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My boy and I were watching the "Arrow of Light" Ceremony this week, when all the senior Cub Scout (Webelo 2s) crossed over the bridge into Boy Scouts. A big, solemn ceremony. Way cool. All the boys had earned a bunch of excellent awards on the home stretch, and my son (2nd grade Wolf Cub) was transfixed. He wanted to earn all those pins and patches NOW. Very motivated! Far more than he is for schoolwork these days. I have been thinking that Scouting is a great way for boys and girls to learn how to form goals, learn skills, and take pride in themselves. A terrific education for life.
I think it depends on the den and pack the kids end up in. When our kids were in scouts it was horrible. The leaders were unprepared, had no discipline over the kids, didn't encourage the kids to get their badges, etc. I remember back when I was in girl scouts. The leaders we had were fantastic, put a lot of time and effort into teaching us things. They stepped down after their daughters were done and 2 months into the new leader everyone quit because she was awful.
Not meaning to crash your thread, but my kids found the Young Marine's to be a Lot more fun, intense and disciplined than scouts. Best part for any Young Marine is boot camp.
My children benefited greatly from Scouts. My older two kids stayed in it until they graduated from HS and my oldest son is an Eagle Scout. My youngest quit in MS, more due to his personal interest then any problems with the troop. I agree with golfgirl that the leadership is key. My husband and I also enjoyed participating with the packs and troops. They always need more adult help.
I love scouts! My mother and I are both Gold Award recipients. I'm my daughter's Girl Scout leader and I'm having a great time with it! We have lots of fun activities and go on field trips often.
Don't get me wrong. I did scouts and both my sons did it, and we're better for it. However, I think the education component of it is a little overblown. What's more, I think what can happen is that a kid's activity gets taken over by agenda-driven adults.
My older son got in it because he just enjoyed the social aspects of it. The problem was with his troop. It was a troop whose express purpose was to churn out Eagle Scouts. It was a troop that took pride in the percentage of its scouts reached that rank, and it was expressly stated in every single meeting. The kids, upon their crossing over ceremony from Webelo to Boy Scouts, were given a big binder in which they were to map out their Eagle Scout progress. Every meeting was capped by a lecture on how important it was to become an Eagle Scout. And my son, who just didn't give a rip, was constantly being badgered about it by some well-meaning scoutmaster. He finally got tired of it and dropped out. As he put it, "All I wanted to do is go camping." And we weren't alone. Other parents had kids drop out for the same reasons.
Don't get me wrong. I did scouts and both my sons did it, and we're better for it. However, I think the education component of it is a little overblown. What's more, I think what can happen is that a kid's activity gets taken over by agenda-driven adults.
My older son got in it because he just enjoyed the social aspects of it. The problem was with his troop. It was a troop whose express purpose was to churn out Eagle Scouts. It was a troop that took pride in the percentage of its scouts reached that rank, and it was expressly stated in every single meeting. The kids, upon their crossing over ceremony from Webelo to Boy Scouts, were given a big binder in which they were to map out their Eagle Scout progress. Every meeting was capped by a lecture on how important it was to become an Eagle Scout. And my son, who just didn't give a rip, was constantly being badgered about it by some well-meaning scoutmaster. He finally got tired of it and dropped out. As he put it, "All I wanted to do is go camping." And we weren't alone. Other parents had kids drop out for the same reasons.
Great points. I really like the fact that the kids learn how to set goals and chase the next pin, badge,etc. However, I see you point that being overly achievement oriented could kill the experience for kids. I am in it for the boy, and I want to help, but I'll try to also help make the whole experience fun.
My boy and I were watching the "Arrow of Light" Ceremony this week, when all the senior Cub Scout (Webelo 2s) crossed over the bridge into Boy Scouts. A big, solemn ceremony. Way cool. All the boys had earned a bunch of excellent awards on the home stretch, and my son (2nd grade Wolf Cub) was transfixed. He wanted to earn all those pins and patches NOW. Very motivated! Far more than he is for schoolwork these days. I have been thinking that Scouting is a great way for boys and girls to learn how to form goals, learn skills, and take pride in themselves. A terrific education for life.
What do you think?
My son was in a Cub Scout program that was okay before we moved. He now is in a very active Boy Scout troop. They are winter camping this weekend and will be going to a winter camping jamboree in a few weeks.
My daughter went with me to pick my son up from his weekly meeting last week and was quite impressed at the leadership and speaking abilities of some of the senior scouts who were running the meeting. She commented that she wished that Girl Scouts was as strong a program as the Boy Scouts. She was in the Girl Scouts but by middle school the program was pretty much done in most places even though there are programs for girls through 17.
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