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LUCKYGIRLLY
5/20/07 5:01 P
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| That's great you had a good trip there....always so good to give the kids the example of how things should be with us all cooperating and pitching in helping each other...so glad these programs are in place here :)
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Just came back from girl scout camp. It was called Villages. We all had a great time. I could not ask for better. My daughter got Outdoor Surrounding badge, Survivor badge and Native American Badge. Most all parents worked in one of the areas. Thier were many to choose from. I can't wait to go again. Everyone in my troop worked wonderfully together on all duties.  memories.
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LUCKYGIRLLY
5/20/07 12:57 P
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I just love seeing them so into something postive for them :) I am glad we've had a good experience for our boy here....hoping we've planted that knowledge and skill to stay on the positive side of life and avoid the bad paths that appear........
We had a great time putting together his graduation cake here....He decided to decorate one with a Webelos Badge and the other says Congrats Webelos! on the front..they turned out well ;) He helped assemble his cheese and cracker platter too...they were going to take along a banana desert they made together but started looking at space and how they were going to transport two cakes, cheese platter, and more
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NILA99_00
5/20/07 12:28 P
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| wow $195. isn't bad at all. Ya Alex is so excited about his new venture.Everyday it's mom is it scouts today?
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LUCKYGIRLLY
5/20/07 11:55 A
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| My boy stays up when he goes to camp too :) He's going to be able to go to a camp in July for a whole week with his group, it costs around 195.00 for the whole week so he's been saving up getting ready to go. This will be his first long away camp adventure...he has done the weekends/extended weekends with his troop this will be the longest camp meet for him.
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| Oh thats very exciting how proud you must be.Well he had a great tiem didn't get much sleep so he is crabby today but he's still going strong would hate to miss anythign ya know..Lol
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LUCKYGIRLLY
5/19/07 6:22 P
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My ten year old is graduating tomorrow from the Webelos to the Boy Scouts :) He's earned all the merit badges he needs to move on, we're told the next stage in his journey isn't as much parent involved as the path has been this far.....I'm just so proud of my 'special boy' that he's been able to accomplish this and so thankful for the leaders we've been blessed with that have helped him to blossom and reach this point in his journey :)
Tonight is the family cake bake project for him, he'll take it along tomorrow to graduation ;)
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| My 5 yr old went to camp last night i'm anxiously awaiting them to come home so I can hear how it went.He was so excited to go and I know his father was also.
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LUCKYGIRLLY
5/14/07 7:26 P
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| My ten year old son is in Boy Scouts and has been in different areas we've lived in. My son has ADHD, OCD, asthma, gastric reflux, schizophrenia, and those are just a few of my special boys specialties...he's been welcomed into packs even when I've been unable to transport him and be there one on one with him there is generally someone (another pack parent) that volunteers to take him to meetings, camps, he rarely misses an activity even when I'm unable to be there myself with him..he does better interacting at these pack things than he does just about anywhere else, he can be quite the loner in most settings (school and such) but he really gets into these pack activities, so cool to see him with a group of his peers doing so well..............now we do know the pack leader here, she's been involved with him even out of the pack setting so that may have had something to do with our good experience here, before the packs he was in some were based out of churches we attended there are some good ones out there I'm sure just as with anything else we encounter here there are good and bad experiences, for us it's been a very good experience here......I have found alot of times there's more than just one pack in a given area, if we encounter one that isn't open or comfortable then we generally are able to find one that is welcoming to helping my son be the best he can possibly be...my youngest boy will be signing up this year too.........as far as my girls in girl scouts, well we haven't gotten that far here yet.........
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LADYHAWKE84
5/14/07 4:47 P
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I’m sorry if you misconstrued my post, I never said that all Boy Scout packs/troops exclude all disabled children and all gay or children of gay parents. Some troops are open to both types of kids. But, the organization did go to court to protect their right to exclude children or parents that they did not feel fit in with what they felt their vision of a Boy Scout should be. And in my case my son did not fit in with what they felt a boy scout should be. And in the case of my friend (who was living in a different state by the way, this was not the same pack) they felt his mom was a “bad moral example.” It’s their protected right—but don’t expect me or any other parent whose child has been excluded by them to be all sunshine and roses about them. My personal experiences with them have been less than stellar. If the B.S. wants my respect then they need to accept all children.
