Is Scouting important?

[scoutdad]

I would like to know why you think scouting is important for your son.

[Mungo from the Shire]

Sometimes you are amazed on a campout by a Scout. It is not often that a 40 plus year old is impressed by a 16 year old, but is does happen. We were on a campout and I was doing what leaders do on a campout, listening in, and making sure no bloodshed was going to be involved. On Sunday morning I came acroos the Scouts all gathered around a campfire. They were holding their very own vespers service. I was very proud. Then I took time to listen. I was amazed at the speech one of the older Scouts was making to the younger ones. He roughly said "I know it is not easy to wear your uniform. I know it is not easy to say: I'm a Boy Scout. I know you get picked on for being a scout, I do too. Just remember life is about choices, You can choose the easy, popular choice. Or you can choose the unpopular choice. You know in the long run which one is best."
He went on to say" Our president had to make the same choice, he chose right over popular." I was simply amazed at the wisdom this Scout had.

[Scout Enthusiast]

I recently attended a Cuboree where families of entire packs camped together. The sense of community between parents, families, children was unlike anything I have seen anywhere else. From my perspective, there is nothing that can replace the quality time that Scouts, siblings and parents spend together at such an event. Especially these days when in many families both parents have careers and little time to spend with their children. When camping, parents and children cannot go to seperate rooms.

[ScoutmasterJerry]

First and foremost.. the interaction of the other Scouts.
It is great to have them (I have two sons in Scouting) hanging out with other Scouts that are learning the same values and skills.
It is great to see them learn to work within the Patrol, developing communication skills, working as a member of a team, interactive skills, learning to compromise and come up with reasonable solutions.
Developing an attitude of service.
Living the Scout Oath and Law.
There are so many reasons why Scouting in important to me, my boys, my family.
Interesting discussion.

[ccjj]

My son originally joined Scouting because his best friend did. They joined as Tigers and even though both moved, stayed together until around the 6th grade.
Why is Scouting important? It has taught my son so much. It has given him self-confidence. It has let him try new things. I think he is a better person for it. He has learned to be a leader, not a follower.
I hope he continues on his Scout journey. He currently is Life, and hopefully working on Eagle. But, it is up to him to complete the journey.
ccjj

[JimWiley]

My oldest son came home from the 2nd grade and said, "Dad, I want to be a Cub Scout!" Then he pulled back his sock and handed me a wadded up piece of paper that had information about the local Round-Up. Within weeks, I was a Den Leader and within a month, Cubmaster. Four years later, my younger son joined. In 2002 we went to Philmont together.
The older son recently graduated from college, on the six year plan, and the younger one has been at sea with the US Navy for over two years. But every Monday evening, I put on my Class"A" uniform and go off to the Troop meeting. I'm the Advancement Chair.
Is Scouting important? Yes, I saw what it did for my boys and for a hundred or more Scouts who have passed through our Troop over those years. I've had the privilege of MC'ing a dozen Eagle presentations and I seen these young men grow and the impact that their successes have had on their friends.
Is Scouting is important? More important than we may ever imagine.

[1st Mate]

Scouting is not as important to me as youth development is. Scouting is just the best program I have found to positively effect the moral and character development of young people. There are other programs that teach the same things that scouting does, I just don't feel they do them as well as scouting does.