Is Boy Scouts still worth it? A Latter-day Saints perspective

Everyone knows who the Boys Scouts of America are. But have you ever considered whether or not your child should participate? As a Latter-day Saint, here’s my unique perspective on the pros and cons of joining this century-old youth organization. Take a look!

After more than 100 years of participation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discontinued its relationship with the Boy Scouts of America in 2020. As a life-long member of the church, scouting was a big part of my family’s life. My dad was a scoutmaster for years. So, it was a bit of an adjustment when the announcement came. The question came to my mind, should I still enroll my own kids in scouting?

For several years after the announcement, my boys no longer participated in scouting. However, one day, my neighbor told me about a local scout troop that her son signed up for. Since I still loved scouting and knew how beneficial it could be, I enrolled my second oldest son. We haven’t looked back since. So, here’s a few things I’ve learned since that time and then you can decide if scouting is right for you. Check it out!

What is scouting?

Scouting America (formerly known as Boys Scouts of America) is an organization for youth ages 11 to 18 focusing on character development, leadership and outdoor exploration. It was established in 1910 and has more than one million youth members.

What are the pros of participating in scouts?

I believe the pros of scouting far outweigh the cons. Here are a few things that I have noticed since two of my boys have been enrolled.

Develop lifelong skills: Scouting helps kids learn how to develop essential skills that they will use for the rest of their life such as outdoor survival skills, first aid, time and money management, leadership and teamwork.

Learn how to serve: In order to obtain the highest recognition in scouting, a scout must complete more than 20 hours of service. This helps these boys look beyond themselves.

Become patriotic and respectful: These youth come to appreciate what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America and show respect for their country. They understand the importance of patriotism and being proud to be an American.

Provides a sense of accomplishment: Twice a year, my boys’ troop holds a Court of Honor to recognize all of the merit badges and rankings they has passed off. I’ve never seen my boys more proud of themselves than when they have accepted their awards for their hard work in front of their peers. It gives them a lot of confidence.

Brings family togetherness: Although scouting is an individual endeavor, as a family we are highly involved. My husband attends most of the campouts and I am constantly helping my boys pass off their rankings and merit badges. We really do get closer as a family thanks to scouting.

What are the cons of participating in scouting

Not any program is perfect and boys scouts is no exception. However, I have found that the cons of scouting are very manageable.

Expensive: Just like participating in a sport or other program, there are fees associated with scouting. With registration fees, scout camps, activities and gear, you’ll probably spend around $700 to $1000 per year.

Time consuming: An active scout troop should be holding one activity per week in addition to monthly camping trips. It is not only time consuming for the scout, it also requires a lot of time from the parents as well.

Tips and tricks to making the most of boy scouts

• Find a good troop: If you want your kids to participate in scouts, finding the right troop is the most important part. My sons are lucky because we have a troop with some amazing leaders who really care about the kids. They are super organized and involved. So, do your research before signing up for just any troop.
• Set realistic goals: The Eagle Scout award is the ultimate goal of every scout, but it takes years to get there. Help you scout set realistic, achievable goals so they don’t get discouraged. Create a timeline so they have something to work towards.
• Actively participate: If you are thinking that you’ll sign your child up for scouting and the leaders will do all of the work, then maybe you shouldn’t do it. Parents need to help A LOT. There is a fine line between doing the work for your child and helping them do it themselves.
• Make it a priority: I see so many kids who are dedicated to their dance team or their basketball team. They make it a priority. The same should be said for scouting. This isn’t a passive program.

I hope these tips will help you as you are researching boy scouts for your own kids. I am super appreciative of all the the scouting program has already done for my kids. It’s a really fantastic program and I think every youth should participate in it.

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