Are your girls honestly and truly taking away anything from GS other than that it’s basically an elementary-level sorority? I don’t think my Brownie cares what patches or badges she earns, she just likes going twice a week to be with her friends, and taking the occasional field trip. She is super excited about camping this year though.

The absolute only benefit and difference between the GS and BS that I can tell is becoming an Eagle Scout, and the long term benefits of becoming one. Most GS and BS don’t stick with it that long anyway, so comparing the two at elementary level is pointless. It’s a bunch of kids getting together to essentially socialize, and that’s just fine and a healthy part of development in and of itself. I do wish their were equal incentives for GS to stick with it in middle and high school though. That’s the only benefit of BS that I can think of, of course, if your girl sticks it out for the long haul.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:*rolls eyes* GS was only founded because BS refused to include them.

They should take this as a win and become the Scouts or Scouts of America. GS can give BS some tips on running a better product line and BS can give GS tips on better merit badges.

Because the GS badges seriously suck. Childcare, needlecraft, sewing, and folk dancing, ffs?

hat's a p
Thoto of a sash from the 1980s.

Of course it is. Girls Scout uniforms are now blue.

Anonymous wrote:From all these comments I'm reading.
So some troops are lead by moms who knows other moms and thus, start a troop?

Maybe the GS leaders should publicized their programs more effectively to attract girls and admit them without having to be a friend with the mom's who's running the troop. Maybe if they get more interesting moms running the troop, then they would focus more on the same thing. It sounds like there are too much variety in the GS troops.
The BS has a set program and they try to follow it as much as possible to get those badges.

You do not have to know a mom starting a troop. You go to the website, sign up, and get assigned to a troop.

I have a cub scout and an a daughter that was a GS from K-5 and decided not to bridge to cadettes when she found out she could wait a few months to become a boy scout.

Cub scouts is more family friendly. It's okay if siblings show up and parents help out in the den meetings. It seems to be less territorial. Families are welcome on the outings and overnights. Taking my son on the GS campout was more effort than it was worth.

Cub/Boy scouts have defined requirements for advancements. GS is at the discretion of the girls/troop. If the girls personalities all match, it works great. If not, some one is left out and unhappy because majority rules.

GS STEM badges---these are relatively new. DD did the robotics badges when they were rolled out during her last year as a Jr. The thing is....most of the kids have already done this stuff in school. It's not fun, it's just more academic work.

Gold Award vs Eagle---again, Eagle has defined requirements. The project is just one part of it. But the overall requirements strive to provide the child with exposure to a lot of different aspects of life.

The Gold Award requires that you complete a Sr. Level Journey and do a project. While Journey in a Day probably was not the intent of GSUSA when they developed the program, that's what it has become. There are multiple vendors that sponsor these program. "Come, get your journey knocked out in 8 hours". That's a far cry from the 21 merit badges required for Eagle.

GSUSA hasn't objected to Journey in a Day programing and and many councils advertise these programs in their programming guides so they must be okay by GSUSA.

From all these comments I'm reading.
So some troops are lead by moms who knows other moms and thus, start a troop?

Maybe the GS leaders should publicized their programs more effectively to attract girls and admit them without having to be a friend with the mom's who's running the troop. Maybe if they get more interesting moms running the troop, then they would focus more on the same thing. It sounds like there are too much variety in the GS troops.
The BS has a set program and they try to follow it as much as possible to get those badges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the Mormons and other churches broke from BSA and formed their own youth organizations, BSA found themselves strapped for cash (via membership). Instead of working to rebuild their own program, they decided to make a grab for cash (via membership) from GSA. GSA is upset that BSA is trying to undermine the GSA organization for their own gain.

Maybe GSA should figure out why BSA is more appealing. Im a scout mom and so far find the GSA organization exhusting, exessive and horrible training sessions, not enough emphasis on physical and outdoor activties

It couldn't possibly have anything to do with ingrained sexism and the belief that "boy" activities are inherently better than "girl" activities. After all, I=it's not like we've ever had a debate on DCUM about whether it's okay for a boy to dress up like a princess for Halloween while embracing girls who want to dress as traditionally "male" characters.

