Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 12:25     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:I would be concerned about sexual abuse.


You should be more concerned about that at family gatherings.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 12:25     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My good friend is a scout leader and has told me that if it's a scout troop in a smaller town, their ideals are smaller. Most troops around here are no longer as 'backwards' thinking as they were years ago. FWIW, he's an openly gay scout leader who wanted to be a leader because he greatly enjoy scouts when he was younger and went all the way through to Eagle Scout. He's in in the NOVA area and doesn't have any parents or scouts who have issues with his sexuality. His troop is also much less religious and more spiritual.

I think most troops meet at either a church or school. And from my experience with troops in this area, you don't have to worry about your son thinking he's more "manly" than you. They mostly stick to "camping" vs camping. My neighbor's son has yet to actually go camping because each time they have a trip scheduled, it rains and they cancel. They've mainly done backyard camp outs where a few parents crash on the host's couch and the other dads leave past a certain time. Their last outing for a badge was bowling, soooo, yeah.


I will suggest that is a very unlikely scenario for a boy scout troop (versus say a cub scout troop). To advance up the boy scout ranks there are certain requirements that must be met - a good many pertaining to outdoor and camping activities. By way of example -- to become a "first class scout" (a rank that usually is reached within the first couple of years of scouting) a kid needs to (among other things): Participate in 10 troop activities (not meetings) 6 of which must involve overnight camping. Five of those overnights must be in a tent, lean-to or igloo. The kid also needs to help plan a least 1 day's menu for a campout, and be responsible for cooking 2 of the meals (help from other scouts allowed). Other requirements include completing an orienteering course using a compass and discussing when to use lashings and particular knots - and then demonstrating how to use/tie them. Scout camp outs will include a lot of activities but will also be focused on helping kids complete requirements for rank advancement and to earn merit badges.



BOth my boys are Eagle Rank, both did not like the camping camping aspect, but still went along with it and that taught them compromise and a few survival skills. They both did the minimum in terms of the camping aspect and it wasn't overly burdensome. There are plenty of other badges to earn ad topics to learn
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 12:07     Subject: Re:Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
My son just joined boy scouts (moving from cubscouts). It does include a wide variety of boys. Some are very athletic, many are not, and a few have attention issues. He likes the break from the competitive sports he does and he loves the camping/nature stuff. I think if you are worried so much your son's image, you should skip it. It's no an image-conscious crowd. Sad for your son, but honestly, you probably won't be a good fit.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 12:04     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
I was a scout but dropped out because I disagreed with the organization's values (read: discrimination). I would not let my kid join on principle. It has a racist and bigoted history. It also pushes religion, and I am not religious. It is basically a lite version of a Mormon youth group.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 11:51     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:Take him camping and skip the scouts. We pick a camp site with fast food and restaurants across the street and shopping 15 minutes away for mom. It has a pool and lake. I bring air mattresses and a foam topper for me, full comfortable bedding and a battery for charging things. I hate camping but if I'm forced to do it, I'm going in comfort. Archery is fine ... even I kinda like it.


This has nothing to do with a boy scout experience..or even really camping. Doesn't sound like you are even outside aside from putting up the tent.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 11:46     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:I would be concerned about sexual abuse.


Why? This doesn't track.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 11:46     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My good friend is a scout leader and has told me that if it's a scout troop in a smaller town, their ideals are smaller. Most troops around here are no longer as 'backwards' thinking as they were years ago. FWIW, he's an openly gay scout leader who wanted to be a leader because he greatly enjoy scouts when he was younger and went all the way through to Eagle Scout. He's in in the NOVA area and doesn't have any parents or scouts who have issues with his sexuality. His troop is also much less religious and more spiritual.

I think most troops meet at either a church or school. And from my experience with troops in this area, you don't have to worry about your son thinking he's more "manly" than you. They mostly stick to "camping" vs camping. My neighbor's son has yet to actually go camping because each time they have a trip scheduled, it rains and they cancel. They've mainly done backyard camp outs where a few parents crash on the host's couch and the other dads leave past a certain time. Their last outing for a badge was bowling, soooo, yeah.


I will suggest that is a very unlikely scenario for a boy scout troop (versus say a cub scout troop). To advance up the boy scout ranks there are certain requirements that must be met - a good many pertaining to outdoor and camping activities. By way of example -- to become a "first class scout" (a rank that usually is reached within the first couple of years of scouting) a kid needs to (among other things): Participate in 10 troop activities (not meetings) 6 of which must involve overnight camping. Five of those overnights must be in a tent, lean-to or igloo. The kid also needs to help plan a least 1 day's menu for a campout, and be responsible for cooking 2 of the meals (help from other scouts allowed). Other requirements include completing an orienteering course using a compass and discussing when to use lashings and particular knots - and then demonstrating how to use/tie them. Scout camp outs will include a lot of activities but will also be focused on helping kids complete requirements for rank advancement and to earn merit badges.





