My kids started as brownies (which used to be 1st grade). My 10th grader is in a troop that has kids from k-12. They meet Saturday afternoons at a church. My 6th grader is in a troop with 5&6th graders. They meet Fridays at a different church- it used to be 6-8 but this year everyone can do 4-6 so it changed. While they meet at churches they just use a classroom area and it isn't religious at all. Kids come from any of the public schools, charter school and Catholic school in the city. Both troops meet once or maybe twice a month. Between the two troops I would say half of the leaders work full time.
It is very rare for parents to stay at either troop beyond days like bridging starting right in the kindergarten age unless it is a project that that parents are asked to help with. My friend liked to stay and now is very active in scouts and attends leadership events, service unit meetings, arranges community wide events etc. Another friend ended up becoming a coleader. We mostly have activities for just the girls in the troop but occasionally one of the troops does an activity that siblings are also invited. For sibling events parents have to stay since the child isn't in the troop.
It is very rare for parents to stay at either troop beyond days like bridging starting right in the kindergarten age unless it is a project that that parents are asked to help with. My friend liked to stay and now is very active in scouts and attends leadership events, service unit meetings, arranges community wide events etc. Another friend ended up becoming a coleader. We mostly have activities for just the girls in the troop but occasionally one of the troops does an activity that siblings are also invited. For sibling events parents have to stay since the child isn't in the troop.
