Our son will be old enough to join his school's scout organization next year, but with all the changes since I was a scout we're not sure we want to.

Has anyone found another program they like? It looks like a church near us has a Trail Life group. I just started reading up on them. Does anyone have first-hand experience?

Any others that are out there?

My son is in his third year of scouts, and his den is extremely active doing all of the same things years ago when I was in scouts. His mother (and several others) make it what it is.

Despite all of the spoken negativity, I haven't seen a single thing that would discourage me. I suppose my point is to rely less on what is spoken about the whole, and perhaps focus on what's happening locally.

I know the biggest issue seems to be the girls, and I actually think that it's great. There are a lot of girls who wanted to be able to do what the Boy Scouts did activity wise. I can't blame them. That is also a local thing.

I agree with Frank (a1abdj). My boys are in second and third grade and have been in Scouts since kindergarten (Lions). Last year I was the den leader for both Tigers and Wolves. I am only the Wolf den leader this year as it was too much work doing 2 dens and everything else. I am also the Pack Treasurer and Popcorn kernel (colonel). My frustration is that I cant get the parents to volunteer to do hardly anything, other than the other den leaders.

The national council, and the district for the matter, have very little say in what we do as a Pack. It's all locally driven. Our central committee (den leaders) make all of the decisions regarding what we do as a Pack or Den.

My advice is to get involved and bring ideas on what to do. I am big on popcorn selling as it really helps to have money to do things. Our Pack of 45 boys raised $16,000 last year (we get about 30%). 5 boys raised $10,000 and the other 40 kids raised a total of $5,000. When I say the boys raised it, it's really the parents as the boys are too young to organize that type of fundraising.

ETA: Are we talking Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts? Kids can join Scouts in Kindergarten, that's why I ask.

We're going to try Trail Life this spring. I got connected with a troop. Hopefully it will work out well. I plan on being there for everything.

Tony.

I participated in the Boys Ministry of the Assemblies of God (evangelical denomination) churches called Royal Rangers.

It was, of course, modeled on the Boy Scouts. It has changed in the 20+ years since I was active, but it is still a pretty large organization emphasizing the same teachings with a more obvious Gospel slant.

There are some 220 AG churches in Michigan including 3 in Ypsilanti and another 4 in Ann Arbor. You may reach out to them and see if they have active Royal Rangers outposts.

http://www.aogmi.org/uploads/C012920.pdf

Another option is a local Civil Air Patrol group. Our Son joined at 12(min age) and learned much from the experience.

Units are scattered around, quality of the various squadrons can vary a good bit.

Around how old is he.
When I lived in N.J. several volunteer fire departments had jr firefighter programs.
Our town also had a Police explorer program.

check out CAP

I would look at the troop. Scouting at the local level is still what we had as kids. It's all about the troop and the local leadership.


Don't worry so much about what is making the national news.

A 3rd for checking out Civil Air Patrol...

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
I would look at the troop. Scouting at the local level is still what we had as kids. It's all about the troop and the local leadership.


Don't worry so much about what is making the national news.

This! You can attend a few meetings and check out the leadership for yourself. And don't fall into the false sense of security that a church based organization or any other for that matter will be devoid of the problems that's raising your concern.

He's 5, but was an August birthday so he's in the young 5's class so he didn't qualify to join this year. He'll be able to join next year into scouts or Trail Life.

I've joined the mailing list for the troop at his school, and so far I'm not impressed, hence the search for alternatives. I took this along with the news on them I've read elsewhere as a bad sign.

Tiger Cubs starts with first graders and when I was a den leader around 30 years ago the parents came to the meetings. When the boys become Cub Scouts the parents just dropped them off. It's a socializing thing at that age. Expose them to different little projects and crafts. They still may learn some skills that they can use the rest of their lives.

No one yet has mentioned it, but the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has declared bankruptcy. Now, this doesn't mean that the organization is going out of business, but it certainly means its operations are going to be curtailed.

I agree with everyone on here, your experience depends on the Pack. Parent involvement is big in cub scouts. Our son is a Wolf (2nd grade), he started out last year when he was at a different school and the Pack is associated with the school he is in now. As I hoped, it worked great to help him meet a few new friends before transferring schools. The Den leader's son is in his class and all the other 4 or so kids in his Den go there.

We have a daughter who is in Kindergarten, she has interests in both Cub Scouts or Girl Scouts. It would be convenient for ME if she was in Cub Scouts, but there is not a single girl in our Pack. There was one in our Den for a couple months, her brother was already in it, she dropped out and joined girl scouts. I just don't think it would be the only girl and I think BSA is still trying to figure out how to implement it.

I'm an Eagle Scout and am having a blast reliving my Cub Scout years. Every year all 3 of us do Pinewood Derby cars, mine is in the adult category and our daughter's is in the sibling category.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
My son is in his third year of scouts, and his den is extremely active doing all of the same things years ago when I was in scouts. His mother (and several others) make it what it is.

Despite all of the spoken negativity, I haven't seen a single thing that would discourage me. I suppose my point is to rely less on what is spoken about the whole, and perhaps focus on what's happening locally.

I know the biggest issue seems to be the girls, and I actually think that it's great. There are a lot of girls who wanted to be able to do what the Boy Scouts did activity wise. I can't blame them. That is also a local thing.

I was my son's Tiger Den leader 2 years ago and hope to get involved again when I get off the road.

I would agree what was posted above, the local pack is really what counts....and from what I saw and experienced it was very much the same I experience 35 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by fpuhan:
No one yet has mentioned it, but the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has declared bankruptcy. Now, this doesn't mean that the organization is going out of business, but it certainly means its operations are going to be curtailed.

I don't really see how this is true. 100% of the activities for our Pack are planned and paid for at the Pack level. The BSA national organization give us zero support except for Boys Life magazine. We do go to some camp-outs and activities over the summer, but those are owned and operated by the Denver council, not the national council.

Another vote for the Civil Air Patrol.

Another vote for the Civil Air Patrol. If there are different squadrons in your area, visit them all. Each squadron has a different "personality."

You want a "composite" squadron, which is adults and cadets.

Willow Run Composite Squadron is near you at the Willow Run Airport. They are having an information meeting on March 3 at 6:30 pm.

https://www.facebook.com/CAP260/

http://www.mi260.miwg.cap.gov/

email me if you have general questions. I'm our squadron recruiting officer

Here's as good a place as any to start reading https://www.gocivilairpatrol.c...grams/cadets/library

Disclosure: Grandson (now 14) and I have been members for past 2 years.