I agree that it's your son's choice, really, whether to try it out or not. Not sure what the deal is, but when I mentioned it "for the future" with my boys, my husband hesitated and said "Well, I don't want him to be a nerd.....and of course I'd have to go to all campouts and stuff". I didn't understand the nerd thing too good (unless it's that the boys wore dinky uniforms to school or something, but they don't do that these days....at least not my friends' sons). My husband changed his tune when we took my bff's son (in his 3rd year of scouts) to the boyscout national headquarters and museum in Dallas (was local to us at the time) and we were kinda impressed with some things we saw. My bff's son is anything but a "nerd" (super social, loads of friends, girls crushing on him), but he is a cute, outgoing, honor role student who is also one of the best players on his soccer team and likes to do "tricks" with his skateboard and bike (although he bites at basketball, and the scouting mantra "do your best" came in handy then). Also, my little boy went as a "bug scout" ("sibling" too young to be a scout) to a couple events and had SOOO much fun. And he never wears his uniform except when he's doing something with the scouts; he doesn't need to wear it to school. I think that makes a big difference. Finally, since I spent most days with my friend's son as a "babysitter", we went through the book together (and my husband too), helped him with some activities, and it was a surprisingly good program. Since our scout doesn't have a dad, it's nice to see him still get to learn some things like camping, fishing, etc. My husband is totally on board now and is interested in being involved when our boys are old enough. Also, just from an outsider looking in: I think every den or whatever is probably different, but I was kinda impressed that the boys were nice to each other, though they were different and wouldn't really be "friends" in school if not for scouts. (Jocks, quieter guys more interested in Science, introverts and extroverts, etc).