S/o. Explain the appeal of GSA and BSA

[Anonymous]

My daughter is going into her fifth year of Girl Scouts, and I led her troop for two years. As the girls get older they take more control over meetings and activities, and young kids don't often get much chance to do that. I think it's nice for her to have a different group of friends that aren't necessarily in her class or school as well. My daughter loves going to Girl Scout camp as well.

[Anonymous]

The appeal of BSA programs to girls and boys is primarily the opportunity to have fun with peers from a variety of schools and backgrounds. It is a way for younger kids to have a chance to regularly interact with kids as much as 4 or 5 years older when being taught Scout skills. This is intended to provide older youths as role models. At the Scouts BSA ages (11 to 17) and at the fully-Co-ed venturers/Explorers/Sea Scout ages (14 - 20) a very robust outdoor program is always a big attraction. These units typically have outings at least 8 - 10 times a year, including a longer-term outdoor experience in the summer. A great aspect tp the long-term camping experience is that the entire unit attends together, providing years of friendship binding experiences. Finally, the chance to progress up the iconic BSA rank system is always an appeal. For parents, one appeal can be the low cost. Compared to travel teams, regular lessons and the like, BSA is a comparative bargain.

[Anonymous]

I saw some mention of girl interested in outdoors and camping. Our new Scouts BSA all-girl troop in NW will have our entire calendar of activities posted on line on Nov. 1. We will have at least 8 outings in 2019, including our week at nearby “super camp” Goshen in the Shenandoah, and we are even going to take them on a brief visit to the 50,000-Scout International Jamboree being held in August in WV. They will meet girls in Scouting organizations from around the world. More information at [e-mail].

[Anonymous]

Pet peeve -- it is GSUSA, not GSA. Just for your information.

My kids have been involved in both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. They had a nice group of kids in their pack/troop and some great adult leaders. My kids weren't big into organized sports, and for them, having scouts was a way to be with other kids, in the outdoors, usually, or taking interesting field trips. They learned a ton of skills and yes, did some crafts. They both learned campcraft (how to set up tents, start fires, use jackknives, cook over a fire or in the outdoors), went fishing and boating and hiking and snowboarding....

Of course my kids could have done these things with me as a family, but it was great having them do it as part of a troop. The Boy Scouts seem more geared towards working in patrols and having the boys practice leadership through that method. The girls did things more as a troop, with a committee based system of organizing things. For example, in my son's troop, kids camp by patrols, and plan meals as a patrol and cook as a patrol. In my daughter's troop, the girls all cook for the whole troop. One patrol might plan and do breakfast, one will plan and cook lunch, etc. But everything is run at the troop level. Either way they are learning planning skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The appeal of Boy Scouting is to have a well developed program that allows boys to grow into men in an all male environment, learning skills, traditions, leadership and respect.

One of the biggest draws of the program is the all boy environment.

Unfortunately BSA has imploded in an attempt to be too many things to too many people.

I hope the girl push in BSA fails miserably with low participation.

[Anonymous]

Three of my brothers were Eagle Scouts. When my oldest asked to join, I asked their opinion. Each said they wished their own boys would do it. My son ended up doing for 3 years but dropped out due to too many other commitments.

I wasn’t disappointed when he dropped it. Other than the Pinewood Derby & camping trips, there wasn’t much appeal to him. Of the boys who started in first grade, and stayed in it through middle school, it appears most are quiet, non-athletic kids, albeit talented otherwise. I think it gave those boys a peer group that shared common interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three of my brothers were Eagle Scouts. When my oldest asked to join, I asked their opinion. Each said they wished their own boys would do it. My son ended up doing for 3 years but dropped out due to too many other commitments.

I wasn’t disappointed when he dropped it. Other than the Pinewood Derby & camping trips, there wasn’t much appeal to him. Of the boys who started in first grade, and stayed in it through middle school, it appears most are quiet, non-athletic kids, albeit talented otherwise. I think it gave those boys a peer group that shared common interests.

As a note -- cub scouts are different than boy scouts (or now Scouts). Scouts do not do the Pinewood Derby so I am guessing you are talking about Cubs.