As for the Girls Scouts I have had no problems with them. They have been a wonderful organization. They even let my son come along on some of the field trips. If they have excluded a child for disability or sexual identity then I am not aware of it.
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| I am upset because you were sounding predjudice. You were making a general statement about an organization. Thats like saying all gay people have aids, because the one I new had it. Or saying white people are this because thats what I heard, etc, etc, etc, etc. You have to know your facts before you make general statements like that. Just like I said before these group are ran by volunteers. Most volunteers have had or have children in the Boy Scouts, but not all.
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LADYHAWKE84
5/14/07 11:52 A
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I don’t understand why you are upset that I am not going to lie and say I had a wonderful experience with the Boy Scouts when I didn’t. I was told that he could not join. Other boys have been told they could not join. Just because it is different in your area doesn’t mean that all troops are the same.
It’s not like the lawyer did not want to take the case, the lawyer is an old family friend and my children’s God parent. Have you never heard of the case: “Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale” It pretty much states that as a private, non-profit organization they are protected by the First Amendment right of expressive association. That if the Boy Scouts do not wish to associate with any particular group they do not have to since they are considered “private.”
The origination as a whole has went to court for the express purpose of defining themselves as a private organization just so that they can retain the right to refuse membership when they desire it. I’m not saying they do not have that right, all I am saying is that my son and my friend’s son was two of those boys they exercised that right against. I’m not saying that all troops are like that—I know that there are many other troops that are much more accepting. But I have had to sit up all night with my son while he cried his heart out because he was denied membership over something he has no control over —then you expect me to come on here and say how wonderful the B.S. is?
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| My son has friends that have Autism. In fact my son is in a special ed class with less than 10 children out of a school of 800 children. So he is deffinetly different. Then why is thier children in Boy Scouts that have all kinds of problems. We have child that is gay in are group. Yes Boy scouts parents are volunteers. So you decide that listening to a lawyer that didn't want to take your case is your answer. You have decided that what they write on thier web site is false. Wouldn't that be a case to take to court since they wrote it. It would be a false front, right. Deffinetly something to take to court. But it sounds to me that your lawyer didn't want to take your case. Sorry.
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LADYHAWKE84
5/14/07 8:33 A
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OBOSAGE:
I talked to a lawyer over this and he told me that because they are a private organization they can exclude anyone for what ever reason they want. The B.S. went to the supreme court to be consider a private organization just so that they can retain the right to exclude whom ever they wish. Whether they put that on their website or not. And I also find it amusing that you completely ignore the fact that my friend’s son was excluded on the fact that his mom is a lesbian and focus solely on my child who was denied membership due to a disability. The “official” reason they gave us, by the way, was due to “Insurance”. They said because he was not “normal” he posed an insurance risk.
For my friend’s son they said that since she was a homosexual and because parents are suppose to be active in the scout he could not join because they would not allow her to come to any activities.
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SASSYMOMMIE
5/14/07 5:43 A
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Hello everyone I have a 12yr old son in Boy Scouts and we have been involved with scouting for over 6yrs. I have been a leader and am a district and council trainer. I have been reading some of the postings and feel a bit concerned. BSA is not an organization that means to teach any sort of prejudice of any sort. I have personally worked with leaders that were in same sex relationships and have worked in a pack and troop that works with scouts of disabilities and special needs, in fact we have a troop in our area that all of them are in fact special needs or some sort of diabilities. The one thing I have learned in scouting is that there are national guidelines just as in any organization. It is when people put their interpretations of what those guidelines are that there is conflict. No where in the guidelines does it state that homosexuals or children with disabilities are not allowed. Just because one person or pack/troop states this does not mean it to be true. Matter of fact their is litature on ways for packs to help those with disabilities or special needs that may not be able to reach certain requirements due to their limitations on alternative ways for them to earn ranks, badges, etc. I know from personal experience with my sons Wolf den we had a scout that had autism, we had to learn how to work with his needs to help him learn and achieve his requirements and rank. We were unsure in the beginning of how to do this but with patience and research and training, we learned and all the other scouts in the den became his walking cheer squad. Last we heard he was continuing in his scouting where they moved to and was happy.
