Reversing the Membership Decline in Girl Scouts

[Anonymous]

If you are disillusioned with GS and have a daughter that is 14 or older, consider the Boy Scouts Venture program. This is a co-ed program fully run and operated by the BSA. I don't know the details, but my understanding is that they focus on the boy scout-like activities (canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, etc.) without the emphasis of earning merit badges and achieving rank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a boy scout and a girl scout. Boy scouts is so much better--- all about outdoors and team work. No pressure to sell, no stupid "journeys". My boy scout does an overnight trip once a month, they do great stuff- whitewater rafting, hiking old rag, just camping. They learn cool stuff, they learn independence and leadership. My girl scout does.... journeys.

+1
This is exactly why my daughter wanted to quit GS this year (6th grade) and I was fully supportive. The "journey" crap is just that - a load of hogwash. And don't even get me started on the all-consuming cookie sales. It's sad that GS is no longer what it used to be, but I'm just glad we now have more free time for meaningful activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are disillusioned with GS and have a daughter that is 14 or older, consider the Boy Scouts Venture program. This is a co-ed program fully run and operated by the BSA. I don't know the details, but my understanding is that they focus on the boy scout-like activities (canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, etc.) without the emphasis of earning merit badges and achieving rank.

OMG, I just googled this and got goosebumps watching the video! This could be exactly what my very adventurous daughter has been looking for! Thanks so much for the information!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are disillusioned with GS and have a daughter that is 14 or older, consider the Boy Scouts Venture program. This is a co-ed program fully run and operated by the BSA. I don't know the details, but my understanding is that they focus on the boy scout-like activities (canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, etc.) without the emphasis of earning merit badges and achieving rank.

OMG, I just googled this and got goosebumps watching the video! This could be exactly what my very adventurous daughter has been looking for! Thanks so much for the information!

PP here - actually, I just read more details and while it does sound like a fun program, there's still too much red tape, paperwork, and requirements for my taste. I just want a group that my daughter can take part in adventures with without having to jump through all the other hoops.

[Anonymous]

But can we all agree that it's a better organization than the Boy Scouts?


No.

I have boys in boy scouts (no daughters) but from what I see above, it doesn't sound better. My sons have not experienced any pressure to sell things/fund raise. There is a camping outing at least once a month.

Really? We got hit up for that terrible, expensive popcorn twice in the same day last week. (My husband the sucker bought both times.)

They ask the boys to sell popcorn, but it's not a big deal if they don't. It's the only fundraiser they do.

Look, while I'm not a huge fan of selling popcorn, the money we got from doing so did enable our troop to purchase uniforms and guide books for the two boys in the troop who would not have otherwise been able to participate, and some extra sleeping bag and tents that their families could use as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are disillusioned with GS and have a daughter that is 14 or older, consider the Boy Scouts Venture program. This is a co-ed program fully run and operated by the BSA. I don't know the details, but my understanding is that they focus on the boy scout-like activities (canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, etc.) without the emphasis of earning merit badges and achieving rank.

OMG, I just googled this and got goosebumps watching the video! This could be exactly what my very adventurous daughter has been looking for! Thanks so much for the information!

PP here - actually, I just read more details and while it does sound like a fun program, there's still too much red tape, paperwork, and requirements for my taste. I just want a group that my daughter can take part in adventures with without having to jump through all the other hoops.

The hoops are all there because someone, somewhere decided to be an asshole (or worse!) and some parent was a jerk and/or sue-happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The training required to lead the camping/outdoor activities is too much and preventing volunteers from signing up. How many of us have a free weekend where we can go to a Girl Scout Camp for the entire weekend just to become camp certified?

My troop would love to go camping but not one parent has volunteered to become camp certified. And there was no SU led encampment this past fall. We'll try for something in the spring.

I'm a troop leader (also OP) and I did do the training to be camp certified. It did not take the whole weekend; it was one full day (a Saturday) and an overnight o Sunday morning 9 AM. Yes, it took a lot of time but it is now lifetime certification -- no need to ever renew. And with that one training I can take our girls to all kinds of camping trips. So yeah, it was a one day (and overnight) investment in my daughter's troop -- but worth it. After all if you take the girls camping that takes up a whole weekend!

I also did the archery training, which was about a 6 hour training I think. And my coleader took Kayak training -- another 6 hours. But now, that's pretty much it. With those trainings (plus First Aid and CPR -- which is another half day or online training) we have access to a lot of outdoor camping trips and activities without needing to hire anybody or wait for a Service Unit to put anything on for us.

I think once you just bite the bullet and take the trainings ONCE you will realize it wasn't that big a deal, and it opens you up to being able to do a LOT of fun, inexpensive activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are disillusioned with GS and have a daughter that is 14 or older, consider the Boy Scouts Venture program. This is a co-ed program fully run and operated by the BSA. I don't know the details, but my understanding is that they focus on the boy scout-like activities (canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, rafting, etc.) without the emphasis of earning merit badges and achieving rank.

OMG, I just googled this and got goosebumps watching the video! This could be exactly what my very adventurous daughter has been looking for! Thanks so much for the information!

PP here - actually, I just read more details and while it does sound like a fun program, there's still too much red tape, paperwork, and requirements for my taste. I just want a group that my daughter can take part in adventures with without having to jump through all the other hoops.

The hoops are all there because someone, somewhere decided to be an asshole (or worse!) and some parent was a jerk and/or sue-happy.

BSA and GSUSA both have training programs for leaders and red tape. Boy Scouts do a lot more outdoor activities that Girl Scouts do as a general rule. They also have a lot more accidents, and frankly, fatalities. Not a lot overall, but GSUSA has a much better safety record -- probably precisely because they generally do NOT go hiking and kayaking in the backwoods, hard to reach regions as some Boy Scouts do.

