ladybugcub

I’m in a dilemma. Our pack is smaller (30 started and down to 18) and as much as I love it, we don’t have a lot of leadership beside me and a couple other inconsistent parents. I know that is a common theme, so the root of my issue. i know my son did not get the full experience he could with Arrow of Light because he was the only one. We tried to do activities with the Webelos (who I also lead). I’m so worried that my daughter starting this year won’t get the experience. The pack we are part of encompasses two elementaries, one with 400-500 students and one with 125 students. Both towns are heavily sports focused, and students are often ridiculed by peers if they are not in a sport. Parents don’t have the dedication to scouting and let their child decide to just quit and play the sport for a couple year, and then not get back into scouting. As it stands, we don’t have every scout at den meetings until late October and then they all start sports in March. I’ve mentioned that if the parents are choosing sports over Scouts then maybe their Scout just won’t make rank. They can still have fun, work on stuff, and benefit from the program, but just not make rank. I was told that would alienate so many and maybe we should have two den meetings. But those parents don’t want to lead the meetings. I informed them that isn’t really fair to the den leader who volunteers their time to have to be there two nights because their scout wants to do both. I worry my daughter will be the only lion and I don’t want her to have a negative experience. I am heavily vested in this pack. We were on the brink of dissolving when I stepped in and started to fix everything. I love that we can know everyone’s name. But should I move to a larger pack? My son is going to a troop 30 minutes away and the pack there meets on the same night also. I hate to leave this pack to flounder because no one wants to take over, but I also want to think of my children. It’s just hard to stomach that the scouts we have will probably quit if we do not have a local pack because the parents won’t drive 30 minutes to the next town over either. I want everyone to benefit from the values, but at what expense? Any advice would help.