^^^^^^THIS.^^^^^^^ 1000X THIS.^^^^^^

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the Mormons and other churches broke from BSA and formed their own youth organizations, BSA found themselves strapped for cash (via membership). Instead of working to rebuild their own program, they decided to make a grab for cash (via membership) from GSA. GSA is upset that BSA is trying to undermine the GSA organization for their own gain.

Maybe GSA should figure out why BSA is more appealing. Im a scout mom and so far find the GSA organization exhusting, exessive and horrible training sessions, not enough emphasis on physical and outdoor activties

Why do you say it's more appealing? It might not be for you, but that doesn't mean it's not appealing for literally millions of girls.

I don't think anyone is trying to disband the GS, many girls love it. Like PP, my girl happens to like CS much better and I don't think the GS should be bitter about that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the Mormons and other churches broke from BSA and formed their own youth organizations, BSA found themselves strapped for cash (via membership). Instead of working to rebuild their own program, they decided to make a grab for cash (via membership) from GSA. GSA is upset that BSA is trying to undermine the GSA organization for their own gain.

Maybe GSA should figure out why BSA is more appealing. Im a scout mom and so far find the GSA organization exhusting, exessive and horrible training sessions, not enough emphasis on physical and outdoor activties

It couldn't possibly have anything to do with ingrained sexism and the belief that "boy" activities are inherently better than "girl" activities. After all, I=it's not like we've ever had a debate on DCUM about whether it's okay for a boy to dress up like a princess for Halloween while embracing girls who want to dress as traditionally "male" characters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the Mormons and other churches broke from BSA and formed their own youth organizations, BSA found themselves strapped for cash (via membership). Instead of working to rebuild their own program, they decided to make a grab for cash (via membership) from GSA. GSA is upset that BSA is trying to undermine the GSA organization for their own gain.

Maybe GSA should figure out why BSA is more appealing. Im a scout mom and so far find the GSA organization exhusting, exessive and horrible training sessions, not enough emphasis on physical and outdoor activties

Why do you say it's more appealing? It might not be for you, but that doesn't mean it's not appealing for literally millions of girls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the Mormons and other churches broke from BSA and formed their own youth organizations, BSA found themselves strapped for cash (via membership). Instead of working to rebuild their own program, they decided to make a grab for cash (via membership) from GSA. GSA is upset that BSA is trying to undermine the GSA organization for their own gain.

Maybe GSA should figure out why BSA is more appealing. Im a scout mom and so far find the GSA organization exhusting, exessive and horrible training sessions, not enough emphasis on physical and outdoor activties

Troops can and are so different it blows me away. My girls have done ropes courses, camping, archery, canoeing, kayaking, and more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:*rolls eyes* GS was only founded because BS refused to include them.

They should take this as a win and become the Scouts or Scouts of America. GS can give BS some tips on running a better product line and BS can give GS tips on better merit badges.

Because the GS badges seriously suck. Childcare, needlecraft, sewing, and folk dancing, ffs?

Agree!

+1 I hated the crafty sewing activities as a Girl Scout. My older child is a Boy Scout now, and I'm happy to have my little girl join as a "family scout" when she's old enough. I'm in scouting for the nature stuff, not the home ec stuff.

I have been a girl scout leader for four years now, and my troop has literally never sewed a single thing. To the extent we "craft," it's more like building bird houses and planting native species gardens.

Same. And in fact, I keep asking for them to learn how to do sewing, and I may send my daughter to a summer camp here if they don't do it: https://www.sewmagarbo.com/. Because I think sewing is a good, practical skill everyone should have, male or female, similar to the pp who said her Eagle Scout husband knows how to sew. Sewing s a well-respected part of the maker community.

Anonymous wrote:When the Mormons and other churches broke from BSA and formed their own youth organizations, BSA found themselves strapped for cash (via membership). Instead of working to rebuild their own program, they decided to make a grab for cash (via membership) from GSA. GSA is upset that BSA is trying to undermine the GSA organization for their own gain.

Maybe GSA should figure out why BSA is more appealing. Im a scout mom and so far find the GSA organization exhusting, exessive and horrible training sessions, not enough emphasis on physical and outdoor activties

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:*rolls eyes* GS was only founded because BS refused to include them.

They should take this as a win and become the Scouts or Scouts of America. GS can give BS some tips on running a better product line and BS can give GS tips on better merit badges.

Because the GS badges seriously suck. Childcare, needlecraft, sewing, and folk dancing, ffs?

