How many of us got into Scouting knowing it all? Go ahead, raise your hands. The truth, as I’ve discovered over the last few months, is that you primarily learn by experience. Sure, there are manuals you can purchase and use as guides, but there are still so many questions. Where do you go for answers?

I was fortunate to have a girlfriend that has over 20 years experience in BSA who could guide me when I felt lost. There was no magic handbook handed over to me when I stepped up, and there are a lot of intricacies (like what does and does not go on official uniforms) that require you to dig to find answers. I got tired of bugging the tar out of her, so I started searching online.

The first resource I found was the ScoutBook forums. You can find people with literally decades of experience. While helpful, I also found myself intimidated, sometimes almost on the verge of belittled on things I asked. In one forum, I was actually bullied but multiple individuals because my son earned an award that had been previously a nationally-recognized one but was now only still available through several councils. I was taken aback that grown men, a couple I assumed from their photos were a decade older than me, were picking on the fact that a six year old got a patch he could wear on his red achievement vest (I refuse to call them brag vests). I decided to stop participating there, though I go back from time to time if someone responds to a thread I posted on.

So I then turned to Facebook. I use it a lot for my day job (animal shelter director), so I figured there had to be at least one group out there for Cub Scout leaders. Turns out, there’s dozens. After browsing and trying this and that, I finally settled on a group that seems to be a lot of leaders like me: wanting to simply make a great program experience for their sons, dens and packs. If you’re not there already, head over to the Cub Scout Volunteers page, 4600 participants strong. This is by far the best virtual roundtable I’ve found, and a great way to bounce ideas and get feedback.