HELP! my 9 year old wants to join the boy scouts. told me today, 1st meeting is tonight. what's involved?

Question

how many times do they meet? how much does it normally cost? what if daddy isn't always available to participate? etc....any info helpful....

Answer 1

I was in the Scouting movement from 1977 to 1985 so my information is rather old. In my day we met once a week. My Dad was very active with the groups, attending every meeting, but most fathers weren't. The minimum which would be expected from parents would be driving to meetings and to occasional Saturday activities. Your son might also need help with projects at home to earn his different badges but this should be a fun activity to share. These badges included crafts, science, writing, sports, art, and many others. There is enough of a variety that everyone will get badges for something. We also built little wooden race cars and had a city-wide competition.

We paid dues every week which were quite low, less than $1, but there was also the expense of a uniform. I got a used shirt for free, and nowadays it might be even easier to get a second-hand uniform with eBay. At age 9 I was in Beavers, the precursor to Scouts, and we did not have any overnight camps. During my year with Scouts we had one overnight camp and I do not know what my parents had to pay.

It was a great experience which I liked a lot, and it gave me a circle of friends outside of school. Things like learning about the environment were my favourite part, but one of the groups I was in had rather unimaginative leaders and we played an awful lot of floor hockey which bored me. If you speak to the leader of your local pack and like what you hear I hope you'll support your son joining. It's more important than ever that kids do something enriching and worthwhile like that.

Answer 2

There is a lot of things that are involved with Cub Scouts. As a 9 year old he is going to be a Bear. A membership fee is about $10. You can also get the official magazine for another $10, it is called "Boy's Life". I have been getting it since I was 7. I still find it helpful to use with the boys advancement. How many times they meet is up to his group which is called a den. It is not uncommon for once a week for a den meeting and once a month for a pack meeting. The pack meeting is where all the dens in the unit get together for fellowship and share what they have been doing. They also commonly get the awards that they have earned at that meeting. The dad is not "needed." But a parent is. As a leader of a group that age, I along with other leaders encourage all parents to take a role whether in the den, pack, or at home. There is uniform but the unit will have specific details on what is needed. As a lifelong scouter and from a scouting family, it is a wonderful program. I feel that with the right encouragement and support your son will do good in Scouting and maybe become an Eagle Scout. Any more questions should be directed to your local Boy Scout Council. Feel free to contact me if you would like some more specific details.

Answer 3

It'll be the cub scouts for a 9 year old. I can't remember how often they meet. There are some dues, but they're minimal, and then there's the uniform to buy. It used to be that the meetings were conducted my a den mother, so dads have it pretty easy. I do strongly suggest, however, that you make the larger meetings. If you don't show up, they'll elect to some post or office that'll be a pain in the butt. Good luck.

Answer 4

It is a great club for boys to join. It teaches boys about respect, give them self esteem, problem solveing skills, how to work as a group(teamwork), how to set goals-- and achieve them, and gives them rewards for earning badges and metals. My father was not around so this taught me to do "guy stuff " that my mother couldn't teach me. Camping and Scout shows were only extra fun. Very low cost and a very good group to be in. He will love it !! The final badge is the "Eagle Scout " badge that is respected later in life when tries to get a job or joins the military. People will hire him because of this badge.

Answer 5

I was a Boy Scout and camp councilor for years. They would not allow me to join today because I am an Atheist. You can join if you worship snakes or sticks for that matter, but just try to join if you are a rational thinker.

Answer 6

I haven't joined but I heard from my friends that do camping things, like singing camp songs, learn how to survive in the "wildrness". It's pretty fun from what I heard, good luck :)

Answer 7

You should first make sure that you are a fundamentalist christian who hates gays, and secondly you should feel comfortable w/ your child worshipping the flag.

Answer 8

its good for him they sit around an chant an drink blood