This post is sponsored by Scouting America but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend brands we genuinely love.
"When I first discovered that I was having a boy, I was both overjoyed and slightly sad. As I retired the visions of American Girl tea parties, I began to craft a new dream full of boy snuggles, outdoor play, and lots of things that zoom. When my second son arrived during the height of the pandemic in 2020, I knew my goals for my sons and how our family spent our time would change forever. While we had always prioritized a more ‘90s-esque type of childhood that focused on the joy of just being a kid, the pandemic brought that out even more. We spent more time as a family outside and found activities we would all enjoy together. Even though we were still isolated, our family thrived hiking, fishing, and enjoying the beautiful nature around us, and my husband and I wanted to keep that passion going.
When the pandemic requirements eased up, I rushed to sign up both my boys for as many activities as I could find available for their ages. However, the result was less quality time together, and our whole family felt overscheduled and burned out. My husband and I decided to institute a maximum of three activities per season for the kids. At the start of each season, we discuss the boys’ current interests and allow them to pick a few activities. While the choice is ultimately theirs, we encourage a diverse mix of extracurriculars. One that’s arts-focused, one that’s good for physical health, and one that promotes social and mental development.
Last summer, we prepared our 5-year-old Zach for Kindergarten and a new season of possible activities. Now that he’s entered a new phase of independence at school, we wanted to sign him up for something that would continue nurturing self-sufficiency outside of the classroom (but still allow us to bond as a family). As I researched extracurriculars in my area, I realized this was a tall order—until I discovered that he was old enough to enroll in one of the most well-known kids’ programs in the country: Scouting America. Here’s why Cub Scouts (also known as Boy Scouts) is the ideal fit for my son and our entire family:
Cub Scouts’ programming is incredibly flexible
As I mentioned, we’re big outside cats here, and as long as it is above 32 degrees, you’ll find us bundled up and doing something outdoors. So I was already familiar with (and interested in) Scouting America and our local Cub Scouts Pack. But I was even more thrilled to learn that they were recruiting Kindergarteners of all genders. My son’s best friend is the daughter of our family friends, so we jumped at the chance to enroll them together.
From the first inquiry message I sent to our local Scouting America pack, the process to sign up was incredibly simple. As a parent-volunteer-led local organization, the Cubmaster was incredibly kind and eager to welcome our family into the group. Unlike most of the other activities my kids participate in, the time commitment is incredibly flexible, which fits in perfectly with our busy schedule and other commitments (soccer and art).
While the time commitment fit with our goals, the most compelling reason to join was that the Scouting America program would involve our whole family. Cub Scouts focuses on building life skills with your child, so a parent is expected to attend each meeting (one to two per month) plus any additional events. As a family, we’ll be able to encourage his development of traditional and modern-day skills and support him as he creates new friendships. And when it comes to teaching invaluable skills, Scouting America offers a range of activities like no one else.
Find a Cub Scout Pack near you to learn more!
Scouting will help my kid establish life-long skills
Cub Scouts’ programming runs from September to June, so we’ll participate in yearly events that are household names in the Scouting community (like the Pinewood Derby and Rocket Launch). Events like this allow kids to learn so much more than the classic outdoor skills we typically associate with Scouting. As I read through my son’s program, I realized Cub Scouts also focuses on STEM activities like rocketry, robotics, and coding. But most importantly, he’ll learn how to work as a team with his peers and the value of kindness within our community—something he’ll carry throughout the rest of his life.
Source: Alexandra Pagar-Wolf
As excited as I am about how well-rounded the programming is, we are also looking forward to him experiencing outdoor activities with his peers. It’s one thing to encourage a love of nature as a family, but as peer pressure and the need to “fit in” increase, it’s equally important that he has friends to share these passions with. Hiking, fishing, and orienteering are all activities that I know he’ll be ecstatic to do with other kids his age.
On top of all these great skill-building opportunities, he’ll also get to take part in traditional fall activities like a pumpkin carving contest, the “Thanksgiving Scouting for Food” drive, and a “Holiday Wreath Fundraiser.” I love how each event promotes a certain skill, creativity, philanthropy, and teamwork all while maintaining the fun that kids really enjoy.
The long-term benefits of Cub Scouts (for my kid and our family)
Before officially enrolling my son in Scouting America, I made sure to ask the people in my life about their experiences in Scouts as a kid. The feedback was all incredibly positive, but my key takeaway was that they all treasured the memories of participating in Scouts with their parents. My friends have shared countless stories from their Scouting days—some fondly remember that camping trip where their mom was the Cubmaster or still have their old Pinewood Derby car tucked away at their family home.
While supporting my son’s passions for sports and art is important, fostering key skills that will carry him through adulthood is even more so. My wish for my boys is that when they think about their childhood in the future, they will say that they were loved deeply, enjoyed all of the adventures we took together, and felt as prepared as possible to forge their paths. I’m excited for our family’s next adventure into the world of Scouting. Perhaps I’ll finally learn to pitch a tent and tie a Bowline knot, too.
Find a Cub Scout Pack near you to learn more!
Common questions about Cub Scouts:
If you’re like me and had no previous experience with Scouts before their kid took an interest, then here are some common questions about Scouting that our Cubmaster helped break down for me:
Q: Who can join Cub Scouts?
Both boys and girls entering kindergarten through 5th grade.
Q: Are Cub Scout Packs divided by age?
Yes! A Cub Scout Pack is a collection of all the Cub Scouts across age groups, but Packs are also grouped by age into “Dens.” Dens are school-grade driven:
- Lions (kindergarten)
- Tiger Cubs (1st grade)
- Wolf Cubs (2nd grade)
- Bear Cubs (3rd grade)
- Webelos 1 and 11 (4th and 5th grade)
Q: How are girls being welcomed into the Pack?
Girls at each grade level will be placed in Dens with peers their same grade and will complete the same requirements throughout the year, participate in the same events, and attend the same all-inclusive Pack meetings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandra Pagar Wolf, Chief of Sales
Ally is the mom to two rambunctious boys, ages 4 and 5, and is rightfully referred to as “Chief Household Officer” in her home. You can find her family spending long afternoons swimming in their pool, searching for sea glass at the New England shore, and going on fun outdoor adventures.
This post is sponsored by Scouting America but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend brands we genuinely love.