After Cub Scouts
A parent's guide to Scouts BSA and choosing a troop.
Scouts BSA is what comes after Cub Scouts. This page starts with a chance to see it in person, then explains how it works and how to choose a troop if your Scout decides to keep going.
Scouting 101: Saturday, October 3
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Drop in for a few minutes or stay the whole morning, rain or shine.
Scouts BSA troops set up booths and hands-on activities across the grounds, and Scouts can complete a passport challenge as they go. Troop 505 is also bringing Cub Mobile gravity racing, so bring a bike helmet if your Scout wants a turn.
Nothing to decide, prepare, or sign up for. Just come and look around.
Bethany Lutheran Church
3701 W Slaughter Lane, Austin, TX 78749
The Big Picture
What is Scouts BSA? The next program after Cub Scouts, for older youth, roughly ages 11 to 17. Same Scouting values, more adventure, and much more of the leadership comes from the Scouts themselves. Scouts work in small groups called patrols, elect their own youth leaders, and plan much of what the troop does, while adults guide from the side. Camping is a bigger part of the program, and Scouts can work toward merit badges and ranks all the way to Eagle.
Where do Webelos and Arrow of Light fit? Webelos is 4th grade. Arrow of Light is 5th grade, and it wraps up in March when Pack 535 hosts our crossover event, the moment Scouts move up to a troop. Webelos families have a good stretch of Cub Scouting ahead, and Arrow of Light families are close to the decision.
Do we have to continue? Continuing is a family choice, and every answer is a good one. Some Scouts move up to a troop right away, some take a break, and some find other things they love. Whatever your family decides, the Pack is proud of everything your Scout has done.
Choosing a Troop
In Cub Scouts, Scouts are grouped into dens by grade inside one Pack, so there is one place for every Scout. Troops work differently. Each troop is its own independent group, and families choose among several.
Choosing a troop is a lot like choosing a college. Each one has its own personality, and the best fit depends on the Scout. Nobody picks a college from a brochure. Visit, walk around, ask questions, and notice how the students treat each other. Troops are the same, and there is no wrong answer.
What to look at when visiting:
Meeting night and place. Does it fit around school, sports, and family?
Size. Small and close-knit, or larger with more variety.
Camping style. Car camping, backpacking, themed trips, summer camps.
Scout leadership. How much the Scouts plan and run, compared with the adults.
Culture. Laid back, structured, competitive, silly. Watch how older Scouts treat younger ones.
Friends. Some Scouts pick a troop together with friends, others pick on their own. Either works.
Cost. Dues and camp costs vary, so ask each troop.
Cost Should Never Keep a Scout Out
If cost is ever a question for your family, please reach out. Every Scout who wants to keep going belongs in Scouting, and we will help you find a way to make it work. Email pack535.cubmaster@gmail.com. The conversation stays between us.
Single gender troops. Most Scouts BSA troops are either all boys or all girls. Thunderbird District currently has one girls' troop, Troop 19, and the district can point you to girls' troops in nearby districts too.
Find Troops Near You
Troops start, merge, and change meeting places, so the best list is always the one kept by Thunderbird District. It has the current troops, meeting nights, and places, and it is the first stop when you are ready to visit.
Tip: reach out to a troop before you visit. Some move their meeting spot for activities, and a quick message means someone is ready to welcome you.
Scouting 101 on October 3 is also the easiest way to meet many troops in one morning. More from the district: Thunderbird District · District events
Want to talk it through?
Email pack535.cubmaster@gmail.com. No question is too small, and there is no rush.