I think your local offerings can be a big factor. I grew up in scouts, loved my experience for the most part.
But talking with other people about their experiences can be a mixed bag. Each troop has its own priorities, the national Scouting organization gives troops a lot of flexibility on how they want to run their operation.
My troop, for example, was huge on outdoor activities. We had monthly camping trips, sometimes more than one a month. We did participate in organized “scouting events” as well with other troops, but that was sort of secondary.
Other troops are big on “scouting achievements” like merit badges, “scouting societies” like Order of the Arrow, medals and honors kinda thing, I felt like that would be a bit of a drag. But to each their own.
Definitely varies on area and by troop. Mine was camping or outdoors twice a month at minimum, and pushed to be very active in all the things possible to immerse scouts in scouting. It really felt like the ideal way for the program to be done.
The biggest downside was that drive to do more in proper scout led meant 80% of outings were messy figure out backpacking trip ideas.
Definitely helped shape my opinions on scouting as a trans woman who was barely able to stay in the program after coming out in time with the policy change.
Some troops are also very hostile to being accepting, and do their best to ward off any gay or possibly gay youth in the first place. So if that’s a concern it is still relevant.
I think your local offerings can be a big factor. I grew up in scouts, loved my experience for the most part.
But talking with other people about their experiences can be a mixed bag. Each troop has its own priorities, the national Scouting organization gives troops a lot of flexibility on how they want to run their operation.
My troop, for example, was huge on outdoor activities. We had monthly camping trips, sometimes more than one a month. We did participate in organized “scouting events” as well with other troops, but that was sort of secondary.
Other troops are big on “scouting achievements” like merit badges, “scouting societies” like Order of the Arrow, medals and honors kinda thing, I felt like that would be a bit of a drag. But to each their own.
Definitely varies on area and by troop. Mine was camping or outdoors twice a month at minimum, and pushed to be very active in all the things possible to immerse scouts in scouting. It really felt like the ideal way for the program to be done.
The biggest downside was that drive to do more in proper scout led meant 80% of outings were messy figure out backpacking trip ideas.
Definitely helped shape my opinions on scouting as a trans woman who was barely able to stay in the program after coming out in time with the policy change.
Some troops are also very hostile to being accepting, and do their best to ward off any gay or possibly gay youth in the first place. So if that’s a concern it is still relevant.