I want to begin this post by saying that I greatly respect both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, their programming, their structures, their leadership, and goals and values. Those things are not up for debate to me, because I and my family have benefited from both systems. I’m a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts with 25 years in the organization, both as a girl and now as an adult volunteer in multiple capacities across two councils. My twin brother was a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout, my father helped in all levels from den meetings all the way up to pack meetings and trips, and both of my parents helped lead Explorer Scouts, now Venture Scouts. Even as girls, my sister and I both participated in several Ventur Scout activities. I have seen many changes in both organizations over the last 25+ years and believe both programs have a lot to offer.
This past week, the board of Boy Scouts of America voted to allow girls to join their program at all age levels, not just at the Venture Scout level. This decision has come after much debate and requests from some parents and families wanting to simplify the scouting experience for their families.
So here’s my take on things as I see them and feel free to disagree. Ultimately will this decision radically change scouting for both boys and girls? No. Both organizations are going to continue with what they have historically been, organizations that serve youth and strive to teach foundational skills. Both organizations will continue to deal with the ebb and flow of membership, both seeing decline in the last decade. Both organizations will continue to struggle with staying relevant and current to the needs of both boys and girls, while trying to compete with a multitude of other events and activities that complete for family and individual’s time. And as a leader and volunteer, I don’t see a big difference coming my way.
But here’s where I become concerned about this move on the Boy Scouts part. After reading how this rollout will come, here’s what I’ve learned and feel free to check the Boy Scouts of America’s website for more information. Dens, the groups of youngest boys, will continue to be separated based on gender. Packs can decide whether or not they will choose to admit girls or stay single gender. 2019 will be the rollout for the older girl program, that will allow girls to earn the coveted Eagle Scout award. This seems to be reasonable as Boy Scouts make this transition. I do have a question though. If girls can do anything that boys can do, why are dens still going to be separated and packs given the option to stay single gender? And if this decision is about gender equality, why does the older girl program still need to be created in order to allow girls to earn the Eagle Scout award? Why can’t existing programming just be used? What needs to be created?
Something does seem to be a little off in how this is being presented once you look at the details of the plan. Will I get a straight answer for my question in the future? I don’t know and that’s really up to the Boy Scouts to decide to answers my questions are not. But I would venture to say that this decision has more to do with declining membership, which equals a decline in income and revenue then it does about really serving more people and being a more family-friendly organization. I would also like to know how Boy Scouts responsed to both scientific and psychological data and studies that clearly demonstrate that both sexes, but in particular girls, need to spend time in single gender environments. That time in single gender environments provides opportunities for both genders to feel comfortable and safe to deal with a multitude of issues that they must face in growing up in society today. This single gender time doesn’t have to be an all day, every day exposure, it is important especially for girls do you know where they can go to find like-minded, same gender girls just share their experiences, to come up with solutions to their problems, and also to find role models in leadership to help them navigate a difficult world.
Let me be clear, Girl Scouts is not for everyone. There are plenty of girls and adults who have been a part of Girl Scouts of USA and have not enjoyed the experience and want nothing more to do with Girl Scouts. And while I’m sad to hear this, I wish them well and hope that they find an organization better suited to their needs. Just a quick reminder, Girl Scouts has been welcoming to the LGBTQ community for both girls and leaders, long before BS opened their organization. Also boys have been able to be a Girl Scout if they’ve choosen for years. Girl Scouts just didn’t make the news about those decisions, and that’s okay on most levels in my book.
But also there is been a lot of discussion about Boy Scouts can do so much more than Girl Scouts. So let me take a quick second to say that really the only thing the Girl Scouts are not allowed to do that Boy Scouts can is fire guns. It’s an insurance issue and I know some people have figured out ways around it but that is truly the only thing Girl Scouts cannot do, that Boy Scouts do. We are more than a cookie selling, craft making, spa day having, song singing organization. Yes we do all of those things but we also do camping, survival skills, canoeing, hiking, archery, outdoor cooking, first aid CPR, and so much more. We have psychologist, education experts, and the girls themselves tell us what they want to do and we build programming around their wants and desires. We structure it in an age-appropriate way that meets girls physical, emotional, and psychological needs. At the troop level girls are encouraged to make decisions about how their troop is structured and what they do each program year. Girl Scouts is set up so that we give folks a basic outline, a starting point for what troops can do but they are not limited to that program. We can choose to do other things as long as we remain safe while doing them. Ultimately, if a parent or a girl feels that they are not doing what they thought they would, they have every right to request a transfer to a different troop, they can start their own troop. And Girl Scouts do you offer higher awards similar to the Eagle Scout. Starting as soon as fourth grade, girls can earn the Bronze Award, sixth grade the Silver Award, and nineth grade the Gold Award. I promise you these awards are just as challenging to earn as the Eagle Scout award.
