Eagle Scout, class of 1965 here. I think this move was designed to destroy Scouts, teaches too much self reliance and thinking for yourself. Spent my life "Being Prepared", living outside the life of the normal indebted wage slave.
You completely realize that minus a small minority, the US is the only country in the world not to allow girls into the main program up until recently. Scouting in the ways Lord Baden Powell ordered should be open to everyone, regardless of age, race, sexuality, economic status, gender, or religion.
Eagle Scout here. If BSA wants to stop bleeding members it needs to modernize and open itself up to whoever wants to join (even atheists, who for some idiotic reason are banned). Not doing so is a nice way to destroy their finances, especially after the abuse cases blew up in their faces.
We allowed girls in Scouts in Australia about 25 years ago. There were no more camping trips after that. We just did craft and games at the club house. The Scouts is now completely irrelevant here.
I find that kind of hard to believe, all scout troupes in Australia are supposed to go on camping trips, how would you earn any badges without doing so? Honestly we never did girly stuff in my troupe. And went on camping trips several times a year, and basically all the leaders were men. But I still wish it was gender segregated. There are almost no male only spaces in society now where we can learn to be men. When women enter a group of men it changes the dynamic of the group, guys start acting differently because there is a girl around, if a cute girl is around guys start competing, a lot of the time it’s subconscious, but it happens. Why can’t we just give boys a space once a week where they can just hang out with other boys and just be boys.
I was a Girl Scout and I was the sister of a Boy Scout. BSA was way more impressive, BUT, I was also a Boy Scout Leader for 14 years and this decision by BSA is a disaster. My son is an Eagle Scout. I created a Venture Crew. I have managed camp outs with Venture aged Scouts and it was a disaster. I know other leaders had better experiences then me, but I held true to the rules and still I had problems. In my experience at Scout Camps (which I only visited during the day during summer or winter camp and camped only on Cub Scout weekend events) Boys need a place to just be boys and to have the freedom to do all those things that celebrate boyhood. The stress of having girls around will hinder this unique opportunity that Scouting provides. When I walked through camps, I was very careful to not impose myself or disturb the boys when they were having their guy time. Also, the entire goal we had during all that time was raising boys to be men of honor and so our entire program was directed towards manhood. I do not agree that the program is suited to boys and girls. I was a Tiger Cub , Wolf, Bear, and Webelos leader as well as Cub Master, Den Chief leader/trainer, district leader and organized council events. I trained leaders and did all sorts of things to support the program, but the goal was always to celebrate manhood and to provide opportunities for boys to grow in confidence to become male leaders both for our country and as husbands and fathers. If I were leading girls (being a woman), I would be focused on girl's issues (and this would include learning outdoor skills because I am also a homesteader and love the outdoors.) It's already very confusing for boys and girls during this difficult time of transitioning into manhood and womanhood - but to throw them into the "survival" type of environment camping together, it's just too young. I am quite sure many will disagree with me, but I've had an awful lot of first hand experience (I am now 59) and have seen it from all angles. My dad was a Scout Master and my mom was a Girl Scout leader so I've been having some sort of Scouting experience all my life. I did see that packs and troops can choose to remain strictly male. I would surely encourage this. If anything at all failed here, it was not BSA boys only policy. If girls want a program that gives them opportunities to achieve a rank that holds the kind of respect that Eagle Scout does, then they need to create it as BSA created it for boys.
Packs and troops cannot choose quite as you've said. All dens within a pack (Cubs) are single gender. Some packs are and will be single gender. Whether to be all boys, all girls, or a "family" pack is decided by the pack's Chartering Organization under advisement from pack leaders. All troops (teens) are and will be entirely single gender. Some troops may be shared by a CO and sometimes meet together, but they will be separate entities. (Dens of opposite gender might also meet together if Den Leaders decide it's right for their groups.) Strict Youth Protection Training guidelines apply to all BSA activities, ensuring a trained adult is present to match the gender(s) of attending Scouts. I'm sorry you had trouble as a leader in Venturing. I've read others who had very different and positive experiences, but of course we and our interactions with others are all different. (Edited for clarification: BSA (Boy Scouts of America) is the organization, Scouting BSA is one program within, formerly both known by the same name.)
Joe Duke I hate people like you because this “problem” is only in the US. Go to Canada or Mexico and you will find that their programs are for both boys and girls. They always were like that and they worked. So I am not sure how this happening will not be working. Since you clearly haven’t heard about problems of these programs reaching the news.
