Opinions please from former Scouts and friends of Scouting

[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.

 

[nachogrande]

SEXUAL ASSAULTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE "BSA"

BS!! As a Cub Scout, Weblos and Eagle Scout I ademently oppose such nonsense. This manure is out of control! How many boys are trying to get into Girl Scouts? Perhaps the GS should look at re-structuring and adding prgrams and activities that are like the BSA - I can understand selling cookies would get a little old. I stopped supporting pro sports for their silliness, now I'll be boycotting the BS-A. Let's see what happens when the first pregnancy and or sexual assault is reported.

ONLY NO FEMALES WERE INVOLVED. What are you guys afraid you're gonna be shown up? No biggie or PC involved at all. Same program for either sex.

 

[lonestar outlaw]

I too was an eagle scout and I am absolutely opposed to this
The boys will be more interested in the girls than learning their skills
This may very well go south so time will tell
Next females will want to play in the NFL or major league baseball
Just my thoughts

 

[eb07]

It is a shame. Society is becoming too sensitive.

 

[StakeOut]

IMNSHO this is completely wrong.

Larger membership equals more money.

It's always about money.I earned rank of Eagle Scout and Order Of The Arrow in 1954 at Troop 217 in Greenpoint section of Bklyn NY.

I was never a Cub but was a Boy Scout and Explorer Scout for several years.

 

[windypoint]

The only reason we die, is so we won't explode in frustration. The new world is perplexing to me.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I was a Cub Scout, went no further. This change is a matter of complete indifference to me.

 

[the ringo kid]

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.

You hit on something on part of why they are doing this according to what I heard in the news yesterday (if true?)

They said that scouting HAD 6 million-now down to about 2 million boys sooo---they are opening it to girls to increase membership. I was in the Cubscouts-then boyscouts skipping webelows. I made it to life scout missing eagle by I think 2 merit badges? and I turned 18 before I could get them.

Anyway--I'm opposed because of the problem that there will eventually be problems caused by over-testeroned boys getting girls impregnated or whatevered?? So--unless it can be 100% guaranteed that none of that will happen? then MAYBE id support it?? Reminds me of: Another somebody done somebody wrong song (in the future) gonna be sung.

BTW, recently I just discovered my old Troop-Troop 147--no longer exists. We had the coolest Scoutmaster: Ross C. Genz--who was a WW2 Navy fighter pilot-who smoked a pipe and loved carrying a Winchester 30-30.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Eagle Scout, George Washington Council, Central NJ, 1967. It won't work. The Girl Scouts do not seem to be admitting boys. They've been working on the Coed Military for over 40 years, they can't get that to work.

 

[the ringo kid]

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.

The boys sell popcorn instead--I kid you not. I went to my FCU a couple weeks back-and some local troop had members set up there selling it for $2 per bag. I don't eat the stuff-so gave them $5 on the way out.

 

[Muss Muggins]

The boys sell popcorn instead--I kid you not. I went to my FCU a couple weeks back-and some local troop had members set up there selling it for $2 per bag. I don't eat the stuff-so gave them $5 on the way out.

As an interesting side note, a Girl Scout Troop gets a quarter for every box of cookies they sell. On the other hand, a Boy Scout Troop gets 30-40% of the popcorn gross. The more expensive the item, the more the Troop keeps. Granted, a $20 box of microwave popcorn is more expensive than a $4 box of cookies, but $1.25 vs. $6 is significant.

 

[the ringo kid]

I don't know what the boys get-but I hope they get every cent-they earned it. I wish I could have given more but-I had to by 5 new tires, buy a new bed and switch car insurance that Saturday.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

I went the whole route in scouting, Cub Scout, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow, Asst Scout Master, then Scout Master of several different troops in different locals. Scouting played a significant role in my formative years because my Dad was active duty military and frequently deployed. Scouting gave me that male influence. It also developed outdoor skills and woodcraft that I carried the rest of my life. My Scout leaders were active military and so I learned a lot more than what was in the Boy Scout Handbook. My first shooting skills and gun safety were learned in the Scouts. Self motivation, perseverance and self determination was developed as well as leadership skills. The things I learned, I tried to impart in the youngsters in my charge as a Scout Master.

To me, Scouting was never a game of achieving the most merit badges but rather learning all the woodcraft and skills that I could. I had some really great teachers, real men, not some metro-sexual geek. I hope that I too passed along valuable skills and attitudes. The photos of my Eagle Award are of the framed certificate that hung in my Dad's office until his death, I had no idea they meant so much to him.

Society has changed so much in my lifetime, some days its hard to recognize as the same world. Antifas, SJW's, pissants that don't stand for the national anthem, activist that disrupt military funerals, clowns that desecrate monuments, college professors that espouse communism, and on and on. The social justice activist are creating such confusion in our societies establishments be it the military, the Boy Scouts or college campuses. Youngsters can't even be sure of their gender identity.

Personally, I wish things were different. I won't be around too much longer so it really doesn't matter what I think. Just hope future citizens enjoy the world that they created.

