My son was a cub scout for several years and just became a Boy Scout. My husband was a boy scout and thought it would be good for my son. That being said - I totally hate the Boy Scout organization for a lot of reasons and I’ve been overruled on this issue at home.
The Cub Scouts weren’t too bad. There were a mostly kids from school and the parents were all nice. The leader was great and very dedicated. How much you do and learn is really up the the leader. Some leaders are better than others. We met twice a month as our little group and each meeting they did a project. Once a month they entire group met - all the different cub scouts groups and weeblos. I don’t know what it cost to join but you do have to buy uniforms and each year there is a new color hat and tie and book. We did a few field trips that cost money (Whale Watching, some nature centers, Camporee, etc.) but some places gave discounts to Cub Scouts. We did a lot of free trips too. I put together a free tour of a radio station for their communications patch. We went hiking in different areas.
The fund raising was mostly selling popcorn (I basically sold to myself, my parents and some people at work) and a dinner once a year where we ate bad food and had a silent auction for things that people donated.
Parents were always with the kids in Cub Scouts. In Boy Scouts the parents don’t do as much and the younger kids are supervised by the older kids. These older kids are 14, 15, 16. These are the ones I don’t trust. I make sure my husband is there supervising since my son is just turning 11 this month. We really don’t like the people in our Boy Scout group but my son refuses to change groups. At their campouts the boys are not allowed to share a tent with their parents. The 14 year old said the the 10 and 11 year olds had to sleep with the older boys. My husband said absolutely not. My son and his 2 friends stayed together in one tent and the dads slept nearby.
Hope this helps with your decision.
I hope this helps with your decision.