Let's start off this post by saying, "Happy 100th Birthday Scouts!"  Yes, they've been around that long and are still as relevant, positive, and educational as they have been for decades.

I wasn't sure whether to categorize this post under School and Learning or Family Life and Behavior because Scouting offers much for both these aspects of a child's life.  I went to scouts as a girl and it equipped me with confidence and practical skills in addition to giving me positive role models and new friends with much in common.

About 3 1/2 years ago, before we moved from Oregon to Utah, I became interested in leading a Girl Scout troop and was connected with another mother nearby.  Together, we started a troop in our neighborhood and immediately we had a great group of girls.  We had games and crafts, educational activities, and guest speakers.  Disappointingly, I had to move just a few months after starting the troop.

In my area, Girl Scouts are not big.  I think this is mostly because the LDS church has a very strong and active group for its young woman that teaches them a number of things that would overlap with scouts.  Since we are not LDS, and there are no local Girl Scout troops and little interest in one, my daughter hasn't been able to enjoy the benefits of the troop we left behind.

However, Boy Scouts is very big here, and many groups are sponsored by churches.  As soon as he turned eight, my son was invited to join a Cub Scout troop (boys in their first year are Wolves).  He's been active since then, regularly attending the weekly den meetings, monthly pack meetings, and participating in really fun and educational activities such as:

• The yearly Pinewood Derby, where the boys carve and construct a car and race it against others in their pack.
• A trip to the nearby university farm.
• A visit to the local veteran's memorial where the boys listened to a veteran talk about his experiences and what being in the Armed Forces is like.
• The annual Day Camp.  The boys participated in activities such as wilderness conservation (Leave No Trace), safe use of a bow and arrow and BB gun, group games, and precautions about staying with your group and what to do if you get separated.
• A night at the Observatory, where the boys saw Mars and its moons, looked at the nebula by Orion's Belt, and discovered what an open cluster looks like.
• How to bake and decorate a cake.
• How to present the flag, salute, and lead prayer in front of a group of people.
• Earning numerous badges and awards for projects such as physical feats of skill, the flag, keeping healthy, knowing home and community, tools for fixing and building, starting a collection, your living world, cooking and eating, family fun, duty to God, making choices, and numerous other electives.

In just one year, he did all these things and has just moved into his second year, where he is now a Bear.  In addition to all of the educational, confidence building, fun activities he does, we as a family are always encouraged to participate in his meetings and in helping him with his projects.  We look forward to the monthly pack meeting which includes activities for the whole family and from time to time even a banquet.

I should also note that as a Scout, when my son gets older he'll have the opportunity to earn the well recognized and widely honored Eagle Scout status.  To become an Eagle Scout, boys must complete all the requirements of each year, plus in their teens they must organize and execute a community project, among other things.  Once an Eagle Scout, a boy has a better chance of receiving scholarships, being admitted to the college or Armed Forces training of his choice, and being selected for a job.

If you haven't looked into what Scouting can do for you daughter or son, now is the time.  Learn more by following these links:

Girl Scouts

Boy Scouts