 

[Old_Cop]

There is too much competition today, too may distractions and a perceived lack of relevance to scouting. I see that it will continue to lose membership despite their accomadations and join the Odd Fellows, Freemasonry and other fraternal organizations as shadows of their former selves. Your opinion may vary.

 

[rwsmith]

I believe that...

I believe that some girls will also want an all girl program and will say that girls should spend time away from the distraction of boys. I think a compromise would be to merge a lot of activities and combine the merit badges w/o altering them. Keep the awards the way they are. Whoever WANTS to pursue an award like the 50 miler or some such, go for it. I haven't thought this through, but military academies are taking women and letting the try out for the toughest jobs.

I was a Star Scout and really loved the program but our leadership got corrupted in giving out undeserved reward to try to increase the prestige (or the APPEARANCE of prestige) of the whole troop. This was stated to the entire troop as a good way to boost our standing. I was dissatisfied for some other reasons, but that was the icing on the cake and plain dam wrong and dishonorable.

 

[richardw]

In the Corps there re now women serving in the infantry. That is the toughest MOS you can have in the non special force units. A couple weeks ago the first woman to complete the Corp's OCS and then InfantrymOfficers School graduated and is now serving at Camp Pendleton as an Infantry Officer. In the Corps we do not have mans infantry and a womans Infantry. We just have Infantry. I think the Scouts should adopt that concept. Male or female, you are a Scout is the way I think it should be.

 

[jag312]

When I was a Boy Scout, we would have overnight camping trips about once a month, but in the Summer, we had The Big Hike. We backpacked through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and everything we would need was carried on our backs. Knowing the girls in my school, none would have completed The Big Hike. I doubt that any of the girls would have even wanted to attempt it. We earned our 50 Miler, although we hiked a lot more than 50 miles. There was pride in what we achieved. And if I had to do it over again, I would do it on the back of a horse, leading a pack horse.

By the way, is the 50 Miler Award still embossed on leather?

 

[nachogrande]

COED WILL BE A WIN/WIN IN MY BOOK.

We are already seeing more women hunting & shooting. Alienating 50% of the population just does not make sense, aside from being downright discriminatory. Females could be the shot in the arm our hunting/fishing/camping/2nd amendment rights could use about now. In ANY large population be it coed or single sex there's gonna be some hanky panky. Deal with it.

 

[nachogrande]

CUZ OF THE OLD WEAKER SEX THING AND ALL.

When I was a Boy Scout, we would have overnight camping trips about once a month, but in the Summer, we had The Big Hike. We backpacked through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and everything we would need was carried on our backs. Knowing the girls in my school, none would have completed The Big Hike. I doubt that any of the girls would have even wanted to attempt it. We earned our 50 Miler, although we hiked a lot more than 50 miles. There was pride in what we achieved. And if I had to do it over again, I would do it on the back of a horse, leading a pack horse.

By the way, is the 50 Miler Award still embossed on leather?

YES, surely a girl would fall & sprain an ankle in the first 1/2 mile or so just like in the old tv shows right. I'm pretty sure about any of the women that compete in the iron"man" competitions would consider a 50 miler a stroll in the park. Try giving birth. Been to a gym lately? Some of those broa, er lady's are pretty buff.

 

[brucev]

Never did 50 miles packing over several days. Certainly never did it with a boat. Have done 20 miles in one day carrying everything including a few rocks to get the weight up so that everyone was carrying 1/3 of their body weight. Stone Mountain is a stretch of the ankle if you go up in a hurry. For our Scout troop, we all finished together. Some of us ended up sharing a bit of the rocks. But all of us arrived together. All the extra rocks were delivered.

Many years later, I've done a bunch of cross country running. My daughters have done cross country. My youngest daughter can run me into the ground. Even years ago, she would leave me in the dust. When she had her baby she went back to running to loose weight. She called me one morning to say that she had done a 4.49 mile. Give her a pack with 1/3 of her body weight and she'll very likely leave us all gasping for air when we hit the hills! Of course part of my slowness will be that I have a tender ankle ... turned it severely a little over a year ago. She on the other hand has no injuries to speak of! All those years of jumping and running ... no injuries. Glad she is not as clumsy as am I. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Protocall_Design]

In the Corps there re now women serving in the infantry. That is the toughest MOS you can have in the non special force units. A couple weeks ago the first woman to complete the Corp's OCS and then InfantrymOfficers School graduated and is not I'm Camp Pendleton as an Infantry Officer. In the Corps we do not have mans infantry and a womans Infantry. We just have Infantry. I think the Scouts should adopt that concept. Male or female, you are a Scout is the way I think it should be.

The problem here is that Scouts are minors and Soldiers are adults. The adults can have sex with whomever they choose, but keeping the minors from ruining their lives can be pretty difficult when you start having overnight events with them mixed together.

I'm all for women doing outdoor activities, whatever they want to do, including fishing, hunting, shooting, etc. Just keep the kids as kids until they turn 18.