Owen S well if I were to be technical the boy scouts we're not always co-ed it was originally just for boys. Now to get to tell you why I stand for what I said so this time you can judge me while knowing where I stand where I stand. I think girls should be allowed to do the same as the boyscouts and vice versa but the reason why I say it should stay gender specific is 1 because as an scout I went through the program from tiger to eagle and I always looked at as a place to be myself hangout with guys don't have to worry about trying to act cool to impress the girls and what not. And when ever there was a campout that we went with the venture scouts we always tried to impress the girls there and while that can be fun I think it to also be a distraction. And #2 tradition, traditionally it has always been for boys and I think as one of the last boyscouts to still be for just boys we stand as a symbol for tradition. Now what I said probably ain't gonna change that fact that you hate people without understanding where they are coming from but at least you now know where I a come from
Zachary Messer I don’t hate people like you. I hate people that take feminist bull crap and lies into account. Also tradition is not always the best. If we stuck to tradition woman wouldn’t be able to vote and there would still be slaves
I love how the normal people, especially the right, NOW care about the BSA since they did this. If they cared, maybe help the program because it really needs it. I earned my Eagle Scout in April 2018, and my brother earned his in March 2014, and we're both 3rd generation Eagle Scouts. The sad truth is, Boy Scouts is dying. The only reason attendance is as high as it is, is due to the Troops organized by Churches, especially the LDS churches here in the Pacific Northwest. Girl Scouts have also been suffering worse because they are stuck in the 1950's idea of women, and most women who are interested in Scouting would like to do the things in Boy Scouts. Yeah, there's Venture crews, but they're very different than Boy Scouts and is still predominantly male and gets no promotion.
Linda Thrall: Sir? Do you actually have any analytical basis for your statement? Your entitled to your opinion, but right now you are stating it as if it were a fact. Do not discredit men who have tirelessly earned their Eagle Scout because I’ll let you know, it is NOT an easy process.
The Zesty Potato. First of all I'm not a man I happen to be a Red Cross Master First Class I have no respect for eagle scouts they are the only ones that haven't gotten any respect from me they have to earn my respect before I give it to them.
Lmao, people working for hours every week, 52 weeks a year, up to eight years straight, nonstop, to earn the award of Eagle Scout. About 4% of all scouts get the rank, putting out hundreds and hundreds of hours of service to the community, and in my case thousands. Taking part in upwards of 30 merit badges, studying for tests, writing letters to congressmen, talking about family life, developing in being a productive member of society. Not to mention the survival skills, such as first aid, fire building, shooting, shelter building, camping, etc. And putting those skills to the test on 2 week backpacking trips through the mountains at Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico, hiking up elevation changes of over 6000 feet with nothing but a backpack and some boots. And you're telling me you don't have respect for us Eagle Scouts? Ok bud, you do you.
Peter McIver, it's not GSA (girl scouts of America). It's GSUSA (Girl Scouts of the United States of America), because they are their own orginization, completely unaffiliated with the BSA orginization. I agree that they could have changed their model to appeal to those girls seeking the same types of activities as the BSA. However, the GSUSA didn't listen to what parents said their daughters wanted, but the BSA did, hence the addition. I wrote addition because the change isn't really a change, but rather an addition to the BSA orginization. If you read any actual press releases from the BSA you know that the girls eagle track program is NOT co-ed (just wanted to be clear that I'm not referring to the several other programs available to females within BSA, that are co-ed). So this IS the change that has been demanded, the BSA just did it first, and without taking away from the gender specific nuances that The Scouting program provides.
clint bond I'm British so I just guessed it was GSA It just seems that when boys/men want to have something for themselves nowadays girls/women want to join it/break it up/change it The GSUSA aren't very happy about this because their numbers have been dwindling over the years plus they're concerned about financial irregularities and alleged sexual misconduct within the BSA and worried about going into that environment Also, as the black guy said boys and girls behave differently when they're together than when they're in separate groups I wasn't in the scouts so I'm not bothered either way
Peter McIver, the GSA/GSUSA clarification and organizational separation, often has to be made to Americians, so i have to make the distinction to a lot of ignorant people. You are correct, boys and girls do act differently around the opposite sex, especially at that age. In fact boy scouts often loses boys when they turn 16-17 do to jobs, sports, girls, or all 3. However, as I stated, the troops will not be co-ed. Although, the BSA orginization has had co-ed programs over the past 20 years, so I don't understand the americians constant worry over hormones or the possibility of sexual desires running rampant. It hasn't really been a problem, people just didn't know these co-ed programs existed.
