How you deal with parents like that? I have no idea - maybe I'll find out when my son gets a bit older.

I'm a city slicker with a country heart. I loved camping (too out of shape now, trying to fix that...) I take my son and daughter on woods/trail walks as often as I can (son can't go too far yet - only 3), just like MY dad did/does with me (Dad is 81 and still gets out in the woods). I found if you took scouts seriously, there was a LOT to learn, but most of the boys didn't - their loss. I guess it was because by the time I got to be age 11 (starting point for Boy Scounts back then - younger was Cubs.Weblows) I was already fairly comfortable in the woods, knew how to sharpen a knife, etc

As for spot checks on gear - I can't remember anyone in the troop spot checking my gear - dad always did it, and I had a checklist that stayed in my pack (my hunting daypack still has a checklist)

I know the "basics" like a knife were expected to be on you, even when you went to a weekly meeting - most of the kids slacked of on the uniform - I guess they found them "dorky". I can still remember some of our requirements. Uniform (Pants, shirt, belt with badges, Neckerchief, hat, socks, Shoes or hiking boots, a PAD and pencil, 2 dimes (pay phones), your knife.

Sigh

Some of the stuff (cooking etc) was a bit hard when I was 11, but by the time I left at 16 due to a lack of time, it was all easy