WHY JOIN SCOUTING?

Scouting is one of the best places for kids with special needs to grow and excel. It provides a diverse program of fun and learning in areas such as health & fitness, citizenship, art, leadership, community, sports, outdoor skills, cooking, games, moral values, independence, and faith. Cub Scouting is also specifically based on Do Your Best, whatever your individual best is.

I have a son with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. He is 11 years old, but I have him in a wolf den (this is allowed with paperwork from a doctor). While he is somewhat social, he tends not to actually interact with other kids, but does mirror play instead (acts like them but not with them). During our first campout, I was attached to him the entire time to help him out and out of fear that he would have a meltdown. On a recent campout one of the cub scouts came to me and said my son was not playing fair. I was so proud, he was actually playing with them, only not playing by the rules.

Over the years that he has been in scouting, I have seen his independence grow. He no longer wants me with him during scouting events (in a good way). He wants to do things on his own.

As for the rest of the pack, they all know him as one of the cubs. Do the boys know that he is different? Of course they do, but that does bother them.

I know a lot of families who have similar stories, where scouting has really helped their son.

FINIDING THE RIGHT UNIT

“The basic premise of Scouting for youth with special needs is that every boy wants to participate fully and be respected like every other member of his unit. While there are, by necessity, units exclusively composed of Scouts with disabilities, experience has shown that Scouting usually succeeds best when every boy is part of a regular unit.” (BSA POLICY)