Hey Dads of the OT. Any of your kids in Cub/Boy Scouts?

We try to avoid pedos if possible

You don't have time for it. The older they get, the more often they meet. Boy scouts meet weekly.

Take them "dad camping." A weekend Astros series. A guided fishing trip at Toledo Bend. Shooting range.

I was out on scouts once they started letting parents go on trips. Yes, you learn skills, but when your mom’s there, you can’t go to Troop leaders tent at night to get your Inclusiveness badge so what’s the point?

Plus, it ceases to be cool at 7th grade. Ain’t no dude selling popcorn and wearing his uniform to school gettin any chicks either.

The good thing about scouts is you can go at your own pace. If you cant make a certain event or meeting, it's no big deal. Even if it's not his thing, and he doesn't try to get Eagle, there's still a ton of fun to be had.

I love scouting. It's been great for my son.

I’m an Eagle Scout and I had great experiences as a scout. But it’s not for everyone. I was lucky and got on with a great Troop with great friends and great leaders. I was very active and that only entailed weekly meetings(we did Monday evening), monthly campouts(usually from Friday evening/sat morning through Sunday morning), and a week-long summer camp every year. Note that some troops aren’t this active.


Boy Scouts is very different from cub scouts. Cub scouts is very parent involved. In Boy Scouts they try to make you more independent, give you real life skills and leadership skills. Parents don’t go on the campouts unless they are leaders. You might see parents at the meetings but even that is optional.

I was in Boy Scouts for Istrouma Area Council.

The scoutmasters son and ALL of the troops dads were super involved.

Camping trips was damn near military boot camp and we would clean house and dominate camporee.


ETA: Find a troop that’s still all boys. From what I hear co-Ed troops are hella different (for apparent reasons).

It was cool when we ushered home LSU football games and took camping trips where we were pretty much on our own for a weekend. We were wet, cold, and hungry, but we all did it on our own.

The rite of passage as a dad is to help your son cheat in the pinewood derby. So, I signed my son up. We did well in the derby, but as another poster mentioned, it's soft-soft now. They have porta cans hauled in. Moms tagging along bringing way younger siblings. Man-bun dads that get "miffed" when you mix a late night drink while the kids play in the fire. No football games, just stupid environmental shite.

I hate fund-raising, I feel like I'm begging. I don't have an entire weekend every month to pick up trash, or sell jambalaya. It wasn't for us.

To me it was like a continuation of hanging out with my friends from school. Many of us were from the same school.

My kids did it and it was great. Awesome group of dads.

IT ALL DEPENDS on your dads. If your dads are somewhat normal, you’ll have a good time. If you’re stuck with dads who are very nerdy, or don’t help, or if a mom is trying to run it, it will suck.

My son went thru Eagle Scout. He went on to work at Philmont Scout Ranch in NM and met his wife there (no pics). Scouting made him what he is today.

Many others in his troop were very busy with sports and activities and went to meetings and campout a when they could, with no real aspirations of making Eagle. It depends on the troop as to what the expectations are regarding regular attendance.

His troop produced 4 National Merit Semifinalists in one year, an Eagle Scout now on the NOLA Gold rugby team (he did sports in HS), a Jesuit valedictorian and a Navy nuclear engineer (who didn’t make Eagle).

The best part about scouting in my view is the people you and your son will meet. They’re just great individuals (almost universally). But the experience can vary from troop to troop, so if he’s not feeling a fit, find another troop/pack.

Your 5th grader is almost old enough for Boy Scouts but could be in the same pack as your 1st grader for a year, which would make scheduling easier at least for that 1st year.

Good luck if they decide to get involved!