Opinions please from former Scouts and friends of Scouting

[BC38]

That is what I was talking about in one of my previous posts. I happen to have in hand the Girl Scout Handbook from when I was a member. At that time there were 115 merit badges to be earned in a wide variety fields. Yes, I just now counted them.
Some are individual work and some were as a troop, most were a combination.
The Girl Scout organization is failing many girls that have interests in the outdoors, nature, animals, exploring career choices, and lots of other things.

OK, so fix the Girl Scouts then. There is no reason they can't change to serve those girls.

That would be a much less disruptive change than what it will take for the Boy Scouts to start admitting and serving girls.

As others have already pointed out there is already a co-ed organization aimed at providing those outdoor opportunities for girls - it's called Venture Scouts.

 

[bill2000]

OK, so fix the Girl Scouts then. There is no reason they can't change to serve those girls.

That would be a much less disruptive change than what it will take for the Boy Scouts to start admitting and serving girls.

As others have already pointed out there is already a co-ed organization aimed at providing those outdoor opportunities for girls - it's called Venture Scouts.

Ah but there's the rub. That wouldn't satisfy the social justice warriors who are hell-bent on tearing down all traditional structures.

 

[BigBoy99]

This whole thread is the perfect example of the social elite and their political correctness going too far!

 

[e3mrk]

This is the end of the Boy Scouts as we know it.
Someone is going to get raped and pregnant and then it starts.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

This whole thread is the perfect example of the social elite and their political correctness going too far!

Of course that's the underlying reality. Boy Scouts is just another battleground in the war on god, morals and masculinity in society.

The ongoing attacks upon the Boy Scouts by the ACLU and others have been quite effective. Corporate donors have fled for fear of being caught in the crossfire. And the ongoing retreat by the Boy Scouts is driving away faith-based organizations who are the majority of sponsors in Boy Scouts, as well as every day folks who avoid association with controversy.

For the children.... uh hu...

 

[chaparrito]

BC38,

I don't know if this is the answer you seek, but this is the significant difference that I see between Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. I may be incorrect in some respects, but it won't be the first time.

Girl Scouts. Boy Scouts
Daisies. = K Cubs
Brownies. = Cub Scouts
Juniors. = Weblos
Cadets. = Boy Scouts
Ambassadors. = Explorers

In Girl Scouts (all levels), the ranks are achieved as "journeys", while in Boy Scouts (all levels) are the ranks we know: Tiger, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Lion, Weblos, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. In the various Girl Scouts you have "fun patches" from fun activities, while in Boy Scouts you have over 100 merit badges unique to the interests of the Scout. Merit Badges (as are associated with Boy Scouts) just don't seem to exist in Girl Scouts. In Girl Scouts, the fun patches seem to be troop earned, without the individuality seen in Boy Scouts.

While there seems to be more structure in the ranks of Boy Scouts and a greater variety of achievements available to meet the interests of the boy, the same doesn't appear to be able to be said for the girls. In many respects, the merit badge structure seems to be more career identifying for the boys than what is offered for the girls.

A good and fair comparison. I know many girls who would prosper in a system like the Boy Scouts, and would be bored silly in Girl Scouts. No doubt it's time for GSA to join the 21st century. This scouting jackpot is just another symptom of our changing views on gender roles.
Now I have to go and wring my hands and fret over other stuff.

 

[nachogrande]

TOO LATE FOR RAPED. M-M ='S NO PREGNANCY HOWEVER.

This is the end of the Boy Scouts as we know it.
Someone is going to get raped and pregnant and then it starts.

If a rape ended scouting, it would have been over a LONG time ago.


Think any group has a monopoly on pedaphiles? Sorry to keep you waiting so long to answer your questions regarding my personal life BC, I got back to you as soon as I felt like it. First of all My lifes story is none of your bizz. Secondly if I told you the truth, you would call me a liar, if I told you a lie, you would call me a liar, so sorry if I don't play that anatomy measuring game. You can buy a copy of my memoirs when they are published. As for your first HAND experiences, unless they involve you being CURRENT upper level BSA/GSA management, I don't see them as relevant to anything, nor the amount of eggs you may or may not have fertilized.

 

[BC38]

Sorry to keep you waiting so long to answer your questions regarding my personal life BC, I got back to you as soon as I felt like it. First of all My lifes story is none of your bizz. Secondly if I told you the truth, you would call me a liar, if I told you a lie, you would call me a liar, so sorry if I don't play that anatomy measuring game. You can buy a copy of my memoirs when they are published. As for your first HAND experiences, unless they involve you being CURRENT upper level BSA/GSA management, I don't see them as relevant to anything, nor the amount of eggs you may or may not have fertilized.

Took you a while to come up with a snappy answer to the questions, eh?
Got it.

My youngest finished with Cub Scouts 3 years ago so my experience is pretty current. I worked with the boys for eight years. That experience and observation certainly makes my opinion more relevant than that of someone who hasn't. No, I am not in upper management of the BSA. If I were I wouldn't go along with several of their most recent changes. In fact I would have resigned in protest when some of these changes were made.

Did you read the title to this thread? It is addressed to, and soliciting the opinions of, FORMER SCOUTS AND FRIENDS OF SCOUTING. I don't see where you have established your inclusion in either of those groups. Just to be clear: the term "Friends of Scouting" has a specific meaning - much like "Friends of the NRA". It denotes those who have and/or who do directly support Scouting - financially and/or through volunteering with the organization. So I ask again, what are your bona fides to even qualify you to answer the original question?

Personally I see your position as being that of the SJW theorists, with little or no actual hands on experience, telling those of us who are parents of boys, former Boy Scouts, and front-line Scouting leaders how it should be done. Never mind what has been tried and true and has worked so well for over 100 years. We as a society have to change everything - because there is a small but vocal minority of people who refuse to recognize and accept the distinctions and differences between the sexes.

Ever heard the phrase "separate but equal"?

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Well...

Let's move along.