Problems with Boy Scouts

[mom2boys]

Our troop has a policy that communications with the scoutmasters need to be from the child, not the parent. It can be quite intimidating for a 6th grade boy to go to a scoutmaster-in person or by phone-and raise an issue. Many would prefer just to try a new troop.

My sons' troop asks the boys to go through the "chain of command" by starting with the SPL. It seems to be a bit less intimidating for my 6th grader to talk to a young man than an adult leader.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

The scout troop I was in was boy run as well. The adults supervised and made sure we didn't do anything dangerous but the scouts made all the decisions. They were there to give suggestions and final veto power if something was really bad but the final decision was usually the scouts.

For campouts, we brought our own tents and we loved it when we didn't have a tent mate. It gave us more room so we could sprawl. All the tents were close together anyway so we were always close to each other.

I also learned how to cook nicely in Scouts. On campouts, the older scouts would basically show us how to do stuff. One would cook a full steak dinner with baked potatoes and canned vegetables. One cooked shark steak, fish, ribs, pancakes, eggs, sausage, tacos, etc. Anything that could be cooked at home was done over a fire.

You just have to have a group of scouts who are willing to teach others and have a little adventure. Occasionally the food may not quite turn out right but it was fun learning.

 

[missypie]

The scout troop I was in was boy run as well. The adults supervised and made sure we didn't do anything dangerous but the scouts made all the decisions. They were there to give suggestions and final veto power if something was really bad but the final decision was usually the scouts.

For campouts, we brought our own tents and we loved it when we didn't have a tent mate. It gave us more room so we could sprawl. All the tents were close together anyway so we were always close to each other.

I also learned how to cook nicely in Scouts. On campouts, the older scouts would basically show us how to do stuff. One would cook a full steak dinner with baked potatoes and canned vegetables. One cooked shark steak, fish, ribs, pancakes, eggs, sausage, tacos, etc. Anything that could be cooked at home was done over a fire.

You just have to have a group of scouts who are willing to teach others and have a little adventure. Occasionally the food may not quite turn out right but it was fun learning.

Ah, sounds like you were in a really good troop. My son must have found one of the worst ones.

 

[refrig]

Your experience with Boy Scouts depends a lot on the troop leaders. Bad leaders, bad experience. But, my issue was the "run by the boys" philosophy. It just doesn't work. In the troop my son was in there was no accountability. When something would happen it was always "Oh well... they're just boys". I saw the same issues with food as other people mentioned. It was always the same quick easy food. For example, one trip they (the boy patrol leader) forgot to get food for my son and another kid who were put in their patrol for that trip. The kid brought a 2 liter of soda for each kid in the patrol (an issue in itself). Well, now they were 2 short. Guess what breakfast was? bacon, bacon, and more bacon, nothing else. I mentioned it to the leaders and they thought it was funny. I felt there was no accountability or guidance. I also saw preference to the adult leader's kids (they basically could do what ever they wanted) and then there was the leader clique. If you weren't one of them they never wanted your input.
My suggestion - -> try the YMCA adventure guides! We switched and never regretted it. It's a dad/son group so the dads oversee everything. It's all about dads doing things with their kids. Not just dropping them off on a Friday night and picking them up on Sunday afternoon. We see scouts on some of our trips - campouts, battleship encampments, skiing, rafting - so we do many of the same things. We just don't have badges. Basically, scouts isn't for everyone (I know some people swear by it) so maybe try to find another group (or another scout troop) that is a better fit for your son.

 

[nwdisgal]

I would have a problem with this....

Scouting is about working together as a GROUP as a DEN or a PACK. This is what the boys should be learning FROM THE LEADER. Not how to watch a fellow scout be isolated.

And, in the example of camping.... the BUDDY RULE should always be very strictly enforced!!!!

This does not sound right to me.

Where is the leadership here?

I agree. DH is a den leader and they have rules about the boys being in pairs for safety reasons - especially on a campout. Your son should not be isolated like that. Also, the scouts should be working as a team. My son's troop is graded on how well they work together. They earn their badges as a group, etc., etc.