I agree with Ed, a small scope is better. I do a lot of starparties for both cub scouts and boy scouts. I bring a StarLab planetarium to teach concepts and prep everyone during the day and I bring scopes for the evening. I encourage people to bring any scope they have and I will help them learn how to use it. Normally my son (also a scout) and I are the people running the show. Although I bring a 10" Meade for the wow factor, I don't think there is much difference in the wow for a first timer between an adjusted and tuned orion 60mm refractor pointing at the moon and a 10" pointing at the moon. The same applies to Saturn or Jupiter. Unlike ArizonaScott a 60mm scope with a 25mm eyepiece is a good idea, particularly after I show what a tuned up scope can do. With a 25mm eyepiece the scope will keep things in view for long enough for a bunch of people to see. The only problem I have is they move the scope in the wrong direction to recenter the object, but that is a clasic problem every observer needs to get used to.I also stay with bright easy to see objects; the moon, any planets that might be visible, double stars particularly Mizar and Alcore, because it is a test of vision and because it is also a double star. I then show a few showpieces that are easy for me to find but present a small challenge for novice observers. Since I have a dark site looking for things like m8 and m22 give a small challenge for those who do have scopes.
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