The Boy Scouts now accepting Girls

[StaticCling]

The Boy Scouts of America announced on Wednesday that it will admit girls into the Cub Scouts starting next year and establish a new program for older girls using the organization’s same curriculum.

In the historic move, Cub Scout dens — the smallest unit — will be single-gender, either all boys or all girls. Cub Scout packs, which are larger and include a number of dens, will have the option to welcome both genders if they choose.

The Boy Scouts’ board of directors voted unanimously for the change on Wednesday.

“This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting — trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example — are important for both young men and women,” Michael Surbaugh, the group’s chief executive, said in a statement.

He added that “we believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children. We strive to bring what our organization does best — developing character and leadership for young people — to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders.”

The program for older girls is expected to start in 2019 and will enable girls to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.

In a statement, the group said that after “years of receiving requests from families and girls,” it “evaluated the results of numerous research efforts” and came to its decision.

The Girl Scouts of America, which is separate and independent of the Boy Scouts, has been the primary scouting alternative for girls, and claims a membership of 1.8 million.

More recently, a rift has emerged between the two groups.

In August, Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, the president of the Girl Scouts, sent a letter to the Boy Scouts of America accusing the group of carrying out a “covert campaign to recruit girls into programs” in the hopes of bolstering declining membership, according to BuzzFeed News. Hannan wrote that it was “reckless” and shortsighted in “thinking that running a program specifically tailored to boys can simply be translated to girls.”

On Wednesday, officials from the Girl Scouts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910, was established for boys and their male leaders, and focused on promoting responsibility through an array of outdoor activities and educational opportunities.

In the 1980s, Catherine Pollard, a mother from Milford, Conn., sued the group to overturn the ban against female Scoutmasters, alleging it violated sex discrimination laws. The lengthy legal proceedings — which went on for nearly a decade — drew international attention, and courts ultimately sided with the Boy Scouts.

Even so, Pollard’s fight caught the public imagination, and in 1988, as the Boy Scouts faced mounting criticism from civil rights groups, the group’s national executive board voted to allow women in leadership positions — including Scoutmaster. Pollard became the first female Scoutmaster, and today, according to the Boy Scouts, nearly a third of the group’s volunteers are women.

In recent years the group has found itself embroiled in larger national debates about gender roles and sexual orientation. These debates, in turn, have led the Boy Scouts — which has about 2.3 million members — to examine long-held policies that date to its founding days over a century ago.

Earlier this year, the Boy Scouts announced that it will allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in its boys-only programs.

Zach Wahls, Eagle Scout and co-founder of Scouts for Equality, called Wednesday’s decision to allow girls into the group a “step forward.”

“Girls and their families across the country have been asking for decades to participate,” Wahls said. “This is progress and overdue.”

The newest step in the evolution of the Boy Scouts: accepting girls - LA Times

[DAB]

they better watch out for the ones with the "Cougar" badges.....

[DAB]

you really can learn all the skills they teach you without joining their dumb little group.

[VITE1]

I spent many years inthe BSA and was an Assistant scout master when I was 23-24.

We did a "Partnership" deal with a GSA troop in the late 60's adn early 70's. It worked well. We have some joint events like swim parties and skating. We did a few joint camp outs each year. Nice bu soon the girls just wanted to be by themselves.

The main Idea of hte BSA was for fathers and sons to spend time together outside thier normal routines and learn ab out each other through shared events. I am still Friends with a handful of guys from the BSA. Many of the life lesson I learned back in those days ahve served me well.

[OddBall]

Can a transgender person be a boy scout? - Ben Shapiro answers! - SJW Q&A - YouTube

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by DAB

you really can learn all the skills they teach you without joining their dumb little group.

If you think it's just about camping than sure.

BSA is way more than that. From a formal leadership development structure, it's hard to beat. From being able to lead a patrol of 8 to 10, or troop from 20 to 100+ that's a different type of opportunity. The honor society of BSA (Order of the Arrow) allows for leadership development that goes from a lodge as small as 200 to as big as 5,000+ to section leadership which ranges from 2500 to over 10,000. If you become the national chief, you sit on the national BSA board and are a voting member, representing the 2 million youth that are in the BSA.

If there's another group that offers that type of leadership development, that's as widespread and available, with as much impact, I'm interested in hearing about it.

[DAB]

leadership never interested me. i have enough problems of my own, no way should i be trying to tell someone else what to do.

[TripleBlack]

Originally Posted by DAB

leadership never interested me. i have enough problems of my own, no way should i be trying to tell someone else what to do.

