Scouting works best when it is Scout led, Scout driven, and adult supported. This is very different from Cub Scouts and most other kid activities. Striking the balance between being supportive and undermining their ability to do things for themselves can be tricky, to say the least. Here are some tips:
-Let Scouts do for themselves, especially packing and unpacking! Lots of Scouts in lots of Troops have complained that mom didn't pack them any socks, only for a whole bunch of untouched socks to be found at the bottom of the bag upon returning home. They should also not be leaving wet tents and muddy boots strewn about when they get home.
-Let Scouts choose their own path. Some Scouts will race towards Eagle, some will work slow and steady, while others may not care about advancement. Some will be focused more on other activities from time to time. Try hard to encourage rather than push. The purpose isn't Eagle; the purpose is becoming the best kind of adult while having a lot of fun.
-Expect imperfection. This program is Scout led and supported by volunteer adults. We strive for excellence, but things don't always run smoothly. Enjoy the detours and glimpses into how our youth, and adults, are learning and growing. If you know you could improve things, please get involved and help us make those improvements.
-Come, participate, but don't be a parent at Scouts. If you come to a campout, you are coming with the the troop, not bringing your child. Of course you can switch to parent-mode in an emergency, but as much as possible, we will assign you to help with not-your-child.
-Keep lines of communication open. Please let a leader know if something seems wrong, odd, or puzzling. We'd like to correct misunderstandings and fix problems sooner rather than later.
-Let us know if your child has special needs or is struggling. We want Scouts to go to their Patrol Leader, the Senior Patrol Leader, or an adult leader on their own, but some Scouts have a harder time than others doing this. We can strategize with you about how to best help them to reach that milestone and how to support them while they are still working on it.
-Take YPT (Youth Protection Training) so you can know about the safety measures we implement and can quickly speak up if we err. If you want to camp with us, get registered and background checked, too. We never want to cancel anything due to lack of adult leaders, and having a deep bench keeps us from having to.
-Get involved, even if you are nervous. It's okay if you can't start a fire to save your life. It's good for our children to see us leaving our comfort zone, asking for help, and learning new skills. If they see you mess up, they learn how to handle it when they mess up. That said, if you are awesome at all the Scout-y stuff, please sign up to help others learn!