To be annoyed at cub 'leader'

[goodgrief54]

My son started at cubs in April and to say it is a shambles is an understatement. They do not do anything I would expect and instead play dodgeball for 90 percent of the time. They have started to work towards badges but then don't finish them, he hasn't had a single badge the whole time of being there.. we have not paid a penny either as despite repeatedly asking they are not organised enough to know how to sort this out. I know that the leader gives up time to be there but doesn't plan anything at all and spends the first ten minutes eating her dinner when she arrives. I thought you had to have some sort of training to be a cub leader and am surprised that this can even be called cubs. my son likes going as all his friends go but am I being unreasonable to complain and risk it being closed down all together??

I have a toddler too feeling festive

That's awful about pick up david what sort of excuses did they give? I wouldn't even think not to pick up on time!

It sound like you put in a lot of effort but I'm sure you agree (whether a volunteer or not) what the OP is describing is pretty pants.

The problem is our generation are really too busy to be cub leaders. What we really need is grandmas/retired people who have the time to organise it properly.

But neunu look you probably do a great job - I dont know you sound passionate but you cant possibly say that just because you dont do someone elese role (paid or unpaid) that you are not entitled to an opinion on it?

My only thing with my group is I feel bad because I could not do the 3 x 2hrs thing in cold at night re toddler. This is becauase of the way a letter was worded. Also he has been going for nearly a year and has not got one badge, it makes me wonder what they have been doing...can you understand that - and I'm asking this as genuine question.

So again if a person is volunteering in whatever situation or capacity they can set their own standards and are not accountable?

Sorry feelingfestive. I didn't realize having a toddler meant you couldnt help out with admin and planning sessions or even taking a register.

Oh flipchart - I have offered to do this reading the posts properly

^^ What cog says.

festive re: the toddler bit, it is a stock response/get-out clause that too many people throw at us for any and every request for help, and it hits a nerve, I'm afraid.

david whether we agree or not about the volunteering/opinion issue, it sounds like you did your best in a crappy situation. If parents were disrespectful in the way you described I can understand why you would not want to listen to people like that.

festive, if your offers of help aren't being accepted, feel free to PM me and I can tell you how you might be able to work around that problem. It isn't unheard of by any means.

Feeling festive you are totally entitled not to volunteer a lot of people don't and I see nothing wrong with that. However it sounds incredibly entitled to set such high standards for some thing you won't do yourself. My unit goes away and I do not go with them as I bf my toddler and cannot see days apart benefitting him however if work required it I would do it. Volunteering is not the same as paid employment.

waltons do you think IABU y not doing the 3 x 2 hrs 6-8pm during december with a toddler? This is what my issue is with, plus no bagdges in nearly a year.

No neun I am not setting the standards my point is if you do a role paid or not there are standards set by the organisation - like what and how you deliver the core aims and values. As I Understand it Scouts is very strucured.

I don't help at my sons cubs. But I do their accounts. I collect the subs, trip fees etc and pay the money into the bank. I can do this at home. Why don't you do this to help then you don't need to stand outside for hours in the cold.

No, of course YANBU, festive. I wouldn't expect that of you, but I would always ask if there was something else you could do instead. That dialogue is clearly missing in your Group.

No badges isn't unheard of either. When we go to parades you see whole Packs with barely a badge between them, and other Groups whose Cubs look like Christmas trees, they have so many badges.

Badge recording is a fiddly task, but also very rewarding. It is an ideal task for someone with a bit of time to spare, but who can't help at weekly meetings ...

I have Pm'd you walton

I woldnt be surprised if Ive outed myself on this thread!

Re the badges, I don't have boys so can only speak from brownies point of view. My dds have looked through the book and worked for badges they fancy doing on their own eg book lover, writer, dancer etc.

Sometimes Brown owl does a badge as a pack, they've done First Aid and Circus skills as these are difficult to do alone.

feeling could you not look through the badges with your ds and see what he fancies doing? As I said with brownies, most of the badges they are expected to work for themselves.

I have dancegirl I have seen two badges I think we coud go for and maybe do over Christmas related to hobbies, sport and crafts.

I'm going to see what walton suggests and have thought about approaching one particular leader to see if there are alternatives.

There are loads that Cubs can do at home/outside meetings:

Animal carer
Artist
Chef
Cyclist
Astronomer
DIY
Equestrian (horses for courses, that one)
Book reader
Collector
Hobbies
Home Help
Martial Arts
My Faith
Physical Recreation
Skater
Sports Enthusiast
I.T. Staged badges
Swimmer Staged badges

Link to the requirements here for anyone who wants them.

Just check that you won't be stepping on anyone's toes by doing them at home, but it hardly sounds as if you will be.

My main concern would be that the leaders may not follow through by actually awarding the badges once they've been earned. (Another "not unheard of", I'm afraid.)

waltons I have seen some children with lots of badges in our group, but just thought it was because they have been there longer.

I do know someone took a model in recently and got a badge so i will have to check out whats what with the leader. I have no problems with the leaders themselves they all seem very nice and keep a very large colony in check. They also seem to do a lot. DS has done lots to do with safety and nature etc - but no bagdes.

I could say more but may out myself but out local Scouts groups is quite big and there is alot going on especially at the fundrasing side.

Oo could easy do the book reader one...to didnt see that. Thanks waltons

This was why DP gave up as a cub leader, frankly ... Everyone wanted to bitch and moan and no-one wanted to actually help ( they all had magnificant excuses )

He didn't feel he could do a good enough job with the help he had and pulled the plug - que chorus of " Oh shame! Will no-one consider the children " etc ...

You've got two choices, basically - Pitch in and help improve things or stop moaning, enjoy the free-ish child care and your son's pleasure in bouncing around with his mates.

festive, you aren't outing yourself with that. Most big Groups are constantly fundraising. You could be anywhere in the country and within a ten mile radius there will be a Group that is trying to raise a shed load of money for something or other - a minibus, a new hut, new tents, kayaks, whatever.

Are you still a cub leader Maryz?