I am also an eagle scout and personally I believe that they could've just created a new branch of scouting to achieve this they did not have to change the boyscouts.
I hear your remark about Venturing Crew, and I'm going to say that Venturing is great and all, but girls have to wait until they're 14 to join. They don't get to earn Merit badges, and they still don't have the prestige of Eagle. BTW, the military looks at the Gold award, the Summit(Venturing), and the Eagle with the same prestige(automatic promotion in Navy and Army), but I think that Eagle still seems to stand out in people's minds as THE award. Anyway, I love how people are freaking out about how this is going to kill the BSA and that we're going to have a bunch of pregnancies running around now. How is it that other countries have had co-ed Baden-Powell scouting programs for years without all these issues that we're all of a sudden worried about here?
It’s called the silver summit award but... both young men and women have to wait until they’re 14 to be a venture scout. To return to the Silver Summit Award, it is of the same, if not GREATER value than the Eagle Scout Award
You are soul I was in boy scouts but when moved I left my pack (pack 108 hempstead teaxs) I was going back in but the boy scouts the programit self at anit going last more then 20 more years
i dont want to like this comment, buuuuuuuut Also CAN NOT WAIT for the awkward mess that will be BSA sorry, SA trying to fix Family Life MB and having a mixed class for that badge
I am a mother of a boyscout and a girlscout. I believe with my whole heart that they should be separated. It’s boyscouts for a reason. Girlscouts for a reason. Adds too much pressure for both of the genders when mixed together. They need a place where they can just be themselves. Especially in the formidable years where their bodies are changing and all the drama that goes with that.
I have to say that this is the first video instead of comments that is somewhat in the right direction of what's going on. But I think it's important to clarify some points. First and foremost the Boy Scouts of America Works to what's called charters. Charter has the power to determine how they are going to operate their unit. If a charter decides that they do not want to have girls and their units or that they don't want to operate girl units, they don't have to. If a unit decides to have girls then the girls must be in separate units and not mixed with the boys the girls unit must even have its own separate leadership. Even in the Cub Scouts the girls must be in separate dens from the boys. The Boy Scouts of America have always work from the operating bases at the age of 14 is a good age to mix both sides and it is done so through either venturing or exploring or Sea Scouts. No requirements are being changed nothing the program is being changed they are being segregated. What I invite you all to consider is that the program was originally coed. But it took the form that we are currently developing for the Boy Scouts now Baden Powell developed Boy Scouts and had his wife develop Girl Guides while we are not using this term this is essentially what we are setting up in the United States. Keep in mind there is only about 7 countries left that have segregated programs separate completely. I think that if they can figure out how to make it work in Indonesia successfully as well as a hundred and thirty other countries, I think it can be successful here and open it up to a new chapter in a successful program it develops leaders boy or girl.
If only you could travel up to Newtown Ct to see troop 870. We're a group of 6 girls, a one patrol troop that's just as tough as all of the boys. We came because we don t want to sell cookies on the side of the road. We want to adventure, go outside, and learn skills to last a lifetime. In girlscouts I learned how to run a bake sale and be kind. In boyscouts, I learned how I'm going to live my life for the rest of forever. Become a scout. It's the right thing to do.
This could have all been avoided and less awkward if girl scouts would have just changed they're program at least in part to fit the boy scouts curriculum. At one time long ago they were more similar, but these days, from what I've read from many accounts, girl scouts are kind of a joke. Its sad that this seems to be the consensus. But no one would say it if it wasn't true and further more the girls wouldn't be flocking to the BSA if it wasn't true either. Aside to selling cookies and doing typical girl stuff what do they do? What do they offer for the more adventures girls out there?!? I'm glad that this is an option now but there should always respect for the old treasured traditions of the BSA while still having that ability for boys and girls to be separate in some cases because they really do need that same sex bonding time. And lets be honest. Imagine how distracting gym class in middle/high school would be if it were coed. Really think about that.. Then lets add focusing on school work while living in coed dorms. Super distracting, right?.. Then the very worse part is puberty. Girls got it really bad but its no spring vacation for boys either. The body starts doing very weird things at that age and you need support from the same sex peirs and leaders. This is very important to consider. This is why there should be separation but I don't think theres any reason why a girl can't do the same things that any boy can do in the scouts. With proper leadership anything's possable... And No, its not going to be the same as it was. You can act like a baby and drop out days before geting awarded Eagle. All that work for nothing over a hissy fit. But If girls could have the same momories and experiences these Eagle scouts can have wouldn't that be a good thing?.. Attack me all you want people. You gotta admite girls got the shitty end when it comes to scouting programs..
