Scouting is built on principles of leadership, personal growth, and hands-on learning. It’s supposed to be where kids gain confidence by trying new things, where teens take on real leadership roles, and where young people develop not just skills, but a sense of belonging and purpose.
So here’s the question: If that’s the goal, why are some Scouting troops growing into mega-units with 60, 80, even 100+ youth? And is that actually good for the Scouts?
Big Numbers, Small Impact
At first glance, a large troop might seem like a success story: lots of Scouts, lots of energy, lots of activity. But look a little closer, and the cracks start to show. When a unit gets too big, it can actually start to work against the very principles Scouting is supposed to promote.
Here’s why:
1. Fewer Chances to Lead
Leadership in Scouting is supposed to be real. That means making decisions, solving problems, running meetings, and sometimes learning from failure. But in a massive troop, leadership becomes more ceremonial than functional. A few youth lead, and everyone else follows—or blends into the background.
Venturing Crews create space for more youth to step up. With fewer people, leadership isn’t optional—it’s needed.
2. More Likely to Be Overlooked
In a crowd, it’s easy to disappear. Scouts who are quiet, unsure, new to the program, or just not part of the dominant social group often go unnoticed in a large troop.
They’re less likely to be invited into leadership. Less likely to get support. Less likely to feel seen. Over time, that can lead to disengagement—or dropping out altogether.
In a Venturing Crew, every youth is more visible. Leaders notice who needs a nudge, who’s ready for more, and who might be struggling. That’s how growth happens.
3. Higher Risk of Bullying and Cliques
Let’s not sugarcoat it—larger troops are more vulnerable to bullying and social exclusion. With more Scouts, it’s harder for adult leaders to monitor every dynamic, in fact, we have heard where adults are responsible for the bullying. Cliques form easily. Social hierarchies harden. And the Scouts most likely to be targeted—those who are different, quiet, or new—can get left behind.
In a Venturing Crew, unhealthy dynamics are easier to spot and shut down. Adults can focus more on culture than crowd control, and older youth are more likely to feel responsible for mentoring, not mocking.
4. Less Personal Attention
Scouting is also about mentorship. Adult leaders are there to guide, coach, and support—not just coordinate logistics. In a troop of 80 kids, how many Scouts are really getting one-on-one time with an adult who knows their strengths, weaknesses, and goals?
In Venturing Crews, leaders can actually mentor. They know who’s struggling with learning or confidence. They know who’s ready for a new challenge. They’re not just managing—they’re developing, Advisors challenge their members to go beyond and think outside the box.
5. Harder to Build Real Community
One of the quiet superpowers of Scouting is belonging. But that’s hard to foster when your troop is larger than a school class. Kids stick to their cliques. Patrols get too big to function. Events feel like school assemblies instead of tight-knit adventures.
Venturing Crews let friendships grow across ages. They create a stronger, safer culture. Everyone knows each other’s name—and more importantly, their story.
6. More Parents, More Politics
Let’s be honest: big troops often come with layers of adult drama. Committees get bloated. Policies pile up. The focus shifts from what’s best for the youth to what keeps the machine running smoothly.
In Venturing Crews, the mission stays clearer. It’s easier to say “yes” to good ideas and “no” to unnecessary distractions. The adults are there to serve the youth—not manage an empire.
But Don’t We Need Big Numbers to Survive?
Sometimes the push for large troops comes from fear—fear of folding, fear of being irrelevant, fear of not offering enough. But a sustainable unit isn’t about size. It’s about strength of culture and clarity of purpose.
And sometimes large units is just to allow boasting rights, commonly the ego is bigger than the program. “I have the biggest troop! Nanny Nanny Boo Boo.” Some will say that their unit is the better because they are large, but the overall advancement records show 1% a year actually show movement.
A troop of 15 active Scouts who all feel ownership, who are growing as leaders, and who are excited to recruit their friends—that’s gold. A troop of 130 where only a dozen feel engaged? That’s just noise.
What’s the Alternative? Go Small, Grow Deep
It’s time to stop measuring success by headcount and start asking better questions:
- Are Scouts leading or just attending?
- Are adults mentoring or managing?
- Is every kid known, challenged, and supported?
- Is the program flexible enough to evolve with its youth?
- Is the culture safe and inclusive, not just busy?
If the answer is no, maybe the troop is too big—or maybe the focus is too scattered. Perhaps a Venture Crew is the solution to the problem.
Venturing Crews mean more room to grow, not less. They create tighter teams, better leadership opportunities, and more meaningful experiences. And when done well, they still grow—because families talk, and people notice when a program is actually changing lives.
