Boy Scouts

I’m looking for something to get my son into that’s similar to Boy Scouts, but for boys, not the woke we include everyone crowd and get a participation trophy.

Is there anything out there?

4H or FFA?

Colt loves Jiu Jitsu. 3 Times a week keeps us plenty busy.

I was really looking forward to putting Colt into Boy Scouts because I was in it and loved it. After their woke crap and all the scandals with sexual assaults I nixed that idea. Now we just go do the same things the boy scouts do, we just do it as a family.

The Boy Scouts lost everyone here when a landowner let them go through his property to access some public land and when the new owner told them they couldn’t go through anymore, they sued him for the access. It cost him thousands to keep them off his land.

He’s 4, not sure they start that young.

Same here. I had fun while I was in it. The few places in town that teach kids martial arts are booked 6-8 months. He’s already doing basketball, soccer, and starting baseball, but aside from going hunting with me he needs something local to teach him skills

Good for you wanting to get him in it but sounds like for 4 he is really busy, you don't want to do too much too soon, you will burn them out, I promise, and yourself. I have two boys and until just a few weeks ago, we literally had something for either one of, or both boys, 7 days a week. It is hard to keep up. Its hard to find time to hunt and fish with all the other stuff. Let him be a kid.

https://www.squadstx.com/ Chay does this every year and loves it. It's not a year round thing like Boy Scouts is, but it is what Boy Scout camping used to be like. He's going again this year, and I believe it will be his last year before he ages out. How old is your boy now?

edit: I should have read the whole thread. 4 will be way too young for this, but keep it in your back pocket for later. It is a great program.

Look for scout troop attached to a church.

I should rephrase that. He plays those sports 1 sport at a time. Winter months it’s basketball, spring is either baseball or soccer and then late summer we do whatever we did t do in spring.

Why not start something yourself by starting with sleep-overs by invitation for say 3 or 4 kids of the same age. Do it three or four times to cull out those that can't hang. Have some chores/skills planned like doing the dishes, picking up the sleeping area, and maybe some hiking, shore line pickup, ect. Then when you have 4 or 5 solid kids move it to outside in the back yard in a big tent and later individual pup tents or partner tents. Be ready though as I'll bet one comes in and then the whole bunch will be in the first few times. After they can stay in a tent all night time to expand. You can then go in any direction you want after that.

There have to be some troops out there still that are committed to the traditional model envisioned by Robert Baden-Powell (with inspiration by Frederick Russell Burnham), Ernest Thompson Seaton and Dan Beard -- great men in my view. These principles cannot and must not die. My father earned his Eagle in 1941; I earned mine in 1971. Highlight of my Scouting experience: Philmont Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico.

Is there still Indian Guides? Or whatever PC name they call themselves. I don't remember much about it 'cept my dad's Indian name was "Gray Fox" since he was way older than the other dads, and the leader was the dad of the most popular girl in elementary school...Lori. 'Saw her at my 20th high school reunion - divorced and a veritable shark in the water. If I wasn't married...

But I digress.

TRAIL LIFE USA

This. My son did this and it was an awesome experience for him. Great son-dad camping too.

I've heard nothing but good things about Trail Life if you can't find a traditional Scout troop.

Agree 100%. Since your son is 4 he wouldn't be eligible for a troop until he's 10.5 y.o. You have time to do your research and visit troops in your area. You can also contact your local council office and get an idea of charters etc.

Scouting is a great program as is the girl scout program. There's a reason they are/were separate.

Eagle Scout Class of '83.

I was in Scouts. I enjoyed it. Don't remember what rank I got to. I had more interest in doing the outdoor stuff than merit badges.
Tried to get my son into Cubs but it didn't stick.
But my family had a little couple hundred acre 'ranch' where I taught him, and some of his friends a lot of the stuff he would have learned in Scouts.

My son has been in scouts for a year and I’m looking for something different. It’s not what it should be. Ran by moms very few dads and they show up only a few times a month. Decent folks but no real leadership. Very disorganized and convoluted. Very little troop outdoor activities. All events are with very large groups of other troops and dens.Fund raising is pushed hard. Ironically the scout oath and creed talks of good moral character and leadership and physical fitness, non of which appears to be how the parents and leaders of the troop hold themselves. It’s not worth the money or the time. I will add that most of those kids don’t have the opportunity my kids have and their parents are “indoor”people, most of them seem to really enjoy scouts and that’s good for them.


Never heard of trail life. Looked it up and found one local. I’m going to make a visit next week and see if it’s any better.

Scouting has become like a lot of activities. Some parents use it for a babysitting service. The leadership at the local level is mostly volunteer, and to many parents don't want to be involved.

You have to become part of the program to get them back on track.

Too bad they screwed up the Boy Scouts. I will never support that organization or the Girl Scouts ever again. It was hard banning them cookies. I did Cub Scouts back in early 70’s it was awesome back then.

Scouting depends on the troop and family support of troop. Not having been a scout myself, it was big to my wife to get the son and daughter into scouting. Both did 12+ years each achieving rank of Eagle Scout and Gold Award rank in Girl Scouts. Both of their troops were very driven and interested in teaching good moral and character development and life choices. Son's troop was affiliated with a local Methodist church and daughter's troop originally through her elementary school. I am happy to report neither were exposed to political angled or woke angled agendas or endeavors. Son's troop camped out most month's and got exposed to some great camping and wildlife oriented skills, orienteering, archery, rifle shooting, model rocket launches, etc. Since less than 10% that ever start scouting end up achieving either Eagle or Gold Award ranks, we were proud both achieved those.

At 4yrs, too young. Let them be kids first. Cubs (in 50s) was mostly run by Moms. Scouts was good, more Dad attendance. Went to Osceola several times. Churches have pretty much bailed from Scouts now. SIL helps local troop (no funds to BSA) problem is lots of kids are Mommy fans. Helped him clear an area for tent camping new years, distanced from the house. Trying to keep some from wanting to go to the 'house' when 'goin gets tough'. Shame, lots of single moms wanting kids to get some 'man' time. Both my kids loved the outdoors and camping but not Scouts.

I was in from about ‘70-‘74 myself. Fond memories. Still have my knife. And now that I look at it I have something to do. Clean and sharpen it.

I am glad my son was able to go through Boy Scouts before it got weird!

Still have my BSA back pack from early ‘70’s. I didn’t finish, but my son was an Eagle Scout. Wife was involved a lot, while I was traveling for work during that time period.

I was a Cub Scout for two meetings My son is also a Eagle Scout

Thanks for the correction.

I know you must be very proud of your son as I am of mine, that is quite the accomplishment

The Assemblies of God, and other Pentecostal churches, have the Royal Rangers program. When I was a commander in my church's outpost, we had boys come just on Wednesday nights (the night of our service) and they'd go on outings with us and stuff. They didn't have to belong to the church to go.

BSA has been weird for half a century.

Teal 28 said it all

The dads don't show up

Got my Eagle in ‘98 and am the third and final generation for my family’s involvement in that organization. It’s a shell of what it was. 12 year old is in Indian Guides. It’s ok. He’s very take-it-or-leave-it about that group. Not sure what I will do for his two little brothers to help them stay well rounded (and grounded) future leaders.

Wow, I hadn't heard of Indian Guides since the 1960s.