Agree!

+1 I hated the crafty sewing activities as a Girl Scout. My older child is a Boy Scout now, and I'm happy to have my little girl join as a "family scout" when she's old enough. I'm in scouting for the nature stuff, not the home ec stuff.

I have been a girl scout leader for four years now, and my troop has literally never sewed a single thing. To the extent we "craft," it's more like building bird houses and planting native species gardens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s admirable Girl Scouts is trying to include more traditionally male activities. I know I found GS miserable as a kid because I hated crafts, I just wanted to run around in the woods.

What I hate about them is that it’s basically become a cookie selling business with some activities on the side. My friends who are troop leaders always feel pressured to sell, and they keep very little of the money. I hate that they set up outside of every store I go in and harass me. And now it’s not just cookies- multiple times a year they are bugging me to buy cookies, candy, etc that I don’t even want.

Sales are twice a year, and no one is required to participate. Our troop makes good money from those sales, which allows us to pay for a lot of extra activities for the girls without asking parents to write checks over and over again (which we try to be sensitive to, since not all of our families have a bunch of extra cash lying around). Very little of our troop year is spent on selling-related activities, but I really like the financial literacy program GSA has developed around it (if troop leaders choose to use it) because it's a strong program to teach the girls about budgeting, planning and goal-setting that builds in an age-appropriate way. One of the things I didn't care for about BSA when our family was a part of it was that our pack declined to participate in any fundraising in favor of parents writing large checks every year, and I felt like they were missing out on an opportunity to teach a very privileged group of boys about putting in the work to earn your own way instead of expecting everything to be handed to you.

NP. I would get behind BSA and GSA troop sales if they did more creative work. I'd love to pay a middle preschooler to rake leaves or organize my toys or shovel my walk way or a million other great chores I have. Kiwanis actually used to be good about paying for chores like that (kids would volunteer to do work and the money benefited their Kiwanis).

Again, you have to research the details. Girl Scouts *are* allowed to do additional money-making work such as this if they participate in Fall Product Sales (our troop just buys 2 items total to give to the teachers for holidays as a gift from the troop) and cookie sales in the winter/spring. Once that is done, they are free to fundraise. MANY troops do additional fund-raising. If you would like a Scout to rake leaves or organize your toys or shovel your walk, feel free to reach out to a local Scout leader and I am sure you will have many, many takers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alright GSA moms - explain to me why all their Financial Literary badges are so passive and honestly - weirdly worded.

Money Counts? Why not have an Accounting badge.

Give Back? Volunteerism badge would be better.

Comparison shopping? Umm, okay not touching that one.

My Portfolio? Jesus C - just call it Investment banking badge.

Why are those names an issue for you? You really think a six-year-old is going to relate better to "Accounting" than to "Money Counts" (which is a Daisy-level badge, earned by K and 1st graders)?

I think a 6-year-old would take more pride in the badge accomplishment as they age if it was titled seriously and taken seriously. The BS does this amazingly well with teens proud to say they're an Eagle Scout and list off their badges. Even further there are organizations that recruit for pre-college programs who look at BS senior involvement as a plus on 'resumes' and it goes even further. You only have to note the spouse above who touted the husband being an Eagle Scout to see that.

GS is loosing 1/3rd of its membership for a reason and it started well before BS did this name and policy changes post-2014. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/girl-scouts-membership-drops-sharply/

No, you are wrong. I have a 6yo Daisy and they are just learning $$ in school. "Money counts" is a perfectly, age-appropriate name for a badge for 6yos. It's money, you count it. You are arguing like an adult who is not familiar with children and what is and is not appealing or applicable to them.

Girl Scouts have the Gold Award which is a very high honor. They start preparing for it many years before in stages. My 5th grader is now working on the Bronze Award with her troop -- in a few years it will be the Silver Award -- then finally the Gold Award. In fact, it used to be called "The Golden Eagle" but guess why they changed the name? So uninformed people would not confuse it with the Boy Scout Eagle Award.

And as for the names of the badges, they do get less "cute-sy" as they get older, as one would expect. My 5th grader is not doing "Money Counts." Hers is called "Business Owner."

I get so annoyed with people who are not well-involved with and well educated about Girl Scouting blather on and on about things about which they know so little.