BlueandSilverBear

I would love to actually see the data on the youth experience of dads who join with daughters. By default, moms who joined with sons have zero youth pack or troop BSA experience. Its a non-zero percentage for dads of daughters. I would also expect some selection bias as far as girls who join BSA programs, in that their families were already exposed to scouting through either a dad's or brother's involvement.

The plus side is that it also will bring some former-scout girl dads back into the fold. As an old Eagle with only daughters, I wouldn't have been involved prior to admitting girls. Now I'm a Lion Guide with a daughter who says "I like Scouts!" or "can we do that again?" after every activity.

It's been about 18 years since I was active... I made Eagle in spring 2002 and probably was about done by that fall. Girls, trucks, high school sports, and my friends moving away or dropping out... there were a lot of distractions for a 16 year old. Fast forward a few years and I love that I get to do all of the activities with my Cub. But I also consider Scouting to be the defining factor that built my independence and self-confidence to be able to basically be on my own in the military at 18. That is a HUGE part of why I want my daughters to be Scouts, and not stepping back to let them do things in their patrols when they get to Scouts BSA would totally defeat the purpose. So what if they eat some undercooked biscuits on their first campout? You never make that mistake again, and you take more active role in patrol menu planning and cooking! 😝 I totally get this... I'm the last dad on the street to get home (pre-COVID work from home at least!), usually between 6:30 and 7:00 and am logged back in after the kids go to bed most nights for either my day job or military reserve duty. Ironically, our kids are also the most involved in activities, school, and church on the street. I think it ultimately comes down to wanting to better your community and be a part of something bigger than yourself. Maybe I'm an outlier among my fellow Millennials, but those those things are still important to me.

This is fascinating to me as it's the total opposite of what I saw as a Scout. Unless there was a big organized activity for a campout (climbing/rappelling at a Council camp, canoeing, backpacking into the campsite, etc.), the "Old Goat Patrol" generally hung out at the campsite, drank coffee, and BS-ed all day while the Scouts were on their on their own for whatever the PLC had planned for the weekend. My dad didn't get involved until he decided he wanted to come along on a high adventure backpacking trip one summer and had to be there for the training hikes/campouts. I always knew we had a strong troop, but it sounds like I took for granted how great it was.

I'm in the same boat with a new Cub and I'm probably not going to be able to be super involved in OA for a while. We're back in my home Council and amazingly they still had my Ordeal records from 2001, so I couldn't resist renewing my membership in the Lodge. I figure my $20 annual Lodge dues are at least supporting the organization, and I'll try to pop in for the occasional service project or the annual dinner if I can. Our Pack is really connected with our chartered organization's boys' and girls' Troops, so I thought it would be another way to support and motivate the older scouts, too.

Haha that’s what the lady at the Scout Shop said, too! Honestly, I’ll be happy to jump in wherever I’m needed. I haven’t bought a uniform yet, but I rounded up a bunch of old patches at my parents’ house just in case. We’re in the same Council where I was a scout, so I’m planning on rocking my 1990s CSP and early-2000s Lodge flap. Next weekend we’re going to a one day mini-day camp at one of our Council camps. The same camp where I went to day camp, camped with my Troop, took and staffed our Council pre-NYLT course, and completed my Ordeal. The same camp where my grandfather went to summer camp.

Old Eagle Scout and new Lion Dad here... I’m jumping back into scouting with a kindergarten daughter. That’s not something I would have ever dreamed of when I was a scout, and I couldn’t be more excited. Scouting absolutely prepared me for life... and the Air Force Academy, 7 years on active duty, 4 (and counting) in the reserves, Wall Street, and everything in between. What else provides kids an opportunity to camp, hike, shoot, swim, sail, ride... and learn to lead and be good people along the way? If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place. It’s only been a few weeks, but I haven’t seen any national issues affecting our Pack, just people passionate about developing our kids into leaders and citizens of character.