I am sorry that your experience with the scouts happend to be with ones not truly trained in scouting or willing to take the time to learn. Just remember that "one persons actions or comments does not mean it reflects the whole".
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| I am sorry that an individual did you wrong. But now you are doing a disservice and having predjucice against a group unfairly. You need to type in Boy scouts and look under the facts part. Read Scouts with disabilities and special needs. In fact read the whole site, before you cast blame on a whole group, because of an individual. Just like in anything else thier are bad people. They need to be reported, thats it. Look at sports thier are a lot of good people but a few make something look bad. I don't have predjudice against a certain sport, because of it. My son has Add. So I was concerned. But they make arragement for children with disabilities so they can be a part of it. That is part of thier packaage. Now you are being wrong to us that are in Boy Scouts. If you find anything in that web sight that says they are going to have predjudice against your boy. Please tell where on that site so I can go ahead and look at it my self. I have seen children with autism, physical disabilities and retardation in Boy Scouts.
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LADYHAWKE84
5/13/07 8:02 P
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OBOSAGE:
I don’t think the post before yours was all the far from the truth. My son was refused membership due to autism. My best friend’s little boy was refused membership because his mom, my friend, lives with her girlfriend. Just because it’s not happening in your area doesn’t mean that it is not happening in other places.
For those of you who say the good outweights the bad how would you feel if it was your son who was told they could not join. How would you feel if you had to look your son in the eyes and tell him that he could not be part of a group becuase of a disability or because of your own life chocies that had nothing to do with your son's ability to be a scout? Keep that in mind next time you say the good outweights the bad.
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LADYHAWKE84
5/13/07 7:37 P
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| We do girl scouts and we love it. But the boy scouts told us that because our son is autistic he could not participate in scouts so we do not support the b.s. The G.S. is wonderful though. I wish I could find something like it for my son.
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I'm a Scout mom, too! My 11 year old son just crossed into the Troop in February and was immediately elected Patrol Leader. He started as a Tiger and has been with it ever since. My husband has been his leader from the beginning, though now he's "just" there for guidance as in the troop the boys do all the work.
While I agree with the earlier post that it bothers me that Scouts are not all that accepting of people with different religious beliefs and sexual preferences, overall, I think the benefits of the program far outweigh these concerns. Just my opinion.....
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| My son just got signed up for cub scouts he's 5 and has one meeting this week and then next weekend he goes on his first camping trip with dad.He's so excited about this and 4H i'm so glad because he really needs to kaap active.We live in a small town of 250 with nothign to do so I hope this will help.
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| Just had to brag real quick...My son got 2nd in the den and 6th in the Pack. He may be going to Districts, I will know this week. He also got a trophy for the most realistic car. He thought that was great! A boy from our Den was 1st in the Pack...so it was a great day!
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LUCKYGIRLLY
4/20/07 12:44 A
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| My oldest boy, Kody, ten years old is in Scouts here too.
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IBKAREBEAR,
I pray a blessing for all of them too. Because they maybe able to get through the flesh injuries, but the ones you can't see maybe the hardest to get through.
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IBKAREBEAR
4/19/07 3:54 P
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| I pray a blessing upon that Eagle Scout who tied his leg off with a cord so as not to bleed to death. I have goose bumps as I read your post OBOSAGE.
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| I heard one of the boys at the Virginia Tec school was a Eagle Boy Scout. He tied his leg off with a cord so he wouldn't bleed to death. Thats are Boy Scouts now isn't not.
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mom2ian,
good luck in the pinewood derby. My son's both won, my tiger got 1st in his den and then 3rd in the pack and my bear got first in his den and then was 5th in the pack. It is a fun event to show great sportsmanship and friendship. I hurt my ankle so I have not been able to exercise this week. Not much weight loss. Not gaining though. I did buy a new dress this past weekend and was happy with the fit and look. I can see some progress. I wish the scale would agree with me.
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| Yes 1 working toward his eagle. His been with scouts ever since he was in 3rd grade and now his a junior in highschool.
