Is the Scouting program only 1 hour per week?

I don’t know the origin of the phrase,

Scouting is only 1 hour per week

but it’s definitely a phrase that I’ve heard over and over – especially during my time as an adult Scout leader. In fact, the recruiter at the school Roundup when my son joined Cub Scouts used this phrase, which gave me quite a laugh. It did feel a bit odd to be the only one laughing, but as the reader and fellow Scout leader, I’m sure that you already know that Scouting takes up a bit more than 1 hour per week when done well.

Is Scouting only 1 hour per week?

TL;DR Nope. Especially not as a leader.

As a Scout leader, you’ll find yourself thinking about Scouting quite a bit. You’ll let your mind wander about upcoming adventure lesson ideas, materials you’ll need to grab from the store, upcoming outings, new Scouters who might need to catch up, or Scouts who have missed meetings and not advanced with the rest of the Den, Pack, or Troop. Whatever the reason, you’ll find yourself simply thinking about Scouting quite a bit – AND THAT’S A WONDERFUL THING! That means you’re invested. That means you’re interested. That means your committed to seeing the kiddos in your unit succeed. That means you’re doing your best and that’s great. Give yourself a pat on the back.

Beyond just thinking about Scouting, there are several time commitments:

1. Meeting planning – Be sure to spend some time planning your next meeting. It really makes a difference. Even if you don’t need materials for the meeting, make a plan, read through the necessary items, line up other leads to assist if necessary, etc. Learn more about meeting planning
2. Outings – If you’re taking your youth Scouts on an outing, be sure to plan ahead. Check the weather, trail conditions if you’re hiking, etc. Also, it’s recommended that at least one leader on the outing has been to the destination previously. Always best to be prepared!
3. Errands – If you need to gather materials for your meeting and don’t have them in your craft closet, then you need to be sure to work in time to run out for materials. (And yes, we have a craft closet at our house. My wife is amazing and has most necessary materials for any activity. Many Scout Units also have a collection of craft and project materials if they are an established Pack/Troop. Check with other leaders too to see if they have materials you could borrow.)
4. Meetings – Here’s the real hour commitment, but even then by the time you arrive, setup, have the meeting, and pack up, you’re usually WELL OVER an hour.

So, it’s more than an hour. But is it worth it?

Of course Scouting is worth it! As soon as your child learns a new skill, or one of your Scouts completes an requirement that you taught, you’ll be hooked. Scouting is all about servant leadership, but dang if it doesn’t feel good to give someone else a new skill. Especially being able to teach a child a new skill – that’s something they’ll likely take with them forever.

Make an impact – be a Scout leader.