I'm with you on lack of interest in leadership. But I wish I'd been exposed to it when I was young... I might have developed the interest as well as gained some skills. I will say the BSA served my to sons very well. They gained valuable experience and knowledge I just couldn't provide.

[thecornerman]

And you thought that leaders liked young boys

Just wait, I'd be willing to bet that there are more that like young girls

[mrvette]

Teen pregger rates to soar.....no rocket science there....

[DAB]

Originally Posted by mrvette

Teen pregger rates to soar.....no rocket science there....

that would be the "movie" badge

[DAB]

G.R.O.S.S. -

G.R.O.S.S. | The Calvin and Hobbes Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia.

"G.R.O.S.S. (Get Rid Of Slimy girlS) is an exclusive club created by Calvin and Hobbes, with the primary purpose of excluding and bugging girls, the only members being Calvin and Hobbes. However, Calvin has been heard talking to Susie when she's mad about Calvin excluding girls as the primary G.R.O.S.S. goal, Calvin replies, "I know it's redundant, but otherwise it doesn't spell anything." Which could suggest that the name is partly just to spell something. Susie Derkins is frequently the target of the club's activities. The club is famous for their extremely long password, which is known to have at least eight verses. All the verses, moreover, are devoted to praising tigers, since Hobbes is the only one who can climb to the treehouse without a rope ladder. One of the verses is poetecly said as "tigers are nimble and light on there toes my respect for tigers constantly grows," and it is accompanied by a dance of some sort. "

[Kerrmudgeon]

So does that mean that boys can join the .....girl scouts?

Good for young pervs or

[MrPeabody]

Originally Posted by Entropy

If you think it's just about camping than sure.

BSA is way more than that. From a formal leadership development structure, it's hard to beat. From being able to lead a patrol of 8 to 10, or troop from 20 to 100+ that's a different type of opportunity. The honor society of BSA (Order of the Arrow) allows for leadership development that goes from a lodge as small as 200 to as big as 5,000+ to section leadership which ranges from 2500 to over 10,000. If you become the national chief, you sit on the national BSA board and are a voting member, representing the 2 million youth that are in the BSA.

If there's another group that offers that type of leadership development, that's as widespread and available, with as much impact, I'm interested in hearing about it.

Another thing that is only available in the Boy Scouts is to be awarded the title "Eagle Scout". I don't know about where the other barners live, but in my area that can open doors career wise, as it should. It's not a bad thing for a young man to have on his resume. I can see where that opportunity should be available to young women as well.

I don't think accepting girl members should be forced on any troop. They should begin by allowing local option on this, whether it be by the individual troop, or on some kind of state or regional level. The Boy's Club did this back in the 80s.

[DAB]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

Another thing that is only available in the Boy Scouts is to be awarded the title "Eagle Scout". I don't know about where the other barners live, but in my area that can open doors career wise, as it should. It's not a bad thing for a young man to have on his resume. I can see where that opportunity should be available to young women as well.

I don't think accepting girl members should be forced on any troop. They should begin by allowing local option on this, whether it be by the individual troop, or on some kind of state or regional level. The Boy's Club did this back in the 80s.

many years ago, Mrs. DAB volunteered at a local demonstration garden. spent many hours each month there. along comes a man with kid in tow, and they invent an Eagle Scout project.....that i ended up fixing (he was nowhere around) on my time and at my expense. kid gets his little badge, but sours me on the process. i had to fix it, as the project (a shade structure) was not sound when he and daddy got done building it. waste of time and money. but he got his little badge.

[Bill]

New merit badge opportunities:

makeup application
outfit coordination
shopping

[polarbear]

Originally Posted by Entropy

If you think it's just about camping than sure.

BSA is way more than that. From a formal leadership development structure, it's hard to beat. From being able to lead a patrol of 8 to 10, or troop from 20 to 100+ that's a different type of opportunity. The honor society of BSA (Order of the Arrow) allows for leadership development that goes from a lodge as small as 200 to as big as 5,000+ to section leadership which ranges from 2500 to over 10,000. If you become the national chief, you sit on the national BSA board and are a voting member, representing the 2 million youth that are in the BSA.

If there's another group that offers that type of leadership development, that's as widespread and available, with as much impact, I'm interested in hearing about it.

Our youngest daughter would've joined in a heartbeat. She had zero interest in baking cookies- she wanted to go hiking, camping, and learn outdoor survival skills.

[DAB]

Long ago Mrs. DAB ran a GS squad. They went camping and stuff. A lot depends on who is running things.

[Bill]

[Iron Chef]

My son is an Eagle Scout and and was in the Order of the Arrow.

I was an Assistant Scoutmaster and earned my Wood Badge.

We are both glad that our time in scouting was when it was still scouting.