Boy Scouts or No Boy Scouts?
As a Webelos parent this is possibly the most important decision
you will ever make for your child!
you will ever make for your child!
Before you and your son decide, here are some things you should know.
· Scouts and Sports together make a balanced diet of activities. Scouting is flexible enough for your son to excel at both, and many Scouts do. Scouting encourages a well-rounded balance of activities, and your son doesn’t have to attend every Scouting event.
· Boy Scouts is not like Cub Scouts. Boy Scouts takes things up several gears in the fun-factor
and cool-factor for boys. It also teaches boys the kind of leadership, character and citizenship they just can’t get anywhere else.
· Scouts acquire skills, gain confidence and learn self-reliance in many areas that are just not available in the high school, the home or on the athletic field. Outside skills are obvious, but there are others. For example, it is a pleasure to watch a few scouts plan, prepare and cook a great meal for 60 or 80 people, serve it, then clean it all up.
· Scouts is a “leadership lab” for boys, imparting a depth and breadth of leadership and communication skills you just can’t learn any other place. Scouts find the leadership style that works for them, whatever their background and personality. Scouts avoid typical “first job out of college” problems that non-Scouts did not learn.
· Scouting is boy-run. It is also probably the only place in their lives where it can be a tremendous
success even when things go awry! Boys learn and improve the next time.
· Scouting requires community service that many youth would not otherwise experience.
· Scouts who earn the rank of Eagle Scout find that it opens doors for them in college and after, because of the achievement signified by that rank. To earn Eagle, Scouts must manage a project for the community, with all that that entails. They must have run all aspects of the entire Boy Scout troop, and explored many personal, sporting and academic areas through the merit badge program. “Eagle Scout”survives on adult resumes well into their careers.
· By the time your son is applying to college, he will find that Scouting has given him a rich resume of experiences, community service and achievement. Scouts typically make Scouting the core of their
college essays and refer to Scouting experiences in their interviews. College admissions like the well-rounded and in-depth extra-curricular achievements of Scouting. Many colleges offer leadership scholarships, and there are a number of scholarships for Scouts, especially Eagle Scouts.
It may seem a long way off, but it catches up with you sooner than you think! The full benefit of Scouts will be realized when your son leaves high school, but the time to act is now. Scouting could be the
best start on his young adult life you can give him.
Scouts - you just can’t get this anywhere else!
· Scouts and Sports together make a balanced diet of activities. Scouting is flexible enough for your son to excel at both, and many Scouts do. Scouting encourages a well-rounded balance of activities, and your son doesn’t have to attend every Scouting event.
· Boy Scouts is not like Cub Scouts. Boy Scouts takes things up several gears in the fun-factor
and cool-factor for boys. It also teaches boys the kind of leadership, character and citizenship they just can’t get anywhere else.
· Scouts acquire skills, gain confidence and learn self-reliance in many areas that are just not available in the high school, the home or on the athletic field. Outside skills are obvious, but there are others. For example, it is a pleasure to watch a few scouts plan, prepare and cook a great meal for 60 or 80 people, serve it, then clean it all up.
· Scouts is a “leadership lab” for boys, imparting a depth and breadth of leadership and communication skills you just can’t learn any other place. Scouts find the leadership style that works for them, whatever their background and personality. Scouts avoid typical “first job out of college” problems that non-Scouts did not learn.
· Scouting is boy-run. It is also probably the only place in their lives where it can be a tremendous
success even when things go awry! Boys learn and improve the next time.
· Scouting requires community service that many youth would not otherwise experience.
· Scouts who earn the rank of Eagle Scout find that it opens doors for them in college and after, because of the achievement signified by that rank. To earn Eagle, Scouts must manage a project for the community, with all that that entails. They must have run all aspects of the entire Boy Scout troop, and explored many personal, sporting and academic areas through the merit badge program. “Eagle Scout”survives on adult resumes well into their careers.
· By the time your son is applying to college, he will find that Scouting has given him a rich resume of experiences, community service and achievement. Scouts typically make Scouting the core of their
college essays and refer to Scouting experiences in their interviews. College admissions like the well-rounded and in-depth extra-curricular achievements of Scouting. Many colleges offer leadership scholarships, and there are a number of scholarships for Scouts, especially Eagle Scouts.
It may seem a long way off, but it catches up with you sooner than you think! The full benefit of Scouts will be realized when your son leaves high school, but the time to act is now. Scouting could be the
best start on his young adult life you can give him.
Scouts - you just can’t get this anywhere else!
More About Boy Scouts
Leadership
Boy Scouts is boy-run. It teaches much deeper and broader leadership than can be found in sports or other youth programs. In addition to command and motivation, Boy Scouts learn delegation, problem solving, effective communication and team-building. Nobody sits it out ‘on the bench’. These skills
are developed and practiced as they mature, so that by the time they are 18 they have internalized successful leadership habits. Eagle Scout candidates plan, raise funds for, and project-manage a community project including working with a client. This regular Scouting experience is supplemented by training courses like the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).
are developed and practiced as they mature, so that by the time they are 18 they have internalized successful leadership habits. Eagle Scout candidates plan, raise funds for, and project-manage a community project including working with a client. This regular Scouting experience is supplemented by training courses like the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).
Character Building
The Boy Scout program instills confidence by gradually increasing the challenges they face. Younger Scouts might go rock climbing in an indoor rock gym, whereas older scouts might go ice-climbing or rappel down a cliff in West Virginia. Each challenge faced and overcome increases the Scout’s
knowledge of himself and his confidence.