I love that these guys calmly talked about both sides of the argument and didnt jump to yelling about their opinion! That seems like that happens alot these days and its hard to get a good discussion and actually come to some sort of agreement. So I love this!!!
I know this video is pretty old, but I'll say this anyways. First I'll start off by saying that I am an eagle scout. Now, my opinion on girls joining Boy Scouts. I can see why they did it. I'm looking past the whole gender issue here and thinking about how Girl Scouts is structured. They are a completely different organization than the BSA. Events, ranks, requirements, and activities are all different. What I think should happen is that Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts should be two separate groups, but under the same organization. Maybe not have all of the same ranks, but definitely allow for more freedom of events and activities within the Girl Scouts. I also believe that the rank Eagle Scout should be achievable by both. It is the one rank that stands out and carries weight in the Boy Scouts. Giving girls the same goal and requirements, but separate groups still, would hopefully solve a lot of the modern day Boy Scout problems.
I'm a girl scout and also now a scout in Scouts BSA here to offer some insight I haven't seen in the comments here. The girl scouts used to have patrol method and essentially was set up the exact same way as boy scouts is now but with activities meant to turn a girl into a housewife. The program has changed a lot since then, evolving into single age group troops that dont offer camping and adventures as part of the main program like Scouts does. I'm also working towards my Girl Scout Gold award, which was originally called the golden eaglet (similar to Eagle) when girl scouts first started. So far in my few months in scouts, I have camped more times than my two girl scout troops did in my over nine years in girl scouts. I was drawn to Scouts BSA because it offers experiences and opportunities I could never have in girl scouts. It should also be noted that girls are in troops made of only girls. If we attend the same camps as boys we have our own separate campsite just like any other troop. A few years ago the BSA offered to combine with the girl scouts. Girl scouts didn't want to combine because their program is so different from boy scouts. Girl scouts also sued BSA for wanting to change their name to just scouts. Overall, there is definitely tension and big differences between the organizations. I didn't want to waste the opportunities in scouts BSA waiting for changes that probably aren't going to happen anyway in girl scouts.
I am very disturbed by the decision. I am a mother of 14 children and they all love scouts. We have been involved with scouts for about 12 years. My Eagle scout said he feels sorry for his little brothers and he's glad he became an Eagle before the girls joined in. I see the boys against the girls and girls against the boys even in my home. Its funny there's a natural separation that boys and girls have. The sad part about the decision is the minority gets to call the shots. The majority of boys inside of scouting have no voice and no choice but to leave if girls take over their troop. If girls think girls scouts are too boring, they can join venturing scouts. Get it adVENTURE. Venturing scouts are for boys and girls. Why don't they add 5 to 13-year-olds to Venturing scouts that way the whole family can be together. And they don't have to destroy the boy scouts. I have 2 Girls that achieved their Gold Award and to be honest they are treated like queens with royalty better than the Eagle scouts and everyone is amazed at their great accomplishment. Maybe they can change the name to Golden Eaglette Award to stand out more. We need to fight against this. It really sounds like a feminist movement. Give the boys their space back they want to be morally straight not be tempted to loose their virginity.
I’m sorry.... but as a MOTHER of young women, why would you not want to teach them that they can do and be anything they want to be? And be just as good.... if not better than their male counterparts? Why would girls joining be destroying the boy scouts. Girls simply want the choice and opportunity to become eagle scouts for applications, resumes, and other opportunities. Because the majority of people do give greater respect to boy scouts over girl scouts. Now, my parents are not anti feminism, but they certainly have shown me their biases over the years, and every time, i call them out for it. I do not allow anyone to treat me as less than due to my genitals or preordained gender role for a gender that I did not choose to be born as or identify with. I am a woman and i do identify as one, but I didn’t get to choose my birth. I am just as capable of taking care of myself as a man is for himself. Teach sexual education to women and young men which will lead to less pregnancy. Simply separating the two will not get rid of hormones or stop people from sneaking around. If a young man or woman chooses to lose their virginity, it certainly won’t usually be in a tent surrounded by the rest of the troop. I’m sure you’re a great mom, but if I were your daughter, I would not stand for any sexism towards me. Your daughters are equally as important as your sons, and they deserve to have a choice in pursuing any opportunity that your sons get to with no questioning based on gender.