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IBKAREBEAR,
Me tooo. I'm not a sigle mom, but I like the role models that are there. We have from 6th grade to seniors in high school. All the adult leaders are great too. We have teachers, principals, business leaders etc. leading are group, and all are very involved. We meet every tuesday. The last tuesday is reserved for adult meeting. At the begining of the year they meet to discuss most of all the plans for the coming year. My son's patrol is the youngest they are all in 6th grade. I think I have a couple of pictures on my page of my son doing activities with the boy scouts.
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IBKAREBEAR
4/16/07 9:35 P
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| You are a busy rascel with the cub scouts! And you know it'll all be worth it in the long run. Being a single mom and my son being an only child, I'm seeing the older boys helping and teaching my son. I see my son learning things I could never teach him. I'm glad I have my son in cub scouts.
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My son is a wolf this year, so it is his second year in Scouts. His Dad is his den leader, I am the "entertainment coordinator" (Yes, a made up title that means I do about everything but run the meeting!), I was the chairman for the Blue & Gold and I am the Pack Committee Chairman.
I am not sure how all of THAT happened but it is ok, we are a new and very small pack. We are busy sanding "our" derby car this week.
I like it. We have a great group of parents and kids.
I know not everyone has a good pack near them and it is too bad because it should be a great experience for everyone!
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CHRISTYSMITH
4/16/07 5:57 P
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| I am very happy that your son has had such a great experience. As I stated at the beginning of the post, in general scouts is a great program. I do know that if a person expresses homosexuality or atheism they they are excluded from the scouts(I know because I have asked local troops and ones other family members are involved in). I am neither a homosexual nor an atheist so it is not that I am feeling segregated. As I stated though I want my children to treat everyone equally and not learn to exclude for any reason unless the persons behavior dictates it.
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| I love Boy Scouts. No other group teaches kids so many different things. My son joined last year around March, I think. My group is so active. Every month they go camping. They go biking, hiking, deep sea fishing etc.. They learn survival skill. They learn about citizen ship. If you go to merit badge.com you will see all the possibilities boy scouts have in front of them. There are so many. The first summer camp my son went to last year, I went to. I was highly impressed. It was like one of those expensive camp you would pay thousands of dollars for. But it was only 300 dollars. There is no way I could express hom much they learn. Why, because it would take up to much space. Just go to Meritbadge.com and you will see. The post before me was totally wrong. Obviously they have never been in Boy Scouts. They just here what they want to here from the news. Because the boy scouts that I know is very excepting. For example my child is in special edd. He is a slow learner and has add. But you know I have never felt any predjudice for him. So if you are going to write about something you don't know anything about, please don't write.
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CHRISTYSMITH
4/14/07 7:29 P
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| I think in general, scouts is great. My kids will not be involved though because I do not want them to be part of an organization who teaches kids it is okay to exclude someone based on their beliefs or sexual orientation. I want my kids to learn that unless someones behavior dictates otherwise, they should treat everyone the same - with the respect they would want in return.
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IBKAREBEAR
4/13/07 10:14 P
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| Is it just me being a late life mom, stress or just a bad mom when I yell at my 8 yr old son? I raised my voice to him this evening. Wasn't anything major ... just him not paying attention. I hate it when I do that.
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Pizza is always loved by all. The rest of the meal can be done potluck style. Each den could bring a different thing or be in charge of it. Sides, Desserts, Drinks, Decorations, clean up, Set up, flag ceremony, etc. This shares the load of the night. Otherwise you will be doing it all. Make it easy. 
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IBKAREBEAR
4/12/07 3:11 P
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| Beth it sounds like a fun time for all. We have decided on PIZZA. I will bring some alternative food for myself and anyone also wanting it however, the smell of pizza is strong to resist.
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BETHSABOL
4/12/07 10:04 A
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| Our banquet was very nice this year. It was at a country club and there was a crossing over presentation done by the boyscout council. It was done with In dian outfits and very good. You could contact your local council to see if a group exists. I think it may be through the Order of the Arrow. Not sure that we had a theme. However, I was the committee chair last year. I had a mexican fiesta. It was a hit. We decorations and all. The food was catered with Tacos and chips and quesadillas. It cost very little and kids love tacos. We had a guest speaker. It was the US ambassador to the UN in Vienna. He was an Eagle Scout. He showed some pictures of the president and the kids loved it. I am not sure what kind of budget you have. One year each den made their own centerpieces for the tables. pinatas, hats, or maracas. They are easy. Good luck.