[Anonymous]

I'll also add that the BSA has had two coed programs, Venture Scouts and Sea Scouts, for years. While the ranks are different, they can participate in most, if not all, of the serious outdoor programs like Philmont, Sea Base and Boundary Waters. The world did not come to an end either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't do it growing up. My son didn't and DD did one round of brownies and had enough. It wasn't for us, no big deal. Every one of my nephews on DH side of the family (in fact ALL the boys on his side including extended family) have done it. I have lots of friends whose children have done both, althogui the boys stick with it longer. I don't understand it. What is the end game here? Can someone please explain. I've never asked because I don't want to come off sounding condescending, I'm not belittling the programs I just don't understand what it is about the being in the scouts that's so important.

My kids didn't do scouts, but I have two friends who were GS leaders for years (their daughters are now in college). I think one thing that both moms and daughters loved about scouting is that there is no end game. It's not strategic; it's not about building a resume or gaming college admissions; it's just fun. As the parent of kids who did high-level travel sports, I think that sounds awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a pretty big Scout fan I am fairly confident that girl troops will be fine additions to Scouting. My kids have gone to coed camps for years and never had any issues. The girls will just be in Camp Section A and the bathrooms will be girls only.

Having some girls in a merit badge class at camp isn’t going to freak out anyone.

I don't understand why a small group of girl parents feel privileged to take away the one organization that serves boys and young men.

Create your own organization...oh wait, you already have girl scouts.

Men decided to make that change because with the loss of the Mormon troops they needed something to prop up Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts is doing just fine and will continue to do just fine. If Boy Scouts had wanted to allow all scouting under one umbrella, they could have done that at the beginning. They didn't, so women and girls created Girl Scouts, which will continue to be an organization that serves girls.

Don't blame women if you don't like the direction Boy Scouts has gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't do it growing up. My son didn't and DD did one round of brownies and had enough. It wasn't for us, no big deal. Every one of my nephews on DH side of the family (in fact ALL the boys on his side including extended family) have done it. I have lots of friends whose children have done both, althogui the boys stick with it longer. I don't understand it. What is the end game here? Can someone please explain. I've never asked because I don't want to come off sounding condescending, I'm not belittling the programs I just don't understand what it is about the being in the scouts that's so important.

My kids didn't do scouts, but I have two friends who were GS leaders for years (their daughters are now in college). I think one thing that both moms and daughters loved about scouting is that there is no end game. It's not strategic; it's not about building a resume or gaming college admissions; it's just fun. As the parent of kids who did high-level travel sports, I think that sounds awesome.

I’m a GS leader, and while I would like to agree with you, I can’t. The end game in general is developing leadership skills. Hopefully, it is done in a way that is really fun for the girls. By 7th/8th grade, many of the girls who stay on are doing it for the highest awards (Gold Award being the highest). At that point, college admissions is definitely coming into play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The appeal of Boy Scouting is to have a well developed program that allows boys to grow into men in an all male environment, learning skills, traditions, leadership and respect.

One of the biggest draws of the program is the all boy environment.

Unfortunately BSA has imploded in an attempt to be too many things to too many people.

Not for my kid. He could care less about the girls doing it, and half the leaders are women anyway.

He loves it for all the structured activities and the camping. He's a nature kid, a kid that likes to make things, (and burn things, ha ha). He isn't into sports so Boy Scouts is a place where he shines. Ex scouts, now grown up, talk about loving earning the badges and the structure but also liking belonging to an organization that was focused on being "good," not winning. The goal of boy scouts is to become a good person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a pretty big Scout fan I am fairly confident that girl troops will be fine additions to Scouting. My kids have gone to coed camps for years and never had any issues. The girls will just be in Camp Section A and the bathrooms will be girls only.

Having some girls in a merit badge class at camp isn’t going to freak out anyone.

I don't understand why a small group of girl parents feel privileged to take away the one organization that serves boys and young men.

Create your own organization...oh wait, you already have girl scouts.

Let's be perfectly clear - it isn't girls' moms who drove the change. Rather BSA leadership trying to adapt to shrinking scouting memberships. This is all on them.
- Girl Scout leader and mom to a son who did 4 months of Cub Scouts and quit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pet peeve -- it is GSUSA, not GSA. Just for your information.

Thank you!
This was driving me crazy.
Yes, GSUSA.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what your question is, OP. It's a youth activity. Like sports or theater or music or church youth group or art classes or whatever. For some kids, they enjoy Scouting - they like the activities, the leadership opportunities, the chance to meet kids who don't go to their schools, learn new skills, etc.
It's not a complicated mystery.