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  • SeattlePioneer's Avatar
    SeattlePioneer
    Senior Member
    • May 2005
    • 3603

    Boys Life

    #1
    12-01-2012, 01:16 PM
    Do you see value in Boys Life?

    Does your pack make use of Boys Life in their program?

    Does your Pack purchase Boys Life subscriptions for all Scouts when rechartering?

    Personally, I don't see much value for Boys Life for my pack unless Den Leaders wanted to use it as part of their program on a regular basis. My pack has quite a few low income families, and spending another $10/year is not something I would ask unless there is a good reason for doing so.

    So.....

    What use do you get from Boys Life if you subscribe, and what use is made of it as part of your den and pack program, if any?
    Tags: None

  • packsaddle's Avatar
    packsaddle
    Super Moderator
    • Dec 1999
    • 7180
    #2
    12-01-2012, 02:45 PM
    No
    No
    Option to each family, if a family wants it but can't afford it the CO will pay the difference. (they help by maintaining a used uniform exchange and other stuff too).

    Comment


    • Second Class's Avatar
      Second Class
      Senior Member
      • Aug 2011
      • 275
      #3
      12-01-2012, 02:59 PM
      We did not provide Boy's Life for a number of years. Two years ago, we started including the subscription with dues, and the response has been well received. The boys enjoy getting their own magazine delivered to them, and each month there are one or two good stories of high adventure camping which they like.

      So on the whole, I like it and will continue to provide it with dues.

      Comment


      • SeattlePioneer's Avatar
        SeattlePioneer
        Senior Member
        • May 2005
        • 3603
        #4
        12-01-2012, 04:36 PM
        Hello Second Class,

        Is this a pack or troop?

        Do you use Boys life as part of your program?

        Casual reading is fine, but I'm especially interested in if it's used as a part of your pack or den program.

        Comment


        • Eagle92's Avatar
          Eagle92
          Junior Member
          • Aug 2008
          • 7243
          #5
          12-01-2012, 06:05 PM
          I do see the value of Boys' Life as it does promote reading, give the Cubs esp. a "my own magazine" feel, and has some good articles.

          Pack does not use it for programing nor pick up the tab for it. The CO use to pay the recharter fees for us, our dues went to advancements and supplies. But now we are paying to it. Has made it challenging.

          Comment


          • Eagle732's Avatar
            Eagle732
            Junior Member
            • Dec 2007
            • 1439
            #6
            12-01-2012, 08:30 PM
            The old BL had some good info in it. Skills, make your own gear and lots of stories.
            Had a guy give me 7 years of BL magazines from the 50s the other day. My son looked at them, his first statement was "these are BIG magazines". Then he started looking through them and said "who's this Greenbar guy? He knows a lot of stuff"

            Comment


            • SeattlePioneer's Avatar
              SeattlePioneer
              Senior Member
              • May 2005
              • 3603
              #7
              12-02-2012, 12:37 AM
              My DE often looks reproachfully at me when I haven't checked the "Boys Life Box." But I aint spending the scarce dollars of the families in the pack without a good reason to do so.

              The best reason I can think of would be that the Den Leaders would find enough utility in the magazine that they could use it as part of their program.

              What I should have done was get some extra copies I could spread around to Den Leaders and to parents at committee meetings and got their opinions and input for that early.

              Doing that about October would have been about right. Well, something else to think about for next year.

              Comment


              • Eagle732's Avatar
                Eagle732
                Junior Member
                • Dec 2007
                • 1439
                #8
                12-02-2012, 04:55 AM
                You can view 100 years of Boy's Life free through Google Books.
                http://books.google.com/books?id=b2YEAAAAMBAJ&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad= 1&atm_aiy=2010#all_issues_anchor

                Comment


                • Jeffrey H's Avatar
                  Jeffrey H
                  Senior Member
                  • Apr 2006
                  • 639
                  #9
                  12-03-2012, 08:41 AM
                  Answer to OP:

                  1) Yes
                  2) No
                  3) No

                  I highly encourage families to subscribe but we do not require it. As a CM, I do pick up my son's Boy's Life and occassionally get some new ideas for outings or events. I do not believe that Boy's Life keeps boys in the program but serves simply as a supplement to the program. If you have an active program and the boys are having a good time, they will stay.

                  Comment


                  • ScoutNut's Avatar
                    ScoutNut
                    Senior Member
                    • May 2002
                    • 4861
                    #10
                    12-03-2012, 09:46 AM
                    >>"Do you see value in Boys Life? ">"Does your pack make use of Boys Life in their program?">"Does your Pack purchase Boys Life subscriptions for all Scouts when rechartering?"

                    Comment


                    • SeattlePioneer's Avatar
                      SeattlePioneer
                      Senior Member
                      • May 2005
                      • 3603
                      #11
                      12-03-2012, 10:53 AM
                      Hmmmm. No one so far has said that they use Boys Life as a part of their regular program.

                      Seems like Boys Life is really missing the boat on that.

                      Comment


                      • WasE61's Avatar
                        WasE61
                        Senior Member
                        • Aug 2012
                        • 157
                        #12
                        12-03-2012, 11:05 AM
                        No.

                        No.

                        It shows up at my house, my Scout as never opened one. Gets thrown out with the newspapers and other magazines, catalogs, etc. on a periodic (sic) basis.

                        Some magazines I don't even let in the house...like the one that he gets because his Grandpa bought him a lifetime membership to the NRA when he was 6.

                        Comment


                        • Sentinel947's Avatar
                          Sentinel947
                          Super Moderator
                          • Jul 2012
                          • 353
                          #13
                          12-03-2012, 11:06 AM
                          I agree with W61 on this one. I don't think Boy's Life is worth it's cost. I think my Sister read it more than I did.

                          Comment


                          • Austinole's Avatar
                            Austinole
                            Junior Member
                            • Oct 2009
                            • 146
                            #14
                            12-03-2012, 12:33 PM
                            Yes.
                            Not yet, but that's a great idea.
                            Yes.

                            My son enjoys getting it and reading it. Using it as part of my den meetings is a great idea.

                            Comment


                            • Sqyire21's Avatar
                              Sqyire21
                              Member
                              • Aug 2012
                              • 66
                              #15
                              01-13-2013, 08:56 PM
                              In our pack, we don't use it for our program, and if the family intially paid for it, we'll renew it.

                              For my families part: my son and I both love to read 'most' of these.. but not all of them have very good articles.

                              I do believe the magazine does a good job of promoting Scouting, and helps boys stay active in the program...so for that part, I certainly see vale.

                              Comment

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