I was a Girl Scout for several years and I remember some of those field trips and camping trips as some of the most fun I had with my friends. Now it’s my turn to watch my kids go through scouting.
Our two boys are both in scouts, one is a Boy Scout and one is a Cub Scout. Our oldest intends to go all the way to Eagle Scout. As a mother, I’m curious about the Boy Scouts since I have no experience with the organization. I was hoping for lots of secret stuff and rituals but no luck so far. They boys do have fun building their Derby cars each year and I admit to grabbing the edge of my seat during the annual Pinewood Derby races.
When I was in scouts, we had a couple camping trips each year and the occasional field trip and regular meetings. I could not wait to march in the Memorial Day parade in my Brownie uniform!
The Boy Scouts in Avon Lake are extremely active. They have regular den meetings, a pack or troop meeting once or twice a month and some kind of field trip every month. There are a lot of overnights.
My husband was an Eagle Scout and while he’s happy our oldest wants to do the same, he’s not as thrilled about all the camping trips. He said he was “camped out.” I pointed out it was the boys’ turn and he needed to go on some of these trips anyway.
So far, he’s been really glad he did go with them. He got to spend a weekend on an actual military ship in Buffalo, several trips to the Science Center downtown and in a couple weeks he’s spending the weekend at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton.
I’m finding myself getting excited about our daughter starting Girl Scouts and hoping we get to do some way cool things like that, too.
I was wondering how other former scouts are experiencing their children’s scouting experience. Is it different as an adult? Is it an inconvenience both financially and time-wise?
My husband works full time and I’m in school full time so our free time is somewhat limited once you factor in the day-to-day stuff on top of that. While the boys sell popcorn to raise money for their trips, times are tight and they don’t sell a great deal of popcorn – usually just enough to get a small prize for their efforts. That means we’re paying for the trips and summer camp.
I don’t know if any of the moms go on the Boy Scout overnights. If they do, I may just volunteer myself. I’ve gone on some of the local field trips and I loved watching my sons experience the French Creek Nature Center and the police station with their friends.
It’s been fun, but it’s also been a very different perspective for me as a parent watching the scouting experience. Are the boys learning anything or are they just stuffing their pockets with pine cones and rocks? Are they absorbing the experience or just hanging out with their friends? I don’t know, but I do know they are having a great time and so are we.
I am the father of 2 boys and 1 girl. One boy is an Eagle Scout, one is a First Class Boy Scout and my daughter stayed with Girls Scouts until her Troop faded from lack of participation. I have spent over 10 years as a Den Leader and Asst Scoutmaster, both in Avon Lake and in the Heights. It is different being an adult with children in Scouting, just as you experience things differently as a parent rather than as a child. And being a retired Marine Reservist, believe me I understand the "camped out" feeling. What everyone parent and leader in Scouts does is only what they can. For the past 2 years I have done very little with the Troop due to the demands of my work. Luckily our Troop (T338) has several Leaders and adults that fill in where others can't. Sometimes just being able to drive to/from an activity can save the outing. With regard to finances, most outings are under $20, but summer camp is around $200. Boy Scouts always let the parents know that should money be a hurdle, there are confidential "camperships" and also the Troop can make allowances, not for everything, but for enough that your boy(s) can partake of enough outings. I would encourage you and your husband to join as leaders. It's $15 a year plus some initial training (most of which can be taken on-line). While signing up doesn't obligate you for anything, it puts you into a ready pool where you are made aware what is going on. Have fun with these years, they go by fast.
If you had looked locally instead of reacted nationally you would have found, at least in Avon Lake, that Boy Scouting is a very positive and responsible organization in which to not only enroll your sons, but get involved yourself. With your skills I assume you remember as an Eagle Scout, one of Avon Lake's local troops, your sons and you have missed out on what proves every Scout activity to be a very positive experience for all participants.
Taken From the Library of Congress-Boyscouts of America v Dale The Boy Scouts asserts that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values embodied in the Scout Oath and Law, particularly those represented by the terms "morally straight" and "clean," and that the organization does not want to promote homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior. The term( immoral) is your word and is not listed in the case file anywhere with regards to the BSA. As a ScoutMaster, I challenge you as an EAGLESCOUT! To find in your personal Boyscout handbook, Scoutmaster's guide or in the guide to safe scouting any mention of or teaching to anyones sexual orientation.