Anonymous wrote:The appeal of Boy Scouting is to have a well developed program that allows boys to grow into men in an all male environment, learning skills, traditions, leadership and respect.

One of the biggest draws of the program is the all boy environment.

Unfortunately BSA has imploded in an attempt to be too many things to too many people.

This.

My son just loved the camping and outdoor activities. He was able to learn so many great leadership skills and form a great friend group too. I don't really understand your question OP. Like all activities..some kids like it and some don't. Focus on what your kids like..scouts is only great if your kid wants to be involved.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a former Scout leader and parent of an Eagle Scout. The BSA program is all about leadership development. The program uses outdoor skills as a tool to develop leadership. While there are lots of ways to develop leadership, the BSA approach is unique from what I've seen.

The biggest benefit is it being a single gender, all boys program.

1. Cub Scouts works on very different lines that Boy Scouts (now just Scouts).

2. Different Scout troops are run on different operating and organizational lines. Although all troops are to be "scout lead" that can be very different from troop to troop. You need to find one that works well for your family. Ideally it should have a friend or two for the kid and at least some accountancies for the adults as there are lots of times over the years when you will need some help providing coverage, working on a project, and in getting involved yourself. But, you do make friends along the way so having good friends up front is not a requirement. How a troop operates makes all the difference as your kid and your family are in Scouts for multiple years. It needs to work. We switched from a school based troop fairly early on to a smaller troop that was based out of our church. As then beginners we liked the more experienced leaders in the church troop. In a suburban area chances are pretty good there are 2 or 3 different troops that you could look at.

3. Lots of different types of kids do scouting. We have two fairly typical teenagers who did scouts. One is a sophomore now in college now and got his Eagle Scout rank when he was a Junior in high school. His younger brother will become an Eagle Scout this November. There were certainly different times over the years when they were less interested, and did fewer things, but they always liked summer camp and went for that, and they liked enough of the stuff for many of the badges that they were willing to do the work for them. In their smaller troop (usually around 20 active kids) they would typically have about 10 kids who were into fairly normal stuff like themselves. Sports, girls, other activities. And, about half the troop would be kids who were less socially adapt. When they all got together though it amazingly always seemed to be fine. My kids learned how to play things like Magic the Gathering, and other kids got better at more physical activities.

4. The stuff that Scouts do over time is fairly wide-ranging. They will certainly go camping and hiking, and learn about first aid. But, they will also do things like cooking, reading, acting, etc. There are some 80 different badges that Scouts can earn. As they advance through the various ranks they will need to earn specific badges and take on some more troop leadership roles. The adults -- including active roles for parents -- help keep the kids on track and moving through the ranks.

All in all it has been a positive experience for our kids -- and family. The boys certainly know how to safely camp and cook outdoors. And, interestingly, there is still cache to the Eagle Scout rank.

I'm a former Scout leader and parent of an Eagle Scout. The BSA program is all about leadership development. The program uses outdoor skills as a tool to develop leadership. While there are lots of ways to develop leadership, the BSA approach is unique from what I've seen.

Life skills, self reliance. They teach them how to do things that aren't taught in school, at home, or in soccer.
I wouldn't think I'd done a great job raising my boy to be a man if he didn't have certain life skills such as first aid training, knowing how to find shelter, how to find his way when lost, etc.
Same would go if I had a daughter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The appeal of Boy Scouting is to have a well developed program that allows boys to grow into men in an all male environment, learning skills, traditions, leadership and respect.

One of the biggest draws of the program is the all boy environment.

Unfortunately BSA has imploded in an attempt to be too many things to too many people.

My son tried it for 2 years and didn't like it. His den leaders were moms. They did a great job but the reason he joined was to have male role models. The den leaders' husbands came to the meetings but weren't involved. His den wasn't the only one with moms as leaders.

We went through this too. Older son's scouting activities were male dominated and well run by both the older scouts and the fathers who supported them. Great experience. Younger son's scouting activities were run by well intended moms but really just never had the same level of engagement despite our best efforts. Now the PC influences have really taken over and I'm afraid scouting is a lost cause.

Girl Scouts teaches leadership. The girls get to be leaders without being overpowered/overshadowed by the boys.

My 8yo ds is in cub scouts. I think the boy/male leadership part is appealing to my ds. He spends a lot of time with women and girls. I'm a SAHM, he has a younger sister, his cousins are all girls, his teachers are all women. He's not into sports, so he doesn't have that interaction. He enjoys all the activities, he likes hanging out with boys his own age, he likes camping and the other skills he learns.

Anonymous wrote:And lots of kids play soccer but what’s so important about that? It’s a fun activity that’s not a sport. My kids like it because it’s different activities each time rather than the same thing each time (like soccer practice or gymnastics). It’s fun.

Yep, this.

Anonymous wrote:The appeal of Boy Scouting is to have a well developed program that allows boys to grow into men in an all male environment, learning skills, traditions, leadership and respect.

One of the biggest draws of the program is the all boy environment.

Unfortunately BSA has imploded in an attempt to be too many things to too many people.

My son tried it for 2 years and didn't like it. His den leaders were moms. They did a great job but the reason he joined was to have male role models. The den leaders' husbands came to the meetings but weren't involved. His den wasn't the only one with moms as leaders.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't do it growing up. My son didn't and DD did one round of brownies and had enough. It wasn't for us, no big deal. Every one of my nephews on DH side of the family (in fact ALL the boys on his side including extended family) have done it. I have lots of friends whose children have done both, althogui the boys stick with it longer. I don't understand it. What is the end game here? Can someone please explain. I've never asked because I don't want to come off sounding condescending, I'm not belittling the programs I just don't understand what it is about the being in the scouts that's so important.

They teach camping skills, and how to operate within big organizations.

The real point of the organizations is to prepare kids to be in the military.

And lots of kids play soccer but what’s so important about that? It’s a fun activity that’s not a sport. My kids like it because it’s different activities each time rather than the same thing each time (like soccer practice or gymnastics). It’s fun.

The appeal of Boy Scouting is to have a well developed program that allows boys to grow into men in an all male environment, learning skills, traditions, leadership and respect.

One of the biggest draws of the program is the all boy environment.

Unfortunately BSA has imploded in an attempt to be too many things to too many people.

I didn't do it growing up. My son didn't and DD did one round of brownies and had enough. It wasn't for us, no big deal. Every one of my nephews on DH side of the family (in fact ALL the boys on his side including extended family) have done it. I have lots of friends whose children have done both, althogui the boys stick with it longer. I don't understand it. What is the end game here? Can someone please explain. I've never asked because I don't want to come off sounding condescending, I'm not belittling the programs I just don't understand what it is about the being in the scouts that's so important.