BetterWithCheddar

These are all fair points, @yknot. I do think scarcity of time is still a factor in the scouts vs. sports debate, but I may be overestimating its impact for the reasons you mentioned. My son is pretty keen on basketball, but if he gets dropped from the top team, I think he'll pivot to football where he can at least be on the team and be "one of the guys." I do hope he sticks with Scouting, even if it always takes a backseat to sports, but it's up to him. He's already given it a good try. What would factor into his decision? I assume some combination of: Which carries greater prestige in the school / community? Probably Football. Which increases his chance of getting dates in high school? Probably Football Which looks better on a scholarship application? Probably Scouting (but it's closer than most will admit) Teenage Whims / Randomness

I wouldn't discount the impact youth sports has had on Scouting's decline. There are only so many nights each week a family can devote to kids' activities. I agree there are other issues for Scouting to address, but this is a Scouts vs. Sports thread. You're correct - it's a mistake to conflate making a varsity roster with success just the same as it is to only consider Scouts who earn Eagle a success. However, IF you're in a large suburban school district AND your son desires to play a varsity team sport (besides football), they pretty much have to lock-in around 5th or 6th grade (which can crowd out other activities, including Scouting). This is unusual in my region. A junior playing JV would take a roster spot and playing time from a freshmen or sophomore who is still developing. Coaches use this option sparingly (like when they have a talented senior class and don't want to cut all of the juniors). In my region, lacrosse is still a club sport while hockey usually operates as a co-op (several schools combine to outfit one team). Football is the great equalizer with an unlimited roster, but participation comes with greater health risks. I don't think my wife and I would mind if our son played high school football, but we'd rather first see how far he can go with basketball.

I think you need to account for the fact that BOTH juniors and seniors compete for varsity spots (along with some promising underclassmen). If the roster size for baseball, basketball, and soccer is 25 (that's being generous for baseball and basketball), and the distribution by class is roughly 40% seniors, 40% juniors, and 20% underclassmen, that works out to roughly 10 kids per grade among the upper classes. In our example of 200 boys, assume maybe 1/4 fall into the "hopeful demographic" (this is consistent with what I've seen in youth basketball where about 50 boys come out every year). That works out to only 10 of 50 "hopefuls" (20%) who are able to play a varsity sport. My son only does two activities - Basketball and Cub Scouts. I think he's relieved to go to Cub Scouts sometimes because he doesn't have to worry about competing. And sure, a family can still spend A LOT on Scouting if they desire, but there's no "arm's race" like you see in youth sports. A scout doesn't need to participate in every activity or risk being outpaced by peers.

On the same day you shared this link, I received an email from my local council advertising a spot on its 2026 Philmont contingent for $2,400. 😛 I wonder how much the decline in high school football participation (where roster size is unlimited) has led to parents funneling their kids to other team sports (where roster sizes are limited)? If you Google this, I think you'll find participation hasn't dropped but rather remained stagnant even as the US population has increased. I still think the biggest issue is scarcity, which drives an "arm's race" for parents to get their kid on a high school team. Take a large suburban high school with 1,600 kids - that's 400 kids per class (or roughly 200 of each gender). When they become upperclassmen, how many kids in each class can actually play varsity soccer, basketball, or baseball/softball? 10? That might even be generous, depending on the number of underclassmen pushing for a roster spot. Even an inclusive sport like cross country caps varsity rosters at 7 or 8. You can have 50 boys or girls go out for cross country every year, but most of them will just be participating in a glorified workout club (not that there's anything wrong with kids getting exercise after school).

You hit the nail on the head again. Our unit send some poorly written emails and it drives my wife nuts. But the senders are willing to do the work and they do it pretty well, so you'll never hear me gripe about their communication style. Their efforts have made the Pack's program much stronger, but some people can't get past the amateur emails because they're used to a higher standard at work or through other kids' activities run by a for-profit operator.