+1 The boys camp, they don't "camp" in someone's backyard (although maybe that's done with some of the younger scouts). The older they get the more rustic it gets.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 11:43     Subject: Re:Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
You have a lot of unresolved issues, OP. Suggest you start working on them before you really screw up your kids.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 11:41     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:My good friend is a scout leader and has told me that if it's a scout troop in a smaller town, their ideals are smaller. Most troops around here are no longer as 'backwards' thinking as they were years ago. FWIW, he's an openly gay scout leader who wanted to be a leader because he greatly enjoy scouts when he was younger and went all the way through to Eagle Scout. He's in in the NOVA area and doesn't have any parents or scouts who have issues with his sexuality. His troop is also much less religious and more spiritual.

I think most troops meet at either a church or school. And from my experience with troops in this area, you don't have to worry about your son thinking he's more "manly" than you. They mostly stick to "camping" vs camping. My neighbor's son has yet to actually go camping because each time they have a trip scheduled, it rains and they cancel. They've mainly done backyard camp outs where a few parents crash on the host's couch and the other dads leave past a certain time. Their last outing for a badge was bowling, soooo, yeah.


I will suggest that is a very unlikely scenario for a boy scout troop (versus say a cub scout troop). To advance up the boy scout ranks there are certain requirements that must be met - a good many pertaining to outdoor and camping activities. By way of example -- to become a "first class scout" (a rank that usually is reached within the first couple of years of scouting) a kid needs to (among other things): Participate in 10 troop activities (not meetings) 6 of which must involve overnight camping. Five of those overnights must be in a tent, lean-to or igloo. The kid also needs to help plan a least 1 day's menu for a campout, and be responsible for cooking 2 of the meals (help from other scouts allowed). Other requirements include completing an orienteering course using a compass and discussing when to use lashings and particular knots - and then demonstrating how to use/tie them. Scout camp outs will include a lot of activities but will also be focused on helping kids complete requirements for rank advancement and to earn merit badges.



Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 11:23     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
My good friend is a scout leader and has told me that if it's a scout troop in a smaller town, their ideals are smaller. Most troops around here are no longer as 'backwards' thinking as they were years ago. FWIW, he's an openly gay scout leader who wanted to be a leader because he greatly enjoy scouts when he was younger and went all the way through to Eagle Scout. He's in in the NOVA area and doesn't have any parents or scouts who have issues with his sexuality. His troop is also much less religious and more spiritual.

I think most troops meet at either a church or school. And from my experience with troops in this area, you don't have to worry about your son thinking he's more "manly" than you. They mostly stick to "camping" vs camping. My neighbor's son has yet to actually go camping because each time they have a trip scheduled, it rains and they cancel. They've mainly done backyard camp outs where a few parents crash on the host's couch and the other dads leave past a certain time. Their last outing for a badge was bowling, soooo, yeah.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 10:40     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Op, you are over thinking it. The harm of you over thinking it is just as bad as the scout zealots who preach the importance of scouts. Let him try it out. The experience will be troop specific. You and he will know better then.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 10:35     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
I would be concerned about sexual abuse.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 10:29     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:OP. You used to tease Boy Scout a ton? What a looser @sshole you were growing up (and should like you still aretoday) while they were learning life and leadership skills.

Boy Scouts don't just go camping and learn archery. The do public service and community outreach. They learn to be good citizens in ways you never learned.


Back in the day, scouts used to meet directly after school and they would wear their uniform to school. Obviously, they stood out. I was a Brownie and later a Girl Scout and I remember wearing my uniform with pride but I also remember how a small handful of kids would make...comments.

At any rate, meetings are usually held in the evenings nowadays at church and other community locations so I haven't seen a kid wear a scout uniform to school (at least during school hours) in quite a while. So teasing is pretty much a nonissue. At least it never has been for us.

Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 10:20     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
Anonymous wrote:The kids that I see that stick with scouts through school (to eagle scout) are all good kids with their head screwed on the right way. These are kids that are polite and have inclusive viewpoints.

The troops where I am are fairly liberal.

The issue scouts had in the past was equating gay with pedophile. The anti-gay aspect was nominally (and mistakenly) to protect the kids.

Hint: Joe Biden: former Boyscout
Donald Trump: Not a boy scout


Leave it to an @sshole to inject his political views.
Anonymous
Post 05/30/2017 10:18     Subject: Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.
OP. You used to tease Boy Scout a ton? What a looser @sshole you were growing up (and should like you still aretoday) while they were learning life and leadership skills.

Boy Scouts don't just go camping and learn archery. The do public service and community outreach. They learn to be good citizens in ways you never learned.