Why your child should join scouts (And why you should, too!)

When I was a child I was a Cub Scout. From what I remember I loved every minute of it, so I was happy when my 8 year old son in 2013 showed interest in joining Cub Scouts. I decided to become a den leader when he joined. That was 10 years ago. My son is no longer a scout youth. He earned his Eagle Scout rank and is now in college. I just started my 6th year as the Scoutmaster for the troop he was in. It has been an amazing experience! 

The Boy Scouts of America is a youth organization that has been around for over 100 years. It is a great way for kids to learn new skills, make new friends, and have fun. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should sign your child up for Scouts:

• Scouts teaches life skills. Kids in Scouts learn how to tie knots, build fires, camp, cook, and more. They also learn important life skills like teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
• Scouting is a great way to get kids outdoors. Scouts spend a lot of time camping, hiking, kayaking and all kinds of outdoorsy activities. This is a great way for them to learn about nature and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
• Scouting is a lot of fun. Kids in Scouts participate in a variety of activities, including games, sports, and crafts. They also go on field trips and camping trips. Scouts is a great way for kids to make new friends and have new experiences.

Here are some more specific benefits of Scouts:

• Scouts helps kids develop their leadership skills. Scouts have the opportunity to take on leadership roles in their troops, such as patrol leader or senior patrol leader. This helps them learn how to motivate others, work as a team, and make decisions.
• Scouts helps kids build self-confidence. As Scouts learn new skills and master challenges, they develop a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence. This can help them in all areas of their lives, from school to sports to relationships.
• Scouts teaches kids about teamwork and cooperation. Scouts learn to work together to achieve common goals. This is an important skill that they will use in all aspects of their lives.
• Scouts teaches kids about citizenship and service. Scouts are encouraged to give back to their communities through service projects. This helps them develop a sense of civic responsibility and learn the importance of helping others.

If you are looking for a way for your child to learn new skills, make new friends, and have fun, then Scouts is a great option. Scouts is a program for all kids, regardless of their background or interests. There are many different types of Scouts troops, so you can find one that is a good fit for your child.

Here are some tips for getting your child involved in Scouts:

• Find a troop near you. You can search for troops on the Boy Scouts of America website.
• Contact the troop leader. The troop leader can tell you more about the troop's activities and meeting schedule.
• Take your child to a meeting. This is a great way for your child to meet the other Scouts and leaders.

Talk to your child about their experience. After the meeting, ask your child what they liked and disliked about Scouts. This will help you decide if it is a good program for your child.

And don't let your kid have all the fun! I can tell you from experience being a scout leader is fun, amazing, challenging, and rewarding. Everything I mentioned above that's a benefit for the youth is also a benefit for an adult. On top of all that scouting provided me a way to spend time with my son. Dedicated time once a week, a campout once a month, and a Summer camp once a year. Not only did I get to enjoy his scouting experience with him, but I learned so many things as a result. If it were not for scouts Blues City Kayaks would not exist.

If your child and/or you would like to explore scouting please feel free to reach out to me at 901.762.1133 or email me at ande@bluescitykayaks.com.

#BePrepared