[Anonymous]

Reading this I am so glad I said no when my husband mentioned enrolling our K student in GS during back to school night. Frankly, it sounds like a bore. Whey would I want my to get involved with something that is mainly about selling overpriced cookies and the money doesn't even come back to my child's benefit?

So, what is the objective of the cookies (and other fundraisers) sale if apparently the girls only do some crafts and talk about feelings? Isn't it cheaper to just get a list of supplies needed and head to Michael's or Target?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But can we all agree that it's a better organization than the Boy Scouts?

No.

I have boys in boy scouts (no daughters) but from what I see above, it doesn't sound better. My sons have not experienced any pressure to sell things/fund raise. There is a camping outing at least once a month.

Popcorn anyone??? Mulch in the springtime?? Boy Scouts in this area are just as cash happy as the Girls Scouts.

Both scouting organizations are becoming tiresome with their fundraising. I admit that I was a bit taken back a few evenings ago when the doorbell rang and I found a young girl scout out selling chocolates at 8 pm. Yes, her mother was with her but really? I even asked about the fundraiser as I was used to cookies in the late winter / spring. The mother stated that the girl had to sell a certain amount of chocolates in the fall to even be considered to sell cookies in the winter. What??? If that's true, that's absolutely crazy and a far, far cry from the scouting organizations in which I participated as a kid.

I think the bolded is the difference in the groups. Cub scouts sales weren't mandatory though encouraged. The money went back to the pack to use towards outings or camps for the boys. There wasn't a number that they had to sell for some sort of pack advancement.

This is 100% untrue. I'm a longtime leader and service unit manager. Girls are never required to sell.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the prior posters that the Journeys are dumb and there is too much red tape. That said, there are a lot of awesome activities sponsored by the Council and the Service Units. The engineering thing at NASA looked awesome, and I was bummed we couldn't get our troop act together in time to register before it booked up. As a troop leader, I'll say one major challenge is getting other parents to respond to do anything outside of the regular meeting time and location. I'd love to plan more outdoor activies, but I can't do it if the other parents won't respond to emails asking them if they would attend. There are also a ton of great options at the local musuems, some of them free -- we're trying to do those, but again, it takes coordination with the parents. There are also some awesome outdoorsy things sponsored a couple hours a way in PA that I'd love to try -- thinkgs like geocaching and cave exploring -- if we can get parents on board.

I don't se the cookie sales as that big a deal. The cookies are pretty tasty and a lot of people like them, and theyr're not that overpriced. Each troop gets about 70 cents per box, so we use it to fund one exciting field trip for the girls.

For those mentioning Boy Scous and Philmont, I know there is a way you can do it as a Girl Scout, because I have female family members that did it and LOVED it.

Finally, one thing I do love about Girl Scouts is that it is probably the one non-competitive thing your child will do. Everyone is in travel sports, and doing recitals for instruments, trying to do well in school, etc. etc. Scouting is just about doing fun stuff, and trying to help the community, with other girls -- you can't win or lose, nobody gets a grade, nobody is cut from the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this I am so glad I said no when my husband mentioned enrolling our K student in GS during back to school night. Frankly, it sounds like a bore. Whey would I want my to get involved with something that is mainly about selling overpriced cookies and the money doesn't even come back to my child's benefit?

So, what is the objective of the cookies (and other fundraisers) sale if apparently the girls only do some crafts and talk about feelings? Isn't it cheaper to just get a list of supplies needed and head to Michael's or Target?

Most of us ignore all the official badge stuff and add non-sanctioned outdoor adventures and community service. Find a troop that fits your ideals. Better yet, lead a troop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading this I am so glad I said no when my husband mentioned enrolling our K student in GS during back to school night. Frankly, it sounds like a bore. Whey would I want my to get involved with something that is mainly about selling overpriced cookies and the money doesn't even come back to my child's benefit?

So, what is the objective of the cookies (and other fundraisers) sale if apparently the girls only do some crafts and talk about feelings? Isn't it cheaper to just get a list of supplies needed and head to Michael's or Target?

I don't love cookie sales, and we do them in a very-low key way--participation is optional, no cookie college, no cookie rallies, one booth sale at school--but our troop still earns $700-$1000 each year. It does help pay for a lot, including all fees for girls who could not otherwise afford to participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the prior posters that the Journeys are dumb and there is too much red tape. That said, there are a lot of awesome activities sponsored by the Council and the Service Units. The engineering thing at NASA looked awesome, and I was bummed we couldn't get our troop act together in time to register before it booked up.

I wish we could get more advance notice of these things. I'm already planning through February. Hearing about programs a month ahead doesn't help me much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a troop leader (also OP) and I did do the training to be camp certified. It did not take the whole weekend; it was one full day (a Saturday) and an overnight o Sunday morning 9 AM. Yes, it took a lot of time but it is now lifetime certification -- no need to ever renew. And with that one training I can take our girls to all kinds of camping trips. So yeah, it was a one day (and overnight) investment in my daughter's troop -- but worth it. After all if you take the girls camping that takes up a whole weekend!

I also did the archery training, which was about a 6 hour training I think. And my coleader took Kayak training -- another 6 hours. But now, that's pretty much it. With those trainings (plus First Aid and CPR -- which is another half day or online training) we have access to a lot of outdoor camping trips and activities without needing to hire anybody or wait for a Service Unit to put anything on for us.

I think once you just bite the bullet and take the trainings ONCE you will realize it wasn't that big a deal, and it opens you up to being able to do a LOT of fun, inexpensive activities.

I'm camp and First Aid certified, and the training did not give me the confidence to take a dozen girls camping, especially given how little prior exposure most of them have had to this kind of outdoor activity. I recommend getting the training, but I'd still like to see GSCNC offer more structured outdoor programs.