Nobody tells you this when your kid joins Cub Scouts, but everyone else is just as confused as you are.

As a Cubmaster, I’ve seen countless families arrive at their first pack meeting, filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Standing in contrast to the smile on their face, under the table, they’re Googling on their phone, trying to figure out all the stuff everyone else in the room seems to know already. 

The anxiousness? Overwhelming. 

The thing is? Nobody got the manual you’re searching for. We’re all figuring this out.

Maybe you’re panicking about an upcoming campout. Maybe you can’t figure out why your Tiger still hasn’t earned Bobcat. Maybe you’re just trying to understand what a “den” even is.

You’re not alone

I know because I’ve lived on both sides of this. Neither of my parents were scouts. When I wanted to become a Cub Scout as a first-grader, they were just as lost as parents new to Cub Scouts today. But they showed up, got involved, and decades later? Many of the stories they still tell about my childhood are about our time in scouting together. 

And that’s what this is really about. Kids and parents making memories that matter and last a lifetime.

Dad. Cubmaster. Eagle Scout

Hi there. My name is Donnie Gladfelter—scout dad, volunteer leader, and your guide to making scouting less overwhelming and way more enjoyable.

My Scouting journey began as a timid first-grader joining Cub Scouts. Learning to work hard and do my best, I earned the Arrow of Light award as a fifth-grader, and continued on to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in 2000. The passion I built for Scouting along the way inspired me to remain active for another decade before stepping back as my career blossomed with the publication of my first book.

But the Scouting bug never left me, and when my oldest son was born, I instantly began dreaming of sharing Scouting with him when he started kindergarten. Although the COVID-19 pandemic delayed that start until his first-grade year, first as den leader, now as Cubmaster, we’ve been an enthusiastic Scouting family ever since, along with his younger brother.

My Inspiration for Glad Scout

Despite that, twenty-five years in, hundreds of camping nights later, I keep seeing the same thing: great families struggling to find what they need to actually enjoy a Scouting program that is fun, not stressful. That observation was the inspiration for creating Glad Scout. 

As an Eagle Scout, parent, and volunteer leader whose kids are now in the program, I see the gaps every week. Scouting is the source of many of my fondest childhood memories, and the foundation on which some of my most significant accomplishments as an adult are built. My aim is to leverage those experiences to help you and others cut through the confusion so you and your family can create memories, not misery.

You can think of Glad Scout as the manual they forgot to give you.

What You’ll Find Here

Glad Scout is about all things scouting—Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Order of the Arrow (the honor society), everything in between.

  • Practical guides for anxious moments. Your first pack meeting. First campout. Navigating advancement. Preparing for Eagle projects. Just “what to expect and how to prepare,” no fluff.
  • Plain-English explanations when Scouting makes headlines or program changes roll out. What does it actually mean for your unit, your family, your scout? Sometimes being a scouting family means getting questions you didn’t expect. I’m here to help you figure it out.
  • Timely content when you need it. Camping prep before fall campouts. Pinewood Derby guidance before build season. Not six months too late.

What you won’t find

Glad Scout is not an official Scouting America website. This means you won’t find official policy or one-size-fits-all answers. I’m a volunteer sharing what I’ve learned from Scouting to help others elevate their Scouting experience.

Your unit will be different. Your council will be different. That’s what makes this work. I’ll give you peer insights that work alongside the official stuff and help your scout thrive.

Who This Is For

Glad Scout is for:

  • Parents new to Cub Scouts wondering what they signed up for.
  • Veterans Scouters navigating changes.
  • Anyone wanting straight answers to their scouting questions.
  • People who think Scouting should build character and memories—not stress.

I’m Glad You’re Here

So, welcome to Glad Scout. A place where Scouting should make you glad—happy, confident, excited about what’s next. Not anxious. Not overwhelmed. That’s the whole point.

I’m glad you’re here, and until next time, may the great master of all Scouts be with us until we meet again.