scouting for kids etc

[slceso]

I dabbled in cubs and BSA a kid, but never really did it. I'm on my second cub troop and can't stand it for the usual reasons I'm sure everyone encounters: the constant fundraising, the unequal sharing of responsibilities, kids who don't give a s*** and are dragging the whole thing down but whose parents use scouts for babysitting, ever increasing restrictions on what you can do for activities.

I was drawn to it for my boys for the same reason I joined up here, or you would any club; to meet interesting folks who are into the same stuff and go do things, but I'm kind of just over BSA. I feel like I am working in the public school system (or as close as I will ever be to it). I don't know if it's a slowly sinking ship or if this is just the enduring struggle of trying to find people who care about doing it and will give time.

On the other hand I really like what it stands for and the opportunities that could be provided if everything worked the way it should. I've been looking for alternatives besides me just stumbling around in the woods like a dumbass. I've looked at Start a Group | BPSA a few times but theres nothing really in my area. I was wondering if anyone else has had any experience with BPSA or something similar, or just has words of wisdom.

 

[Hack]

.... or just has words of wisdom.

Political Correctness, liberalism, and the de-gendering of Americans, all have put the final nails in the BSA coffin.

JMO. (Eagle Scout - 1966)

 

[weejub]

I grew up in a farming community where 4H was what everyone did. We had 4 clubs each with ~50-100 kids in a county of 6K.

When I had kids, I wanted to try both, but Scouting was much bigger.

I had no use for Cub Scouts - parents that didn't show up, kids that barely participated, etc. I basically quit being the Cub leader after one year and my Wife took over.

However, when my Son, Jacob, got to Boy Scouts, I found it to be a much better program - parents that wanted to participate, kids that got to do a lot more stuff - in all it took a ton of time, but was a lot of fun.

We had a wonderful troop led by wonderful adults. Knowing not a lot about Scouting, I dived in, doing Woodbadge training, doing most monthly camp-outs, did Summer camp, held lead new Dads, etc.

Best thing of all of it, though, was my Son and I got to interact on a different level. We were away from "the girls" doing our own thing and it seemed to help our relationship. He also go to be around a lot of other Dads and realized maybe his old man wasn't THAT bad

 

[jamesurq]

We did 'Adventure Guides'. FKA 'Indian Princesses'. Changed to include boys and girls (separately though). I still have my sewn by me leather jacket littered with patches showing my many chili contest and pinewood derby wins. My 'cut'.
It was a fun program. Required the dads to go. Can't go? Kid doesn't go. We did 22s, rock climbing, archery, canoeing, camping, and many crafts. We had big fire ceremonies where I was the keeper of the flame. (Think Estes rocket igniters and paper cups full of black powder). It was like a Kiss show.

Kids all loved it.

 

[RedHeadedStepChild]

I really like the program. My kids love it.
Disengaged parents will always happen, not much you can do other than try to pull them into activities.
I find the BSA rather frustrating. SO much god damned bureaucracy and always looking for more money.
I really liked leading my boys' den through tigers and wolves. Had to take over as Pack leader when the prior Pack leader moved on. I HATED that position. I felt like there was always some other form needed and all my time was spent solving problems for parents vs spending time with the kids.
I think sports have weakened the scouts. They now take up so much time, kids have no time for anything else. so many parents sincerely believe that their kid is good enough to make the big show that they dedicate ass loads of time and energy. I know here in Wilmywood there are very few sports teams that are just for fun. Everything is a super competitive travel team. Blah

 

[dbenke]

I've been a Scoutmaster for over 25 years. My advise is to look for another pack. There are around 15 different packs/troops in our area, and I always try to encourage boys and parents not to quit, but look around.
Boy Scouts is a lot different than Cubs, though.
I have (including myself) 7 adults very active who don't have boys in the troop anymore. At summer camp this year, we will have 6 adults for the week and 3 more will come up for part of the week.
We spread the work around, so no one gets overwhelmed.
Keep looking and good luck.

 

[tgadd]

Not being a member of BSA as an adult, but I really enjoyed my time as a kid.

Even though I always got hurt and ended up in the hospital at a few summer camps (seriously teach your boys what poison oak looks like and to not burn it in a fire; the other two were on me) , I learned a lot, made a lot of good friends, and it helped shape who I am now.

I would agree with @dbenke and suggest shopping around

 

[onemanarmy]

"I dabbled in cubs and BSA a kid, but never really did it. I'm on my second cub troop and can't stand it for the usual reasons I'm sure everyone encounters: the constant fundraising, the unequal sharing of responsibilities, kids who don't give a s*** and are dragging the whole thing down but whose parents use scouts for babysitting, ever increasing restrictions on what you can do for activities. "

This is everyday life.

 

[roadstr6]

I grew up in Scouts in the '70's. It was a great experience for me so when Nathan was old enough, I was super excited to enroll him in Cub Scouts. Being one of the few parents that actually gave a damn, I ended up being a den leader pretty much by default. I went through the background checks. Jumped through the hoops. Bought leader uniforms, sewed patches, the whole deal. Two years into it I decided that it was a colossal waste of my time and Nathan's. Nathan was bored with it. I was tired of babysitting people's disrespectful little s***s. I was also tired of peddling $20 bags of popcorn and getting bitched at by my friends and neighbors who either still had theirs unopened from last year or they were so disappointed in the quantity they got that they refused to buy anymore. I was so embarrassed by what a couple of folks ended up with when their orders came in I just paid for their stuff out of my own pocket to avoid a conflict. When I see the political decisions being made by the BSA and how hard these kids and parents work, panhandling popcorn to fund the stupidity of the leadership, it really chaps me. Scouting is obviously not what it once was. It's value has been eclipsed by politics. We left. We won't be back.