Opinions please from former Scouts and friends of Scouting

[old bear]

I truly believe in equal opportunity for everyone. I also believe that both sexes need time to spend with other members of their sex, in a relaxed informal setting. I think this is especially true with young adults in their formative years.

As this is a done deal, so I hope it works out for the best, for everyone.

 

[BB57]

My back ground and perspective is as a Cub Scout, Webelos, Boy Scout, and Cub Scout Den Leader. I also worked as a camp counselor and rifle instructor at a non Scouting affiliated summer camp, one that catered to both boys and girls.

My first impression with all the posts that suggest putting boys and girls in the field together is that apparently have forgotten or failed to instill this into their scouts:

"On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."

If you're failing to instill that, the rest just doesn't matter, and scouting just becomes the vainglorious pursuit of merit badges and rank that isn't deserved.

If you've properly instilled this moral code and the underlying values, the concerns about what will happen with boys and girls together on camp out are massively overblown. And if you haven't instilled this moral code, it's a good opportunity to start. There will after all still be adult supervision.

That's how it worked in the summer camp, even with just young adult supervision.

 

[Ranger17]

only went as far as Webelos which was decades ago, and back then I probably wouldn't have cared less who was in our pack.
Now as an older adult, all I can do is shake my head at how things are changing (and so quickly).
It's not "Boy Scouts" if girls can join; same for the flip side. SO does it become just "Scouts"?
I've seen boys who want to join girls only dance teams, girls on boys wrestling squads, and so on.

Not sure where the line between tradition and equality may be these days, but it sure seems to get more grey.

 

[bill2000]

I was a Cub Scout, and a Boy Scout. When my oldest son came of age to start Scouting, My wife and I became Tiger Scout Den Leaders. When our youngest became a Tiger Scout we were both Tiger Scout and Cub Scout Den Leaders. When my oldest came of age to be a Boy Scout we continued Cub Scouting with our youngest and also became Assistant Scout Masters for the oldest's Boy Scout Troop.

We camped, hiked, fished, white water rafted, and taught merit badge classes. To say that we were a Scouting family is an understatement. Both of my sons are Eagle Scouts and I'm very proud of them.

I believe that the Boy Scouting was the finest program ever devised to instill confidence, leadership, character and reverence in a boy. I also believe that these very things are an anathema to people that are attempting to "fundamentally change" America. They attack American traditions and values on a constant basis. You can see it on college campuses, and on the sports fields.

In my opinion this infection has reached the Boy Scout Board of Directors. I think the addition of girls to the Scouting program will forever alter it's mission and not in a positive way.

 

[Farmer17]

I was a Boy Scout and really enjoyed it and have discussed and promoted scouting with many young guys and they just don't have an interest. They seem to think its for "geeks" and they would much rather stay inside and play video games,...which I think are for "geeks".

 

[woodsltc]

I'm going to be brief..

I made Eagle Scout many years ago...and after I became an adult I proudly donated time and money to the Boy Scouts.

BUT NO MORE.

I "washed my hands of them" months ago..after they caved-in to allow transgenders into the scouts.

Don

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Just part of the fundamental change of America. Like not standing
when the National Anthem is played. As a former Boy Scout, I think
it sucks and will do my part to try and keep the values that our
Country was founded on.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Membership has been rapidly declining over the past decade. Decisions in recent years haven't helped. I don't know about other churches, but the LDS church has about 180k young men 14-18 registered with the BSA. That ends Jan 2018. Varsity and Venturing Scout programs will be replaced with other activities. For the time being, they will continue to sponsor Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs for 8-13.

This latest decision? C'mon... BSA leadership smoking crack doesn't earn a merit badge.

As far as Girl Scouts... if there's enough girls who aren't getting what they want/need then reforms are needed within the organization.

 

[peyton]

I served as a scoutmaster on Fort Hood for many years, I relied on mothers to help out due to fathers being deployed or TDY. You could not do anything if you did not have other parent's support.
When we did our events mom's would show up the the younger kids tagging along. The boys and girls had a blast and I made certain everyone minded their manners.
My situation was not unique and it was either not have camping trips or have "family camping" with everyone.

Scouting gave us the opportunity to teach the young men what it takes to plan and work together to accomplish goals. We had a lot of success and also a lot of failures, it takes both to grow and learn.