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IBKAREBEAR
4/11/07 5:16 P
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| We will have our Blue and Gold Banquet the end of this month. What was your theme?
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I have three sons in scouting and we just had the Blue and Gold Banquet. It is a lot of fun. My oldest is 14 and a Star scout and likes all the campouts. He has learned a lot of life lessons. I will be a wolf leader next year and my husband a webelos 1 leader. We think it is worth our time to help the boys with these activities. 
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THESPOOKYONE
3/31/07 2:39 P
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Sounds like they all have a blast that is so great!!!
Some kids just are not into it.. My sisters son was in cubs... but 2nd year webelo he did not like it.. he quit.. then re joined in BOY scouts.. just for a trip... Then quit again!!! then re joined again.. then Quit for good....
It was like GOSH!!!
I felt so sad when that one boy did not want to go on the camp out and was going to walk home... and got lost!!! WOW.. I am glad he was ok.. just A note to all parents to just realllly enjoy the kids while they enjoy scouts.. IF they say They dont... Listen... have scout master talk to them.. and if it is not going to work out.. Dont push...
Not all parents Push...
Just wanted to have that out their...
I hope all your scouts enjoy!!!
And Ya hooo It is getting nice out and camping trips are on the way...
Whoohoooooo
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My eldest is a first year webelo (this is year three for him). My middle son will start next year and my "baby" the year after that, and dd is a Brownie. I love both programs but I am becoming particularly fond of the BS program overall, the longer we're in it the more I like it.
I don't intend to push my kids to stay in it but haven't had to thus far. Both kids love it and Andrew can't wait to start next fall.
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THESPOOKYONE
3/30/07 12:35 A
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My son is 15.. He is a Life Scout now.. He started scouts in like 2nd grade I think it was.. So at a wolf level... He seems to love it..
he is in the OA and is going to I HOPE start more in it.. his buddy in the troop is in it and a big part of it.. so I hope he will do more now...
He has like 3 or 4 more Eagle required to do and then a project... It is amazing how time flys!!
Keep the boys happy!!! Dont push them!!! IF they dont want to do it.. DONT ever make them!!! I have seen many boys get Pushed into staying and they did not want to.. and they hated it and finally did quit...
Brandon seems to reallly have fun.. Loves the trips... infact has a small weekend campout this weekend...
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| My boys did Cub Scouts and then Boy scouts for quite some time. The youngest stayed with it the longest. I think the program is great for the most part. The ONLY issue I had was one of the other parents. One lady was rude to the boys and mean to other parents. Right after her and her son became involved, my husband changed jobs and was home more and my son decided to quit. I always thought he would go on and become an Eagle but I guess it wasn't meant to be. The times I enjoyed most of all was when he was in Boy Scouts--was pretty cool to go to the big cross over ceremony and see him as the youngest boy cross that bridge!!!
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| I'm a big Girl Scout! I love it. I know there is a GS team. There might be a BS team too. You should check it out.
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Hi, my two sons are in the scout movement here in the U.K. My nine year old is in Cubs and my eleven year old is in scouts. It is a very busy year for them celebrating 100 years of scouting. One of the great things about scouting is that it encourages them to try lots of different activities rather than specialising in one sport. My youngest has just got his Animal Carer, Home Help and Chef badge and is now working on his Martial Arts and Physical Recreation Badge. My oldest is working on his Swimmer and Information technology Badge and has already got his Chef and Mechanic Badge.
Scouting runs in our family, I was a Girl Guide and their Dad was a Scout.
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| Hi everyone I was just wondering if there were any other cub scout or boy scout families here? I love the scouting program my older son is in right now. He just was awarded his bobcat patch tonight (did it backwards and already has his tiger cub patch). Anyways... I am just so excited for him. This whole experience has not only been good for him, but for me too. I get so much excercise between the sledding trip we just did and the hiking trip coming up and all the door to door fundraising, the walking I get is wonderful and what great and fun excercise for the kids too.
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