@@rileykathleen6199 It sounds to me like you can care less about the power of a man. Many feminist dismiss men and try to out do them, get into their space and try to move them out the way. Mothers like me raise our men to be strong just like how God made them to be. You can't out run them, you can't out wrestle them, you can't out box them, and you can't lift more weight than them. You definitely would not be a better fireman. And I can go on and on. I have a very happy home because I have lot of respect for my husband and all of my children appreciate the love that my husband and I share. I definitely want him to be strong and take care of me even though I could take care of myself. My mother raised 4 of us on her own so I obviously know how to be single and dismiss a man, but thats depressing that's why feminist have a lot of hate for men they are depressed. They would make terrible wives just because of their mindset. Why are women jealous of men and want to be like them? You are the weaker vessel. God made you that way, it can never be changed and you can have just as much fun in scouting without invading their privacy. I hope your life goes well and please have respect for men as they ought to have respect for you. God bless
I'm an Eagle Scout as well, and I found this news to be amazing. The Boy Scouts is such an amazing program that everyone deserves the opportunity to go through. You can learn so much stuff that you cant learn anywhere else. The Girl Scouts is an awful program, but Boy Scouts provides you with a plethora of life skills. I could go on about this forever, but this is an amazing change. The Girl Scouts had the opportunity to fix their program and they never did. All they are known for is their cookies, while the Boy Scouts are known for its respectability, credibility, and so much more. If a girl is willing to join the Boy Scouts and put in all the effort to earn badges and work harder than ever, let them join! As an Eagle Scout, I wanted to express how very proud of the Boy Scouts of America for this decision. Thank you.
I keep seeing similar negative stuff from all of the eagles I have seen on youtube and in real life. I am an eagle too, and I agree this is a very disheartening event that I personally believe strays away from the vision that Baden Powell set down for scouts. One of the eagles I talked to even suggested that the eagles should unite to form a contemporary group to offer a program that returns to the core of what BSA is supposed to be. I don't know if I can trust the BSA to teach my potential future family--at this point I would rather teach my children myself.
I'm from Philippines and I'm a girl and I'm also part of the Boy scout, i think there's nothing wrong with it, We girls should know how to be Boys sometimes, boys can do some things that girls can do, we girls should know other things that boys think they can do by just being a boy. I just want to say to you guys that being a part of a boy group either we're a girl or a boy isn't the problem, the problem there is how the community reacts on it. :--)
kween j Yah i agree to your last point, as a scout my troop had a couple girls in it and no one cared. However these changes and the others in recent years dont come from the troops but the parent organization to cave to social pressures or push an ideology which is really gross.
As an Eagle Scout the BSA has lost its way. It is a sad day for scouting and it will never be the same again. I am a member of the LDS church and glad they are pulling out. Adios to the BSA!
Tevita Toutai I am also LDS and have just earned my Eagle rank. I am both sad and happy we are leaving BSA the changes are not the best. I have to agree that BSA has gone a different way. The week long Scout camps are going to be missed.
Tevita Toutai ....... if “losing it’s way” is things to do with other than allowing girls in, then okay, everyone has their opinions, but if it because of girls being allowed in, then that is extremely misogynistic of you to say. Then again, i know that misogyny is not a foreign concept to men... especially in the LDS church since they are taught that they are kings and superior to women. Women aren’t even allowed (or very very few) to reach the same level in missions in the LDS church. I’m agnostic, but was raised catholic. I was also a girl scout growing up. I enjoyed having a social gathering to go to every week, but I absolutely hated the things we were made to do in girl scouts since 99% revolved around baking, crafting, and other women gender role activities. All i wanted was to be allowed to go hiking, camping, make fires, and do all the things that boys could do since i did them anyways in my everyday life of just being a curious kid. I could learn baking and crafting in school/ at home if i so pleased. I didn’t need the girl scouts for that which is why I eventually left them. As a women, it’s truly revolting to know that some people view me as less than and most men have their own internal biases towards women whether they mean to or not. Our jobs are not to be baby machines who want to be gentle and ladylike all of the time. Men can be gentlemen and women can be gentlewoman in appropriate settings while still having the sides to themselves that are carefree to do what we please in all other aspect of life. If i want to do anything a man gets to do without question, then I should be able to. Eagle scouts get more respect than girl scouts which can help with college and first jobs & other opportunities. The only thing that stood in the way of women getting to be eagle scouts too was not based on our abilities or desires, but rather the fact that we didn’t have dicks. Shame on you and anyone who thinks that women can’t do anything and everything a man does... and just as well...if not BETTER.
