"Scouts BSA" in 2019 (Girls in Boy Scouting Program)

[Bowling4Bikes]

"Scout Me In!"

Much to the joy of many, girls will now be allowed into the BSA program beginning 2019. They will have the opportunity to earn merit badges and obtain the highly-sought Eagle rank, which can carry weight in many areas in career and college. Girls will form their own troops and participate as their units at various outings/competitions/summer camps. Cub scout packs now (in 2018) have separate dens for the ladies, which will allow them to earn the Arrow of Light award (the only award earned as a cub that is transferable to BSA).

Like everything in the BSA, change happens slowly but I think they're finally getting most things right.

 

[Mike95060]

Cool. They lightened up gays too right?

 

[*VillageIdiot*]

My daughter is a girl scout; honestly I don't quite understand this, and I imagine it's because I myself lack context.

Truthfully I haven't done any research to understand it though.

 

[mikev]

I really only have 1 question about this.

Can Boy Scouts sell Thin Mints now?

 

[*VillageIdiot*]

I really only have 1 question about this.

Can Boy Scouts sell Thin Mints now?

No mints for you!

 

[mikev]

Then I oppose this decision wholeheartedly

 

[*VillageIdiot*]

:laughing:laughing

Then I oppose this decision wholeheartedly

 

[Kestrel]

Single gender troops? I thought there was already mixing occurring at the Cub level.

 

[Climber]

ABN, great to see you posting again! :thumbup

When I first heard about this, it just doesn't ring true with me, it seems like more about revenue than reality.

The truth is that if you mix boys and girls together camping, things are going to happen, it's a bad idea no matter how PC it sounds.

Sorry if that sounds old-fashioned, but simple biology has not changed despite all of the other changes.

Also, there was no mention of gay boys or transsexuals that I've heard.

The girl scouts have been around for a long time, why break what isn't broken?

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

Cool. They lightened up gays too right?

yes that was a few years ago. The problem was the large % of mormons in the BSA. They are threatening to leave BSA due to it but haven't as of yet. To which I would say "bye, Felicia"

 

[Kestrel]

The girl scouts have been around for a long time, why break what isn't broken?

Because it IS broken. Girl Scouts is a fragment of its former self, and the experiences provided by the two programs are extremely different. Girl Scouts does not provide anything even remotely close to the outdoor experience one can get through BSA. Why restrict that to those who are genuinely interested?

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

My daughter is a girl scout; honestly I don't quite understand this, and I imagine it's because I myself lack context.

Truthfully I haven't done any research to understand it though.

My daughter is a girl scout and a venture scout. soon to be Scout BSA as well.

The only thing that seem to be the big deal is the designation "Eagle Scout" and the ability to earn merit badges as part of the BSA program.

"Eagle Scout" on a work or college resume carries weight. Gold level girl scout doesn't seem to afa anyone can tell me.

Merit badges are pretty cool in both Girl and Boy Scouts, but different.

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

I really only have 1 question about this.

Can Boy Scouts sell Thin Mints now?

Boys have been invited to join Girl Scouts since their inception afa I've been told.

Girls scouts and girl scout cookies are their thang. BSA has popcorn, which isn't as awesome.

 

[*VillageIdiot*]

Climber!!!!!!!


It's great to see you again, you'd definitely be one of the few that remember that handle. :thumbup

I was kind of wondering the same thing, what was the real logic behind this? I'm totally okay with it, I just don't truly understand the intent.

ABN, great to see you posting again! :thumbup

When I first heard about this, it just doesn't ring true with me, it seems like more about revenue than reality.

The truth is that if you mix boys and girls together camping, things are going to happen, it's a bad idea no matter how PC it sounds.

Sorry if that sounds old-fashioned, but simple biology has not changed despite all of the other changes.

Also, there was no mention of gay boys or transsexuals that I've heard.

The girl scouts have been around for a long time, why break what isn't broken?

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

Single gender troops? I thought there was already mixing occurring at the Cub level.

They're in the same pack at the cub level but in separate dens (will explain if you need it).

At the BSA level, the troop is equivalent to the pack but they don't separate scouts by rank into dens like in cubs. they separate by patrols which would theoretically have a mixture of higher and lower ranked scouts.

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

ABN, great to see you posting again! :thumbup

When I first heard about this, it just doesn't ring true with me, it seems like more about revenue than reality.

The truth is that if you mix boys and girls together camping, things are going to happen, it's a bad idea no matter how PC it sounds.

Sorry if that sounds old-fashioned, but simple biology has not changed despite all of the other changes.

Also, there was no mention of gay boys or transsexuals that I've heard.

The girl scouts have been around for a long time, why break what isn't broken?

Things will happen regardless...this is real life not utopia (or whatever you want it to be)!

boys and girls have been mixing in the scouts for a while now (Venture, Sea, Explorer). There has been no sexual epidemic due to this.

No apologies needed. With all new choices there are always complications. This is one of them.

What is broken is that all genders are allowed in everything except boy scouts. This is already different than most countries, who only have 'scouts' (always co-ed).

gays, gender-neutral, trans, etc have been accepted in all levels of scouts for a few years now.

 

[Climber]

Things will happen regardless...this is real life not utopia (or whatever you want it to be)!

boys and girls have been mixing in the scouts for a while now (Venture, Sea, Explorer). There has been no sexual epidemic due to this.

No apologies needed. With all new choices there are always complications. This is one of them.

What is broken is that all genders are allowed in everything except boy scouts. This is already different than most countries, who only have 'scouts' (always co-ed).

gays, gender-neutral, trans, etc have been accepted in all levels of scouts for a few years now.

Good to hear about the latter point, I remember when they had a hardline stance on that.

I don't see problems with younger boys and girls going out camping and girls getting the same exposure to those activities, I went through cub scouts then boy scouts and had a great time out in the woods doing things like orienteering, cooking breakfast over fires, sitting around fires at night and all of the other things involved. Younger than 11 boys and girls are equally capable and equally interested in the same things. It's when the hormones kick in that things get (much) more complicated.

 

[*VillageIdiot*]

I'm quite sure they aren't "ABN" or "Climber" neutral as an organization :nchantr:x.....

I'm kidding, but indeed I find this an interesting thread and will be following it tomorrow for sure. Thanks for bringing up the topic! :thumbup

Things will happen regardless...this is real life not utopia (or whatever you want it to be)!

boys and girls have been mixing in the scouts for a while now (Venture, Sea, Explorer). There has been no sexual epidemic due to this.

No apologies needed. With all new choices there are always complications. This is one of them.

What is broken is that all genders are allowed in everything except boy scouts. This is already different than most countries, who only have 'scouts' (always co-ed).

gays, gender-neutral, trans, etc have been accepted in all levels of scouts for a few years now.

 

[Bowling4Bikes]

Because it IS broken. Girl Scouts is a fragment of its former self, and the experiences provided by the two programs are extremely different. Girl Scouts does not provide anything even remotely close to the outdoor experience one can get through BSA. Why restrict that to those who are genuinely interested?

Mostly true, in the sense of girls going as individuals to outdoor events rather than as their unit. Entry into BSA opens up a whole new world of outdoor activities that they didn't have access to. But the girl scouts do have some pretty awesome properties for outdoor adventures already.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

So...why not just change the Girl Scout curriculum to copy the stuff they like from the Boy Scouts?

And as for the Eagle Scout thing, we previously discussed it in another thread and it’s a valid point. However, WHY does it carry more weight? Again, if it’s because of the curriculum to obtain it and skills learned along the way...why not make the Girl Scout curriculum more rigorous to match?