Cub Scouts for an 8 year old

[Mike.357]

update,

We have been doing the Cub Scout stuff, making our way through the Wolf book. We completed the Bobcat Trail over the weekend so he should be good to go to get his patch for that at the next pack meeting. That pack meeting is a campfire meeting.

He is liking it a lot. Went on a district hike Saturday. It was a Leave No Trace hike. The boys learned about being responsible outdoors and how to act when hiking and such. He had a lot of fun, all the boys seemed to have a ball. He got a patch for participating in it.

There is a district family campout coming up in a month or so, I am planning on taking him for the two nights. And in a few weeks they are gathering for archery and bb gun shooting. He is looking forward to that too.

I PM'd a couple of you BSA vets a few questions, looking forward to what you tell me.

[Guest db99wj]

Me and my son are doing scouts, I was the Tiger Den leader, I resigned! He is a Bear Scout this year and wasn't going to do it, but decided that he was this past week.

[StPatrick]

Looking back, I wish I had stayed with it...oddly enough, even though I quit when I was 13 because it wasn't "cool", I've found that I still follow the conservation rules I learned, and share the same values I was taught back then (though they didn't start to show up again until I was out of school and had to actually fend for myself; ugh...the fun and glory of high school / collegiate irresponsibility is a lie that will cost you if you chase it). I'm in good shape now; no telling where I'd have been had I made 1 or 2 key decisions differently.

[daddyo]

There comes a time when every boy in scouting wants to quit.

We started at Tiger. Our son loved it all the way through Cubs/Webelos. He loved first year of Boy Scouts, and then his interests started to change (girls and music). He played in the band all the way through middle school and continued it when he got to high school.

Marching band was his first love, and scouting started to take a back seat. From the training and experience I had as a leader, along with the encouragement from other leaders, I began to realize the importance of the Eagle rank and that it was too important for him to quit. My wife and I realized that he only had one shot at it and when he turned 18 the opportunity was gone forever, not to mention all the time and money we had invested in him up to that point.

So, WE made the decision for him, because we knew that he did not understand the significance of seeing it through to completion. We told him that quitting was NOT an option, and that when he made Eagle he could then decide whether or not to continue.

He will tell you to this day that he is grateful that we did not let him quit even though he wanted to. If I had it to do all over again, I would do it the same way. I believe it's that important.

[inspecting1]

I can't wait until my boys get old enough to join and my girl to join girl scouts.

[monkeylizard]

I can't wait until my boys get old enough to join and my girl to join girl scouts.

mmmmmm coooookies.....

Edited September 21, 2010 by monkeylizard

[daddyo]

I can't wait until my boys get old enough to join and my girl to join girl scouts.

Statistics show that they are much more likely to stick with it and be successful if at least one parent is involved as a registered, uniformed leader.

[Guest Randy]

Scouting is a great organization. I have been involved since my 2 boys where tiger cubs 17 years ago. Did the den leader thing and Cub master part, was asst scout master for 6 years and for the last 5 years have been involved in the Sea Scouting program here in the Mt. Juliet area. If you want info on Sea Scouts try Splash . This is the 100th year of scouting in the United States with lots of big events this fall, The Middle TN Council is holding its big Jamboree for all scouts the weekend of Oct 8 thru 10 at Wilson County fair grounds. I will be out there for most of it. You can find me at the Sail boats parked next to the Military display.

[kb4ns]

So, WE made the decision for him, because we knew that he did not understand the significance of seeing it through to completion. We told him that quitting was NOT an option, and that when he made Eagle he could then decide whether or not to continue.

He will tell you to this day that he is grateful that we did not let him quit even though he wanted to. If I had it to do all over again, I would do it the same way. I believe it's that important.

I wish my folks would have made that decision for me! :-\

[daddyo]

I wish my folks would have made that decision for me! :-\

I have seen so many parents let their son make the decision to quit, simply because they didn't understand what he was walking away from.

While I certainly don't believe that only Eagle Scouts succeed in life, I do think it can give them an advantage, both in what they learn and in what it represents to other people (i.e. employers). The Eagle badge represents hard work, perseverance, and leadership.

I have never met anyone who was in scouting who said, "You know, I'm really glad that I didn't make Eagle".