Scouts learn self-reliance. They pack their own equipment. They plan their menus, budget, shop for their food, cook it, and clean up.
In most Scout outings there is time for them to hang out and chat, play cards, or play games together. These days such healthy unstructured time, away from the Wii and TV, is rare. This is great for
developing social skills.
knowledge of himself and his confidence.
Scouts learn self-reliance. They pack their own equipment. They plan their menus, budget, shop for their food, cook it, and clean up.
In most Scout outings there is time for them to hang out and chat, play cards, or play games together. These days such healthy unstructured time, away from the Wii and TV, is rare. This is great for
developing social skills.
Your Role as Parents
Boy Scouts is BOY-RUN. Adults stay in the background– if a Scout can do something then they should. This is a big break from Cub Scouts. Parents are not necessary on campouts, however we always need a
quorum of adult volunteers to help out and drive or pull the trailer. Your son’s progress is up to him.
For your son – experiences of a lifetime:
In Boy Scouts my son has whitewater rafted the Grand Canyon, rappelled a cliff in West Virginia, gone spelunking, canoed the Delaware, backpacked part of the Appalachian Trail, slept in snow caves, gone
dog-sledding, ice fishing, hiked mountains, rock climbed, visited DC, caught snakes, camped at West Point, rode on a helicopter, kayaked the Gauley River, hiked in Philmont NM…to name a few!
Boy Scouts does not need to conflict with sports or other activities. Local Boy Scouts have also
been sports team captains and players and members and leaders of school clubs.
quorum of adult volunteers to help out and drive or pull the trailer. Your son’s progress is up to him.
For your son – experiences of a lifetime:
In Boy Scouts my son has whitewater rafted the Grand Canyon, rappelled a cliff in West Virginia, gone spelunking, canoed the Delaware, backpacked part of the Appalachian Trail, slept in snow caves, gone
dog-sledding, ice fishing, hiked mountains, rock climbed, visited DC, caught snakes, camped at West Point, rode on a helicopter, kayaked the Gauley River, hiked in Philmont NM…to name a few!
Boy Scouts does not need to conflict with sports or other activities. Local Boy Scouts have also
been sports team captains and players and members and leaders of school clubs.
Scouting and School
According to research, Boy Scouts derive wide-ranging benefits from the program, including better grades, greater extra-curricular involvement, and self-confidence. These are lifelong benefits.
Scouting and College Applications
A Boy Scout’s resume will be rich with extracurricular experiences, leadership and community service by the time he applies to college. These are just the kinds of experiences that most colleges are looking for in
their applicants. The Scouting experience provides examples to use as the basis for college interviews and essays. Additionally many colleges offer leadership-oriented scholarships for which a proven record in Boy Scout leadership is an asset.
Recruiters say that being a Boy Scout, especially an Eagle Scout is a distinct advantage in college entry and in the job market.
their applicants. The Scouting experience provides examples to use as the basis for college interviews and essays. Additionally many colleges offer leadership-oriented scholarships for which a proven record in Boy Scout leadership is an asset.
Recruiters say that being a Boy Scout, especially an Eagle Scout is a distinct advantage in college entry and in the job market.
Scholarships
Many universities, BSA local councils, and religious, civic, and military organizations offer college scholarships to Eagle Scouts. Click here for more information
Fastweb.com - a widely-used directory of scholarships - lists over 30 different scholarships for Boy Scouts (at time of writing). Just go to http://www.fastweb.com/and search for Scholarships Directory > Honors Scholarships > Boy Scouts Of America Scholarships
Other scholarships for Boy Scouts applying to college include:
National Eagle Scout Scholarships, E. Urner Goodman Scholarship, National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Scholarship, Elks Eagle Scholarship, National Jewish Committee on Scouting Eagle Scout Scholarship Programs.
Fastweb.com - a widely-used directory of scholarships - lists over 30 different scholarships for Boy Scouts (at time of writing). Just go to http://www.fastweb.com/and search for Scholarships Directory > Honors Scholarships > Boy Scouts Of America Scholarships
Other scholarships for Boy Scouts applying to college include:
National Eagle Scout Scholarships, E. Urner Goodman Scholarship, National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Scholarship, Elks Eagle Scholarship, National Jewish Committee on Scouting Eagle Scout Scholarship Programs.
Scouting and Your Son's Future
JFK and 8 other Presidents have been either Scouts or Scout leaders. President Gerald Ford said:
‘I can say without hesitation, because of Scouting principles, I know I was a better athlete, I was a better Congressman, and I was a better prepared President.’
Click here for more on American Presidents who were Boy Scouts
211 members of the 111th Congress have participated in Scouting
11 out of the 12 people to walk on the moon were Scouts including Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. Click for more on Scouts in Space Exploration
Other notable leaders who were scouts include Walter Cronkite, Bill Gates, J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Sam M. Walton and Steven Spielberg.
Click here for more famous Scouts.
Click here for more on Scouting Outcomes.
‘I can say without hesitation, because of Scouting principles, I know I was a better athlete, I was a better Congressman, and I was a better prepared President.’
Click here for more on American Presidents who were Boy Scouts
211 members of the 111th Congress have participated in Scouting
11 out of the 12 people to walk on the moon were Scouts including Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. Click for more on Scouts in Space Exploration
Other notable leaders who were scouts include Walter Cronkite, Bill Gates, J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Sam M. Walton and Steven Spielberg.
Click here for more famous Scouts.
Click here for more on Scouting Outcomes.