I support their decision. Girl Scouts doesn't do anything fun like Boy Scouts does. No pine wood derby, no Eagle Scout status or equivalent that boys get recognition for and not any real fun. Just arts and crafts and some camping trips, but nothing serious. We didn't learn any important skills when I was Girl Scouts. Maybe they could have all girl troops so that boys could still get that one on one time with their dads for those who are worried about that.
From what I hear there are no co-Ed troops, I am in an all female troop. Scouts is truly the best thing to happen to me. It’s not just about wanting to camp. It’s about character and leadership.
With luck you may be able to take that character and leadership to the battlefield. The draft will not be just for boys anymore. You may be among the first girls to sign up for the draft when you are 18. Isn't that great!
I'm a girl that joined Scouts BSA. Before I get all y'alls hate, my brother is a Boy Scout (and Order of the Arrow also went National Youth Leadership Training, and will bea camp counselor this summer ), and due to my parents not trusting my neighbors enough, I have been forced to go to all his events. Before he joined Scouts, I LOVED (and still do) to go camping, hiking, mountain climbing, etc. I hope this helps you realise that girls are just as capable of doing things boys do. One of the big reasons why bsa did this was because the girl scouts have a award called the Gold Award that's equvalent to an Eagle Scout. Also one of the big reasons for this change is that due to sexest people, it's now much harder for gsa to get permits for camping sites. The Boy Scouts knew this and decided to help girls like me have a chance to do the things that we love. After all, A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty brave, clean, and reverent. Your Scouting friend Savannah Jones, Troop 24
@@EagleScoutMacGuzman Thank you for asking. It's going amazing, the only issue is that the girls in my troop are two year younger than me, and they think everything is just given to them. It's honestly so pathetic. I just wish it was more like my brother's troop. None of them want to go camping, hiking, or anything else outside.
The Odd Life of Savannah Jones the age difference (especially newly transferred Webelos) can be an initial hurtle to overcome. Hammering home the requirements for Scout, the Patrol Method, and the EDGE method should help. Scouts BSA is supposed to to Scout led not adult fed.😀
I got my eagle scout reward in 2017, i went to national jamboree in 2017, i saw when i was there how they were trying to change the name, i say they are ruining American heritage by adapting to the P.C community, im still in scouts but the first girl that joins my troop i will quit scouts all together
what's ruining scouting is this type of attitude. If you're an Eagle Scout, behave like one. My son earned his last year and scouting around the world is integrated with boys and girls except a few countries which are by the way, eternally patriarchal and misogynistic
Sorry it took some time to get my response, but im now out of the whole scouting scene, but the whole reason i didnt like it was because at the time the scouting organization was losing its grip on our community and i was seeing it lose pull in others and we had less people joining mainly because the things i could do when i first joined were now considered politically incorrect and or dangerous for example we cant fire model rockets anymore for rocket merit badge because they are dangerous. And there were a bunch of things they changed. But when i saw that they were going to add the girls to the scouting scene i saw problems and more crap that our area has to do. So now our camps are required to have flushing toilets and electricity at every camp site. So now our camp has to build new out houses, rewire the entire camp to every-camp site and because the way our shower house was built we had to tear it down and build a new one. So now our struggling camps and organization had to roll out lots of money and time to adapt the girls to the program. I dont dislike girls joining it was just the inconsiderate higher ups that not only added it but put mire restrictions in. To top it off the big camps that are around the big cities have no problem because they already had everything and the program in smaller towns and rural areas is shutting down. But you probably don’t care most of the people are from big cities and don’t give two flying figs about us. And saying im not acting like an eagle scout is just an ignorant way of saying that you cant have your own opinion because it might be considered mean and or problematic for people.