My son started out as a cub scout and obtained Eagle scout rank. The Boy scout's were and are still an "underground organization" in school. Even in the 1990's the boys would not mentioned being involved in scouting while at school, due to all the harassment others gave them.

My son is no longer involved in scouting, maybe his daughter would enjoy this change.

My daughter is following in my footsteps, she is a cub scout den leader with my two grandsons.

 

[onebadvet]

I was Cub Scout, and then Boy Scout, and never once thought girls should be part of our scouting.
Now that I'm lot older, and like girls, that could be lot of fun, specially camping, and panty raids.

But at that age boys aren't into girls, that's why they have there scouting has Brownies and Girl Scouts.

 

[loknload]

Was a Cub Scout and Weblos leader and enjoyed the time spent doing it.
My take on this is that it is wrong and just opens up the door for allegations and law suits. Child abuse, molestation and gender issues and who knows what else.
No sorry, it just isn't the way it was meant to be
Boy Scouts are for boys and Girl Scouts are for girls and that is the way it is!
Just my thoughts!

 

[nachogrande]

WELCOME TO 2017

Congats on making eagle scout. IMO if a female can pass THE SAME tests they should be able to get the same credit. I really don't see where gender should enter the picture. Females have proven their worth in their military for the Israelis for some time, and in ours more recently. For a covert operation a female could very well be a better choice. I wish we would see an eagle scout (male or female) on one of those survival reality shows instead of the morons wallowing around in the dirt starving/freezing/being eaten by insects. IMO scouting should not be a sausage festival. Opening scouting to females just might help increase enrolment, More youths of both sexes being taught those values aint a bad thing.

 

[MaricopaKid]

Next thing you know, they will allow women on submarines!

 

[nachogrande]

YEAH, LET THEM OWN LAND AND VOTE TOO.

Next thing you know, they will allow women on submarines!

That just might make those long tours more interesting & enjoyable.

 

[Grayfox]

I was both a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout as a kid, but didn't finish either program. However, I did enjoy it.
When my older son became old enough to join Cub Scouts, I did too and spent the next 12 years (1988-2000) as a Leader in both Cubs and Boy Scouts. During that time I served as a den leader, Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, Unit Commissioner and was a member of the District Training Team. I was given the District Award of Merit in 1992, completed Wood Badge in 1993 and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow.
Scouting was a very large part of both mine and my whole family's lives during those years.

My wife was also a Scout Leader. I worked with quite a few female leaders including some female Scout Masters. They were very good at it. Women have always been a large part of Scouting. Remember Den Mothers start with Cub Scouts. I have no trouble at all with women in Scouting.

Having ridden herd on teenage boys, I'm well aware of the kind of mischief they can get into. Many a time I've had to admonish them and remind them that they are Boy Scouts and expected to rise to a higher standard.
I have my doubts about mixing teenage boys and girls. They are at a age where curiosity about life is at its peak. Especially curiosity about the opposite sex. Its just normal for kids at this age.
Add that in a camp environment, its impossible to watch all of them, all the time. I fear trouble could easily arise.

OTOH, I've had some time to think this over. If the Troop leadership does their job and properly instills the principals of Scouting on these kids, it might just work out. Only time will tell and I'll try to keep an open mind.

BTW: there was another thread on this subject and I did comment in it. But it disappeared rather quickly. I wonder if this one will suffer the same fate?

 

[johnbeaver]

If it is handled properly everything will work out.
While the boys are out canoeing, shooting, hiking and stuff, the girls can be in camp learning to make sandwiches.
Everybody's happy.

 

[nachogrande]

WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY.

If teens want to "hook up" it's gonna happen. It HAS been happening since time began. Better IMO if some values are instilled BEFORE the hormones run wild. How much $ do the boys bring in vs the girls? Make the boys sell the cookies for a while, see how they like it.

 

[H Richard]

If the girlscouts want the same functions and awards as the Boy Scouts, then why don't they put the programs in place to accomplish that within the Girl Scouts. They do not belong in with the boys. Enough of this.

 

[pawngal]

If it is handled properly everything will work out.
While the boys are out canoeing, shooting, hiking and stuff, the girls can be in camp learning to make sandwiches.
Everybody's happy.

I certainly hope that comment was sarcasm, If not, your thinking is part of the problem.

 

[-db-]

Scouting started going downhill awhile ago, as anyone paying attention knows. This is just the latest "progressive" change they're making.