Pinewood Derby: For the Scouts or the Dads?
By KrabbyPatty
@KrabbyPatty (64)
United States
December 30, 2006 9:52pm CST
It's Pinewood Derby season in our home. I have one son in Boy Scouts. Ever since he aged out of cub scouts, I think my husband has been counting down the days until our younger son entered the cub scouts. Why? For the pinewood derby, of course!
Yes, we want him to learn values and skills, and develop social skills in an environment we can supervise. But then there's the annual Pinewood Derby. Every Dad's...er...scout's chance to be the best of the best. We've been discussing at length the benefits of Dad helping alot and our son racing well vs. Dad helping some (our son IS only 7 years old)and our son feeling a sense of accomplishment because he made his car himself. Do any of you have a cub scout in the household? What stance do you take? Does Dad make the car and stand proud as it crosses the finish line first, or does Dad stand back and grin (or cringe) while Junior makes/paints the car?
2 people like this
3 responses
@crystal8577 (1466)
• United States
4 Jan 07
Well I do not have any sons (3 daughters). I do remember when my younger brother was a scout though. It was a bonding experience between him & our dad to make the car. I don't feel as though my dad ever overstepped his bounds while helping. It was also a big deal for the whole family to go watch the races too.
@KrabbyPatty (64)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I love going to the races. I really like to see the cars that the kids did themselves. They are the neatest ones! One guy, for a weight, used an energizer battery. All the kids dubbed it the "battery car". It was probably the most popular!
2 people like this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
6 Mar 07
You don't need sons to enjoy scouting (girlscouts!). We have two daughters and a granddaughter. My husband went back to scouting for the fun and fellowship and to be able to gice back to other boys what was given to him. i joined three years after that and have been in for 6 years now and I love it. Attend your friends sons activities, attend free community activities run by scouts, volunteer. it is a really great family activity. My grandadaughter can't wait tio turn 14 so she can join venturing and go camping.
1 person likes this
@Poofs_that_r_cheesy (291)
• United States
4 Jan 07
When we have our District Pinewood Derby (Silvergate District, CA) we have a seperate race for the Dads to help cut down on this a bit. The Kids should build the cars and the parents should help a bit to make sure the Cubs don't hurt themselves.
As a District Officer I get to help judge the best in class and the other categories like most imaginative and best colors etc. etc. That will allow the kids who have done the work to get their own recognition.
3 people like this
@KrabbyPatty (64)
• United States
5 Jan 07
That's a great idea! One district we were in did this. But in the dads/leaders race, they were allowed to make a car that used axles and had shaved down wheels. It still had to meet the weight requirements.
2 people like this
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I think it's best for the scout to make the car with some help from dear ol' dad. I think they work together and if the car does poorly, perhaps the dad can take the "blame".
It's tough because you're trying to build confidence, but maybe the Pinewood derby is not a forum to build confidence, but rather just a place to have fun.
@KrabbyPatty (64)
• United States
4 Jan 07
I agree...but try telling that to some of the dads :)
2 people like this