So this is a long winded blog post, but I think before people who don’t understand both programs rush to make snap decisions, there needs to be a lot more research done about both programs and also what the decision by Boy Scouts of America really means and looks like.
This past week, the board of Boy Scouts of America voted to allow girls to join their program at all age levels, not just at the Venture Scout level. This decision has come after much debate and requests from some parents and families wanting to simplify the scouting experience for their families.
So here’s my take on things as I see them and feel free to disagree. Ultimately will this decision radically change scouting for both boys and girls? No. Both organizations are going to continue with what they have historically been, organizations that serve youth and strive to teach foundational skills. Both organizations will continue to deal with the ebb and flow of membership, both seeing decline in the last decade. Both organizations will continue to struggle with staying relevant and current to the needs of both boys and girls, while trying to compete with a multitude of other events and activities that complete for family and individual’s time. And as a leader and volunteer, I don’t see a big difference coming my way.
But here’s where I become concerned about this move on the Boy Scouts part. After reading how this rollout will come, here’s what I’ve learned and feel free to check the Boy Scouts of America’s website for more information. Dens, the groups of youngest boys, will continue to be separated based on gender. Packs can decide whether or not they will choose to admit girls or stay single gender. 2019 will be the rollout for the older girl program, that will allow girls to earn the coveted Eagle Scout award. This seems to be reasonable as Boy Scouts make this transition. I do have a question though. If girls can do anything that boys can do, why are dens still going to be separated and packs given the option to stay single gender? And if this decision is about gender equality, why does the older girl program still need to be created in order to allow girls to earn the Eagle Scout award? Why can’t existing programming just be used? What needs to be created?
Something does seem to be a little off in how this is being presented once you look at the details of the plan. Will I get a straight answer for my question in the future? I don’t know and that’s really up to the Boy Scouts to decide to answers my questions are not. But I would venture to say that this decision has more to do with declining membership, which equals a decline in income and revenue then it does about really serving more people and being a more family-friendly organization. I would also like to know how Boy Scouts responsed to both scientific and psychological data and studies that clearly demonstrate that both sexes, but in particular girls, need to spend time in single gender environments. That time in single gender environments provides opportunities for both genders to feel comfortable and safe to deal with a multitude of issues that they must face in growing up in society today. This single gender time doesn’t have to be an all day, every day exposure, it is important especially for girls do you know where they can go to find like-minded, same gender girls just share their experiences, to come up with solutions to their problems, and also to find role models in leadership to help them navigate a difficult world.
Let me be clear, Girl Scouts is not for everyone. There are plenty of girls and adults who have been a part of Girl Scouts of USA and have not enjoyed the experience and want nothing more to do with Girl Scouts. And while I’m sad to hear this, I wish them well and hope that they find an organization better suited to their needs. Just a quick reminder, Girl Scouts has been welcoming to the LGBTQ community for both girls and leaders, long before BS opened their organization. Also boys have been able to be a Girl Scout if they’ve choosen for years. Girl Scouts just didn’t make the news about those decisions, and that’s okay on most levels in my book.
But also there is been a lot of discussion about Boy Scouts can do so much more than Girl Scouts. So let me take a quick second to say that really the only thing the Girl Scouts are not allowed to do that Boy Scouts can is fire guns. It’s an insurance issue and I know some people have figured out ways around it but that is truly the only thing Girl Scouts cannot do, that Boy Scouts do. We are more than a cookie selling, craft making, spa day having, song singing organization. Yes we do all of those things but we also do camping, survival skills, canoeing, hiking, archery, outdoor cooking, first aid CPR, and so much more. We have psychologist, education experts, and the girls themselves tell us what they want to do and we build programming around their wants and desires. We structure it in an age-appropriate way that meets girls physical, emotional, and psychological needs. At the troop level girls are encouraged to make decisions about how their troop is structured and what they do each program year. Girl Scouts is set up so that we give folks a basic outline, a starting point for what troops can do but they are not limited to that program. We can choose to do other things as long as we remain safe while doing them. Ultimately, if a parent or a girl feels that they are not doing what they thought they would, they have every right to request a transfer to a different troop, they can start their own troop. And Girl Scouts do you offer higher awards similar to the Eagle Scout. Starting as soon as fourth grade, girls can earn the Bronze Award, sixth grade the Silver Award, and nineth grade the Gold Award. I promise you these awards are just as challenging to earn as the Eagle Scout award.
So this is a long winded blog post, but I think before people who don’t understand both programs rush to make snap decisions, there needs to be a lot more research done about both programs and also what the decision by Boy Scouts of America really means and looks like.
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