Parenting Through the Ranks

By David Harakal

Unlock your child's Scouting potential with Parenting Through the Ranks. Help your child make the most of their Scouting opportunities. Discover sound advice, experiential learning, and wisdom. Learn from my triumphs and failures as a parent and longtime Scout leader.

 

Cub Scouts, Scouts, Scouts BSA, Trail Life, American Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts, and Girl Guides provide the world's best youth leadership training. Other resources exist to understand these programs. I focus on how to parent, providing compelling advice that syncs up with your child's Scouting stage , to help you harness the myriad Scouting opportunities to help your child discover their unique gifts and talents.

 

You will learn how to help your Scout:

• Make the most of their Scouting advancement
• Conquer their fears
• Find new interests or hobbies
• Develop outdoor skills
• Explore potential careers

Additionally, find sample conversations to engage with your child at every stage of their Scouting journey.

 

You are crucial to your child's Scouting success.

 

Parenting Through the Ranks will help you improve your relationship with your child, preparing your family for positive and engaging teen years. With this book in hand, become a facilitator and confidant in your child's Scouting journey. Mom and Dad, being prepared is the best first step. The reward will be clear to see!

 

Grab Parenting Through the Ranks now and take the first step to unlocking your child's potential!

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Harakal
• Release date: Aug 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986340845

David Harakal

David Harakal lives in the Middle East/North Africa. In 2020, he left his 30-year career in corporate finance and marketing (including over 20 years at IBM) to work with Christians outside of North America. Before leaving, he served as an elder at the Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas, averaging 8,000 in weekly attendance. He and his wife have two grown, married children. Connect with David through his website at www.dharakalauthor.org.

Book preview

PARENTING

THROUGH

THE RANKS

---

HOW TO RAISE SUCCESSFUL SCOUTS

---

DAVID HARAKAL

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Preface

Scout Parent— This Book Is for You

DISCLAIMER

Why You Need to Read This Book

My Qualifications

My Background

Our Scouts

What Is Scouting?

Mission

Vision

Value of Scouting

Scout Oath

Scout Law

Prepared. For Life.

Scouting’s Bottom Line

Scout Parenting Foundations

How to Start Scouting

Evaluate Your Parenting

Consistency

Experiential Learning Tools

Family Dynamics

Cub Scouts—Lion to Bear

Prepare Your Child for Cub Scouts

Help Your Child Disengage without Conflict

Your Role in the Den and Pack

Recommended Adult Training

Advancement

Camping

If Your Scout Wants to Quit

Costs

Fears and Concerns

Sample Conversations

Recap - Cub Scouts—Lion to Bear

Cub Scouts—Webelos Rank

Build Your Relationship

Prepare Your Child for Scouts BSA

Learn about Big Scouts

Celebrate Your Webelos Scout

Recommended Adult Training

Costs

Should Mom or Dad Be More Involved?

Fears and Concerns

Sample Conversations

Parent–Daughter Conversation

Parent–Son Conversation

Recap - Cub Scouts—Webelos Rank

Scouts BSA— Scout to First Class

Advancement: First Class First

Invest in Your Child . . . Before It Is Too Late

Scouting Success Strategies

Recommended Adult Training

Family Meetings

Costs

Should Mom or Dad Be More Involved?

Fears and Concerns

Bullying

Sample Conversations

Recap - Scouts BSA—Scout to First Class

Scouts BSA—Star to Eagle

Advancement: Merit Badges

High Adventure and the Increasing Cost of Failure

Burnout and Competing Interests

Caution for Parents of Scouts Approaching Eagle

Friendship with Your Child

For Fathers of Daughters

Fears and Concerns

Sample Conversations

Recap - Scouts BSA—Star to Eagle

Duty to God

Religious Emblems

Your Child’s Faith

Fears and Concerns

Sample Conversation

The Role of Faith in Scouting

Recap - Duty to God

Parting Thoughts

Be Your Child’s Chronicler

Pick Your Battles

Be the Best Parent You Can Be

Want to Know More?

Additional Resources

General Parenting

Raising Sons

Raising Daughters

Navigating the Scouts BSA Program

Questions to Ask a Prospective Cub Scout Pack

Questions to Ask a Prospective Scouts BSA troop, Venturing crew, or Sea Scout ship

About the Author

Copyright © 2023, David Harakal

All rights reserved. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal or professional services. While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional when appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, personal, or other damages. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical (including any information storage retrieval system) without the express written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations for use in articles and reviews wherein appropriate attribution of the source is made.

First Printing Edition August 1, 2023

Version 1.0.0

ISBN: 979-8-9863408-3-8 (Paperback)

ISBN: 979-8-9863408-5-2 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 979-8-9863408-4-5 (E-book)

For bulk purchase, contact: David Harakal, [e-mail]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links contained in this book may have been changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The content of this book and all expressed opinions are those of the author. The author is solely responsible for all content included herein.

