Youth Protection Training. We take the safety measures safely, from cancelling overnight camping if it is too cold to making sure that there are two adult leaders on every email we send to a child's parent. We are diverse and have loved adding girls into the mix.