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I think our Pack is pretty typical, and possibly one of the better Packs in our area: ~40 kids 1 Pack Meeting, 1 Den Meeting, 1 Special Activity per month (September - May) Dues are ~$100 (inclusive of national and council fees) Popcorn is our only fundraiser and funds most of our program Additional cost to families is minimal (<$100/year), excluding summer camp 3 dads (including me) do 90% of the work. The cost isn't a factor and I enjoy helping out, even though it can be taxing. My biggest concern as a den leader of soon-to-be 4th graders is that we have some kids heading into their 5th year of the program and it no longer excites them. Cub Scouts just seems to drag on ~ that's what I mean by "too much."

What is your pack like? What are your pack costs?

My suggestions would be: Just like other businesses (restaurant chains, retail operations?  close down (merge) underperforming councils.  No discussion just do it. As much as it pains close/sell camps who have so much outstanding maintenance that cannot be supported by the council they are affiliated with. or their capacity is less than x% (each camp is probably different) Downsize and Reorganize councils by function vs districts.  Districts are historically under staffed with holes in areas that should be under one person Customer service is poor...fix it...waiting weeks for answers is unsatisfactory and make the volunteers thing they don't care so they ignore the councils/districts I count 3 councils who have more scouts in April than they did in December.   I would propose - but no one cares what I think - to reorg by function:   Finance, Budget, fundraising   Operations, Membership, registrar, advancement, eagle process, clearances, data analysis   Unit Support, Commissioners, training   Facilities, camps   Camping, outdoor programs, summer camps, camporees,etc       Anyway as I said no one would even try  but the "traditional org" is not working.  

I'm a dad / den leader just completing our 4th year of Cubs. We've still got Webelos (4th Grade) and AOL (5th Grade) to go. It's too much.

I love my local council camp, but it's 75 miles outside of town (90 minutes by car). I would trade it in a second for a camp 1/10 the size but only a short trip from home.