Boy Scouts of America Trademarks

Boy Scouts of America, Scouts BSA, BSA, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Webelos, Scout Life [Magazine], Boy’s Life [Magazine], Wood Badge, Merit Badge, Eagle Scout, Hight Adventure, Order of the Arrow, Philmont, Sea Scouts, Venturing, Explorer, Be Prepared, and others are trademarks of the Boy Scouts of America, a United States corporation, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75261, United States.

Girl Scouts of the United States of America Trademarks

Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Girl Scouts USA, Girl Scouts, Girl Scout Daisy, Girl Scout Brownie, Girl Scout Junior, Girl Scout Cadette, Girl Scout Senior, Girl Scout Ambassador, and others are trademarks of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, a United States corporation, 420 Fifth Avenue at 37th Street, New York, New York 10018, United States.

Trail Life USA Trademarks

Trail Life USA, Trail Life Woodlands Trail, Trail Life Navigator, Trail Life Adventurer and others are trademarks of Trail Life USA, a United States corporation, 10612 Augusta Rd, Belton, South Carolina 29627, United States.

American Heritage Girls Trademarks

American Heritage Girls, American Heritage Girls Pathfinder, American Heritage Girls Tenderheart, American Heritage Girls Explorer, American Heritage Girls Pioneer, American Heritage Girls Patriot, and others are trademarks of American Heritage Girls, a United States corporation, 35 Tri County Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, United States.

World Organization of the Scout Movement Trademarks

World Organization of the Scout Movement, World Scout, Scouts, Beavers, Cubs, Explorers, Faith Activity Badges and others are trademarks of World Scouting, legally headquartered at World Scout Bureau, Rue du Pré-Jérôme, P.O. Box 91, CH - 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Trademarks

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, WAGGGS, Girl Guides, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and others are trademarks of the World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, headquartered at World Bureau, Olave Centre, 12c Lyndhurst Road, London, NW3 5PQ, United Kingdom.

Fair Use: The publisher and author claim no ownership interest in any of these trademarks, but claim fair use of them under the doctrine of nominative fair use. This book uses very limited direct quotes from Scouting publications, but where it does, the author claims fair use under 17 USC section 107.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023909302

Cover design by Ruth Gunadi @ elQue.design | 99Designs

Interior layout by Kathy Lee

Edited by Siobhan Gallagher

Proofread by Abbey McLaughlin

FIRST EDITION

Acknowledgments

Thank you to all the Scouters who taught me Scouting and joined my wife and children in refining my parenting.

Particular thanks to Bill Bryson, Ron Luke, Bob Oatman,

and Johanna van der Zwan for their valuable advice when reviewing

my manuscript, and my sister, Cora, for her review and editing.

Our children, Callie and Timothy, survived my parenting blunders—

and ended up amazing.

My long-suffering wife endured and gently corrected me.

I love you, Suzanne, and thank you for your partnership in raising

our two successful Scouts.

Preface

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil

is for good men to do nothing.

– EDMUND BURKE

The spirit is there in every boy;

it has to be discovered and brought to light.

– ROBERT BADEN-POWELL

I needed this book when I was a Scout dad. Had it existed, and had I the humility to follow the advice it contains, my children’s Scouting experiences would have been more meaningful, my relationship with them would have been deeper and richer, and I would have been a more thoughtful husband.

Do not make the same mistakes—make new ones! was my signature phrase when I conducted training courses. Scouting reflects that sentiment. So should parenting. Scouting, Scouts, and Scouters improved how I raised my children. I wrote this book for you to benefit from what I learned.

Parents, I would be unfaithful to the Scout Law if I did not provide you the benefit of my hard-won wisdom. I spent over twenty years raising a daughter and a son, including a dozen as a Scout parent. Why should you repeat the errors I made or saw others make? Improve on what I did well and what better parents taught me. Then go make new mistakes and learn from them (and e-mail them to me so I can add them to future revisions)!

Scouting teaches respect for others, leadership, and citizenship. These should apply to the family first. I loved our children’s teen years. Yes, you read that correctly. We butted heads at times as a strong-willed parent raising strong-willed children, but we maintained mutual respect and enjoyed relatively open dialogue. That is the other reason I wrote this book. I want to help other parents enjoy parenting, not suffer through it—to delight in their children, not tolerate them. Teen years characterized by conflict are not inevitable—they are a joint effort created over time.

Your Scout needs you to be the best parent you can be to enable him or her to become the best person they can be. I hope this book will help.

David Harakal

August 2023

CHAPTER ONE

Scout Parent—

This Book Is for You

An invaluable step in character training is to put

responsibility on the individual.

– ROBERT BADEN-POWELL

Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime.¹

– MICHAEL B. SURBAUGH,

CHIEF SCOUT EXECUTIVE,

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA®

Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.

– JULIETTE GORDON LOW, FOUNDER,

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA

Walk worthy.

– TRAIL LIFE USA MOTTO

American Heritage Girls love to serve.

– PATTY GARIBAY, FOUNDER

If you want your child to succeed in Scouts, desire mutual respect during