Advice to Parents On What To Do If Your Son Wants To Quit Scouting

WARNING: If you are sensitive in nature and have a problem with someone being absolutely honest & frank about "What Should Parents Do When There Son Wants to Drop-Out of Scouting" I would highly recommend that you discontinue reading this post immediately. I will not lie in saying that Im not going to "sugar-coat" or share what the "Main Stream Scouting Community" would believe or think is appropriate. I do not direct this at any particular person or situation but please be aware that if you have been in Scouting for any serious or large amount of time will know that these stories through no intention of the blogger end up being directed towards that particular person.

Regular followers of my "ScoutingManiac" blog probably notice that while sometimes I cover controversial topics Im more likely to cover posts about activities in Scouting that I think are important, to pass on information about a topic related to Scouts, or to share personal experiences that could possibly help other Scouts and Scouts become more aware and involved in Scouting. In this situation though I feel compelled to share my view as this seems to be a topic that is regularly discussed and addressed in Scouting.

For other perspectives please see the blog "Bryan on Scouting: A Blog for the Boy Scout's of America Adult Leaders" which is written by Bryan Wendell. Bryan is an employee for "Scouting Magazine" which is a publication of the Boy Scouts of America. The article referenced and used in this post can be found online via this web page:

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/06/25/give-your-advice-to-a-parent-whose-son-wants-to-drop-out-of-scouting/

Additional posts on the "Bryan on Scouting" blog can be found here:

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/

Finally the last link I'll be providing related to the "Bryan on Scouting" Blog is the website for "Scouting" Magazine:

http://scoutingmagazine.org/

if any other websites are mentioned or used as supporting material will be found as soon as it is appropriate within the post. In order to fully and accurately share my perspective this topic will require several posts. All references and resources used will be complied into a single list in the last post of this series.

Just to give you a idea of the material to be covered in this series of posts here is a partial list:

• Why do youth join Scouting
• Why do adults join Scouting
• Typical characteristics of youth that join Scouting
• Typical characteristics of adults that join Scouting
• What does it mean to be a Eagle Scout
• Why is becoming a Eagle Scout so hard to do
• Positive and negative reasons why parents want their kid to join Scouting
• Positive and negative reasons why parents force their kid to join Scouting
• Why do Boy Scout Troops have serious retention issues
• Define and explain the concept of the "New Scout Program Continuum"
• Define and explain the concept of the "Young Scout Program Continuum"
• Define and explain the concept of the "Older Scout Program Continuum"
• Explain how retention, drop-outs, positive experiences, and negative experiences affect "New Scouts"
• Explain how retention, drop-outs, positive experiences, and negative experiences affect "Young Scouts"
• Explain how retention, drop-outs, positive experiences, and negative experiences affect "Older Scouts"
• Dealing with "New Scout" parents who baby and prevent learning and active participation in the Boy Scout Program
• Dealing with "New Scout" parents who were Cub Scout Leaders or those who were actively involved in many ways in the Cub Scout Pack
• Dealing with "New Scout" parents who as youth participated in the Scouting program
• Dealing with "New Scout" parents who have no Scouting experience
• Dealing with "New Scout" parents who interfere with the Patrol Method
• Dealing with "New Scout" parents who are troublesome or cause problems in the Troop
• Dealing with "Young Scout" parents who baby and prevent learning and active participation in the Boy Scout Program
• Dealing with "Young Scout" parents who were Cub Scout Leaders or those who were actively involved in many ways in the Cub Scout Pack
• Dealing with "Young Scout" parents who as youth participated in the Scouting program
• Dealing with "Young Scout" parents who have no Scouting experience
• Dealing with "Young Scout" parents who interfere with the Patrol Method
• Dealing with "Young Scout" parents who are troublesome or cause problems in the Troop
• Dealing with "Older Scout" parents who baby and prevent learning and active participation in the Boy Scout Program
• Dealing with "Older Scout" parents who were Cub Scout Leaders or those who were actively involved in many ways in the Cub Scout Pack
• Dealing with "Older Scout" parents who as youth participated in the Scouting program
• Dealing with "Older Scout" parents who have no Scouting experience
• Dealing with "Older Scout" parents who interfere with the Patrol Method
• Dealing with "Older Scout" parents who are troublesome or cause problems in the Troop

As in previous post series of substantial size every couple of posts will provide a list of posts in the series that serve as a reminder to previous posts related to or referenced in another post. Obviously this list is quite long and extensive as such this is going to be a ongoing project that will finish by the December 2014 which will ensure that there is plenty of time to cover each of these areas in detail. To prevent this from being a continuous series lasting until December 2014 other posts will be created on topics unrelated to any of the topics found above. Hopefully this series won't be too boring and will contain information that will help you to continue to learn and grow as a Scout yourself and for the Scouts around and involved with you. 

Any ideas, information, concerns, likes, dislikes, or comments are encouraged and gladly appreciated as normal. I sincerely appreciate and thank all leaders, parents, and adults who make it possible to bring Scouting to our youth as we continue to move further into the second century of Scouting. Also thanks to the youth who are involved in Scouting. As youth you are what adults similar to me make such a impact and enjoyment from helping to continue bringing the Scouting Movement to all the Scouts around the world. As a closing thought on this post here is a quote by Thomas Edison:

Thomas Edison was once asked, "You failed at making the light bulb a thousand times, didn't you just want to give up?" To this Thomas Edison replied "I didn't fail a thousand times, I learned one thousand ways not to make a light bulb"

(Just as a disclosure I have never confirmed if Thomas Edison actually said this but the point isn't about who said or didn't say it. Instead it is about the message within the quote that matters.)

May the Great Scoutmaster of all Scouts be with you until we meet again. Good night!!!!!!

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Assistant Scoutmaster
Camp Gorsuch 2012 Super-Troop Coordinator
T1316- Eklutna District; T669- Tustumena District; T125- Denali District;
Program Committee; Training Committee; Cope Committee; Camping Committee:
NSJ2005 Participant- Youth QM; NSJ2010 Subcamp 7 Staff;
NSJ2013 Extreme Sports Staff; WSJ2007 Youth QM; WSJ2011 IST;
Eagle Scout; OA Nanuk Lodge; Philmont AA2008; 2010 NYLT Staff- Youth QM;


If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional. If you are not paid to do Scouting, you are called a Volunteer. If you pay to do Scouting, then you are called a Scouter.