A few more suggestions: take responsibility for portions of a family reunion (differentiated from immediate family) assist with a local parks and rec event (doesn't require an ongoing commitment) participate in a school service project (again, doesn't have to be an ongoing commitment) contribute to an online discussion (with parent supervision) write a letter to the editor of the local paper (civic engagement) I hope this Scout is able to earn Eagle, if he desires, but I would think improving his grades should take priority over a merit badge. Not every Scout needs to aim for straight A's, but passing all classes is a fair expectation.

This thread is really hitting the nail on the head. I wish someone with influence would take note. Many of the other youth programs we've been exposed to either have 1) an affiliation with the school district that allows families to get access to facilities and quality instructors at a greatly subsided rate or 2) a for-profit operator that is highly motivated to provide a quality program. My wife (an IT project manager) is appalled by the way our Pack operates (even though it's probably one of the better units in the area). My response is always the same - "We're just a handful of parents doing our best. No one else will step up."

We live in a large suburban school district. There are 200 boys in my son's class. So far, in elementary school, about 50 of the 200 come out for basketball every year. Of those 50, only 10 make the top team. The cost of youth sports keeps increasing because it's just an arm's race to give your kid a slight advantage. When I was a kid most player development occurred within the (low cost) school program. Today, it's closer to 1/3 (if that). Most kids hone their skills through some combination of private small group training, personal trainers, shooting cages, summer camps, and travel teams. My son is pretty good, but I'm not delusional. I don't think he'll ever play professionally, get a college scholarship, or even start for his high varsity team. I just want him to make the team (if he desires). My wife and I are generally supportive because: He seems to be enjoying himself. He's exercising and socializing. He's established a feedback loop where extra practice and offseason work often results in noticeable improvement. He now gets excited about other pursuits like math and reading because he correlates practice with improvement.

Well said. I could not agree more. Also true.

Regarding the OP, I think this is pretty common. As others have mentioned, our unit's meeting schedule is often function of the school calendar. Same with our meeting space - Den Meetings are at the public library, but sometimes they close for holidays or special events. The library staff is very accommodating, but they deserve time off too. Adult volunteer burnout is real and cancelling meetings on short notice is a shame, but I see no problem when a "week off" from Scouting is communicated months in advance. It gives families a chance to make other plans or just relish an evening at home.

Not a fan of the name "Family Scouting" ... it gives the impression that Mom and Dad can earn badges too. 🙂

I'm sure she has her reasons. Maybe the family has encountered some challenges and are searching for meaning. In this case, landing on Scouting seems healthy. It could be the pre-teen equivalent of a middle-aged man deciding he's going to go from his couch to a marathon in less than a year. There are sure to be some missteps in his training, but his goal is still admirable ... It's also possible that you're working with a family of grade-A narcissists who are going to drop into your troop life for a short time and make things miserable for everyone as they try to mow down every obstacle in their perfect little boy's way. 😬

I'm 6'1'' and prefer tall sizes to help prevent my backside from showing (or my shirt coming untucked). I sympathize with the folks who are taller than me and dealing with ill-fitting clothing. Old Navy has a great selection of tall sizes without a markup, but no Scout Shirts.

@oldasdirteagle: If it's an item you really treasure, then I would suggest dry cleaning. I've machine washed old neckerchiefs on a gentle cycle only to see some of the stitching come loose. Alternatively, I would suggest maintaining the worn look as a badge of honor to show you've been doing the work a long time. 😉

As a youth, I was part of a new Troop that quickly established itself as one of the best in the district. Looking back, I think it got off the ground so quickly for three reasons: We had a great Scoutmaster who was willing to do most of the heavy lifting. We had plenty of parents who were willing to go camping. We had a strong feeder Pack. You'll have to be the driving force (for everything). As your Troop matures, you can cede control to the PLC and to adult volunteers who may be willing to head up certain key functions (fundraising, new scout patrol, High Adventure, etc.).