As an Eagle scout, and parent I am not so sure about the changes that have been/are being made. Although, I admit to having some mixed feelings about it. When my stepson was old enough to join Boy Scouts, I signed him up in my old troop. I also signed up and volunteered my time. It was a good experience for both of us.
At the same time, my daughter was in Girl scouts. She saw the boy and I going camping and doing a number of fun activities that she would have loved to do. But, the girl scouts didn't do doodly squat. They had one camping trip per year and their rules were ridiculous. So as a parent, I tried to give her as many similar experiences to what we did with BSA as I could.
So, I really think IF a troop/pack does things right it could be a good thing. Now, from my understanding the program really isn't changing. They are creating a parallel program for girls, starting with Cub scouts. The last guidelines I have heard require them to have seperate dens, meet at separate times etc. So, it wouldn't exactly create as many obstacles as one might think.
At the Boy Scout level (age 11-17) that would require much more regulation, facilities upgrades, parental involvement etc to be able to have any success and would no doubt be killed by the number of lawsuits/accusations. And, that is why it is only starting at the cub scout level at this point.
I believe that so long as it is kept as a parallel program and they aren't sharing campgrounds/facilities at the same time it shouldn't be an issue.
Since BSA gives the kids so much independence to do activities on their own, keeping the groups separate is the key. Different weeks at summer camp etc, could be done easy enough. I think it will struggle to take off as from my experience they may struggle to get adequate parent involvement as leaders and there may be issues in getting camp councilors to teach merit badges during girl only weeks..not quite sure how that would work.
I wouldn't condemn scouting just yet. This has potential to be a good thing for some young ladies as well as the boys. Fact is scouting has changed drastically over the years. I was in from age 7-17, then as an asst scoutmaster for 6 yrs. My brother joined @ age 8 and has been involved non stop since then and is now 42. He says it is amazing how much society has changed/ often weakened our boys/ young men.
Now, from my understanding the program really isn't changing. They are creating a parallel program for girls, starting with Cub scouts. The last guidelines I have heard require them to have seperate dens, meet at separate times etc. So, it wouldn't exactly create as many obstacles as one might think.
I didnt even know all that. Just based my guess on the latest trends in the media involving them.Pretty easy prediction to make. They've been having serious membership declines for decades, and the trend has accelerated over the past 10 years. They have roughly half the members they did in the 1970s. Girl Scouts have the same problem. They've lost about 1/3 of their membership over the past 15 years, and that trend is also accelerating.
Changing demographics, more urbanization of kids, etc. Tough trend to turn around.
Where are the Catholics on this? They are a big percentage of troops.
I am not calling out Catholics. I am asking have they made any statement.
This, I would've been ok with... well, if it were possible back in the 40s.
[video=youtube;KdTqDRZCLg4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdTqDRZCLg4[/video]
Thanks Kut.
Where are the Catholics on this? They are a big percentage of troops.
I am not calling out Catholics. I am asking have they made any statement.
About what?
Where are the Catholics on this? They are a big percentage of troops.
I am not calling out Catholics. I am asking have they made any statement.
This, I would've been ok with... well, if it were possible back in the 40s.
I wonder how many priests there are in America. I have been very close to many of them and never had any misgivings about them.