Pinewood Derby

Okay ... I am taking the chance of sounding like a superficial materialistic mom here but ....

Zachary had his pinewood derby for Cub Scouts this week. I used to be over the Cub Scout pack that my kids were in back in Arizona and we really tried to make it a BIG deal. Probably because my husband grew up with it being a big deal. He still has all three of his cars and a trophy from the one year he one.

The pack we are in now didn't think it was a big deal and didn't put any time into it. They didn't even know if the track would work until an hour before it started and we had to stop a couple of times for them to duct tape it back together! I volunteered to make certificates for all the boys and then they asked me to make a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbon for the winners. I made the ribbons last month for a different activity that all of the boys received if they participated. I asked if they were going to do trophies and they didn't want to spend the money for them. They were only five dollars and you would only need 3. I decided to keep my mouth shut being that it wasn't my job and I made the ribbons. Well, Zachary happened to have the fastest car and I must admit, I was very disappointed that he was given the ribbon that looks just like the one he got last month for making a cake. I keep telling myself that it isn't important and that it was the fun of racing and making the car with his dad that is important. BUT ... I keep thinking that if we had been in Arizona he would have a trophy that he could keep as a memory. I have even considered buying him his own trophy ... how tacky is that?!!!

I guess I am just venting. I had no idea I would have such strong feelings about this.

Robin

[PrincessFiona]

Pinewood Derby

I have to tell you, Robyn, that I was really disappointed by our pinewood derby this year...This is our first year in boyscouts and so I wasn't sure of what to expect...

We were kind of freaked out by the hooha that they made about the cars to be honest...Thomas and Andrew did theirs together and shared the load....my husband isn't...errr...very gifted in the wood-working department, but the two of them did their best and felt good about it...that is until we showed up and realized 1. that the scale at the grocery store had underweighted our car...we had to take off our weights and then stick on some ones that they had provided...and 2. people go absolutley nuts, crazy, out-of-their minds about these cars...I am telling you, Robyn that not one of those boys could have made that car or had any part of it..these things looked good enough to sell....I spoke to some of the dads who had built them in wood shops....I felt like it was unfair to Andrew and Thomas who had worked on it together and planned it together...how can my 8 year old compete against someone else's dad who has a wood shop? (sorry to sound bitter...I have a lot of strong feelings about it too)

Anyway....Andrew's car was actually pretty fast.....but they kept screwing up which lane they put the cars in ...one race he took first and they placed him last...one of the other dads got up and said "no..my son is not first...he is last and Andrew's car took first"...the judges tried to tell him that he was wrong...so we all tried to talk to the judges and they didn't care....It was so dumb to get upset about it, but there he had taken first in the race and was awarded last

I'm very disappointed in the boyscouts in general...things are very poorly organized and are frankly..boring. We had a blue and gold ceremony here that was so poorly done...no decorations really...extremely long and boring....some of the younger boys actually sat at the table and cried at the end...I had to send Thomas home with Amanda and Alex because they just couldn't sit there anymore..It was awful. The derby race was the same thing..no decorations, no fanfare....and the kids weren't allowed to touch their cars...all the races were done by the judging committee...probably standard...but it was so horribly boring that we didn't even stay for Andrew to get his ribbon He ended up placing 5th in his group.

They did have trophies...but honestly, I don't even think we would have stayed if he had won one..it was so boring...How can you make something that fun be that boring?

I don't know, Robin...I'm sort of hoping that he won't want to do this next year....

As to your trophy dilemna, Robin...If I were you..I'd have one made for him

Kris

[Rapunzel]

I have heard good and bad opinions of the boy/cub scouts. I am curious, were your cubscout packs sponsored by the LDS church? (The LDS church actually makes up a huge percentage of most cubscout packs and boyscout troops in the US). The reason I am curious about it is the LDS church-sponsored troops and packs tend to be well-funded with experienced, enthusiastic leaders (and the emphasis should always be on the boys learning and having fun - not superficial things like ceremonies and trophies). I am currently in the Primary presidency and I am over a portion of this (ie cub scouts) in our ward (congregation) and that is why I am curious I suppose. (Although you find most of the troops in Mass are Catholic sponsored with a few being LDS sponsored and fewer still being Protestant sponsored and others). Sorry you guys are having such bad experiences! It is truly a shame!

Well, compared to Kris' experience, our pinewood derby was AWESOME! I know totally what you mean about it being obvious that the kids didn't do it. In Arizona we had a couple of kids who won every year and it was OBVIOUS that the kids ddn't do them. And we had to follow the rules absolutely perfectly or parents would get upset.

On the other hand, here in Texas it really was much more laid back. That is why I was surprised that Zachary did so well because the cars were made by the kids. Jacob never did well in Arizona. There wasn't one upset parent that I know of. So ... from that perspective it was a great pinewood derby and it wasn't boring. I guess I shouldn't be complaining!

My pack is LDS sponsored. I was called to be the pack committee chairman and my husband was the cubmaster in Arizona. We just went all out and the current couple leading the pack didn't put any time into the pinewood derby. They did a great job on the blue and gold banquet but did NOTHING for the derby. I made the certificates, ribbons, racing chart, decorations, refreshments and even a cute poem to start the race. I guess I was just frustrated because I did everything except set up the track and run the race and they didn't put the track up until right before with all kinds of problems and then she kept changing her mind on how to run the race. We have plenty of money in the budget to have done trophies but she didn't want to take the time to do it. It is very hard for me to step back in this situation (obviously something I need to work on).

In my experience with LDS packs, it all depends on the ward you are in and the people called to do cub scouts. Some people really don't want to do it but they accept the calling and they only put in a half-hearted attempt. That makes me sad and frustrated because I think it has so much potential for the boys.

For the non-LDS people reading this, becoming the pack committee chairman or the cubmaster in an LDS pack is not something we volunteer for. It is something we are asked to do by our Bishop. If we accept, which I always try to do, then we are committing to doing our best. That is how I ended up a den leader for 2 1/2 years when Jacob was only 4 years old. I volunteer as a parent now just to help out but I am finding myself being asked to do much more than I have time to and the person asking me not doing a whole lot. I like to help because I want it to be fun and exciting for the boys.

I will post more later. Got to get dinner done.

Robin

[Rapunzel]

Thanks for the added info, Robin. I understand what you were saying much better, now! I hope things improve with next year's Pinewood Derby!

Kris - I didn't really get to address your pinewood derby experience yesterday because I had to go. I am sorry that you have had such a bad experience with cub scouts. I think it is a wonderful program but it all depends on the person running it and the den leaders to how successful it is. It is supposed to be fun and educational at the same time. Zachary has the best den leader right now and he absolutely LOVES cub scouts. It is the monthly pack meetings that frustrate me in our situation but Zachary doesn't seem to notice so it is mostly my problem.

I hope the rest of the year goes better. I will try to quit complaining!

Robin

[DCJenn]

The troop leader really can make a huge difference in the experiences of the participants. I was a brownie and then a girl scout up until the junior high level. The woman who volunteered to be the troop leader was just not in tune with young teenage girls. We wanted to be outside doing things and she wanted us to be inside learning to cook and sew. (all great things of course- but geez!) So my best friend and I dropped out. We really liked the experiences that we did get before that one year- we camped and went horseback riding, we went on field trips and generally did really fun and interesting things. I guess what bothered us the most was the focus on preparing for being wives and mothers- at 13? I didn't even like boys- let alone wanted to even think about actually being married to one! I'm not prepared yet and I'm 36!! Oh well, hope everyone's troops improve!

Jenn