Opinion: My Experience with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts
April 6, 2017
As I am writing this, I have a 10 year old daughter and a 7 year old son.
This year, we decided to start them on the Scout Path. My daughter became a Junior in a Girl Scout Troop and my son began his life as a Tiger in a Cub Scout Pack.
I know that, even when similar, they are not the same, but being part of these groups has been fantastic for my kids.
Cub Scouts have a Pack, Girl Scouts don’t.
They both meet mostly once a week (we skip some random weeks) and attend a meeting where they try to fill requirements to get achievements.
Girl Scouts earn badges, both official and fun badges. The official badges are ironed on the front of the vest. Fun badges go on the back:
Cub Scouts also earn badges. I know Boy Scouts have the Sash, but Cub Scouts have a red vest that is used to display the badges (patches). My son has never worn the red vest anywhere, but it is a nice way to display his experiences.
There are also other achievements he earns, there are the required badge when the cub scouts knows the basics (law, oath, salute, etc) which goes on the shirt, and then the belt loops with the required achievements that year.
Being a part of the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts gives our family a lot of things to do. The kids are with other kids their age (and gender) and are taught important life lessons. Also, they learn to serve, which is, I think, an almost lost art.
My daughter has sold Girl Scout cookies and my son has asked for donations to food pantries around our neighborhood. They work together to do these things, too, and that in itself is rewarding.
Even when having both kids in these activities takes a lot of time, I think it’s totally worth it!!
cheers!