I’m actually completely fine with the change. I’m a Star scout in troop 776 and from what I’ve heard from all the councils in my area the troops are going to be separated which means we won’t be camping, Riding in cars, or even having the same meetings
6/29/18.....I am a retired lady....I wasn't. Brownie or Girl scout but I assisted a friend when she was a GS leader.....We had fun doing GIRL things & NOBODY complained about NOT being a Boy Scout. I think they should keep it separated like they did for the 1st 100+ yrs....I think boys & girls need yo have separate interests/crafts/skills at all ages....They can always get together on special occasions & train/compete.
I was in Girl Scouts when I was younger ( I was a daisy and a brownie) , and to be honest I didn’t really enjoy it. I remember hearing about all of the cool things the Boy Scouts did and I wanted to do that - all we really did was eat snacks , played outside , pick up trash , and sell cookies. I’m now an American Heritage Girl , and I personally enjoy that program much better. I think it’s what the Girl Scouts are missing. You have the chance to earn something called “The Stars and Stripes Award” it’s compared to the Eagle Scout. There are also more activities for the girls to do. Everything from Camping , to Cake Decorating there’s a badge for almost everything!!! It’s not really as big as the scouts of America , but American Heritage Girls as well as Trail Life (a similar program for the boys) are going back to the basics of what the Boy and Girl Scouts were meant to be in the beginning.
Kendall Pedersen feminism should have made girls scouts good, but, women dont build anything they simply try to take over boys and mens spaces, look into it, feminism is antithetical to observable reality,
@Chase Jones I am the current serving Lodge Chief of Onondaga Lodge, which is in Section C4-A along with Marnoc Lodge!! I plan on running for National Chief of the Order of the Arrow in December of 2019. Also, it’s worth noting that before this change was even talked about, there were 74,000 registered female scouts. This means that the program won’t be changing much at all, contrary to popular belief.
When I got my Eagle, their ads said: "Scouting rounds a boy out." Now scouting will round out girls too! :-) What are they going to do when the dad is 14 and can't support a kid? Prediction: Many will sue the troop and headquarters big time.
P.S. At night, when most boys are asleep at midnight on a camping trip, some hanky panky goes on. As a straight boy scout, I refused offers from gays. If the offers came from hot girls, how many boys would resist? (Duh).
I believe that America transform our scouting programs into one giant community. I think that we should still have the separation by gender but both groups would follow the same program outlines. All of the ranks and requirements could remain the same, but you still have the separation so that there is less drama. I feel that a conversation between the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts could solve a lot of problems instead of both sides despising each other and playing this corporation chess game.
My son is an Eagle Scout. I’m a former Girl Scout Troop leader for my two daughters. My oldest daughter also was a Venture Scout (the first BSA female scout to peak the 10,000 hike). Both of my daughters learned primitive camping in the Mojave desert with Girl Scouting. My Scoutmaster husband and I strongly disagree wi allowing girls in to the program. It has ruined Boy Scouting as a way for boys to be themselves and become men.
Thank you both for your thoughts and stories. I'm very much on the "for" side, but I appreciate the professional and courteous way you both stated your concerns AND stuck to the Scout Law. (Putting it on the screen was good, following it is always better and too many people commenting on this issue don't.) Even disagreements can be presented in a positive and helpful way. I'd look forward to hearing more from both of you, now that more info is out, like troops being separate and the program name change to Scouts BSA.
Eagle Scout here. My favorite memories in the Boy Scouts are the high adventures. I canoed 50 miles down the Current River in Missouri and a couple of years later I hiked the trails of Philmont in New Mexico. I loved those so much. It put into perspective on the whole scouting experience and it made you apply everything you learned on the path to Eagle. As for the recent decision of the Scouts name change, I'm reticent. I am very much a traditionalist when it comes to matters of BSA but I also am a progressive and am wondering what would happen should girls attain the rank of Eagle.
There is a misconception about the new ruling. Yes they are allowing girls in but they are not mixing dens or troops. They are allowed in the program but kept in a separated from the boys. Both organizations are at ends now more so then ever and it would be better to offer the programs to the youth
Because of the way this will be organized, the troops will not be Co-Ed. In a troop, you will have either an All Male troop, or an all Female Troop. Venturing is the only scouting organization that is Co-Ed. This is not a problem in Venturing, with ages 14-21. This means that pregnancies will not be possible.
Andrew Rice finally... thank you for being someone that actually knows what they’re saying. I also believe that sailors are co-ed? Also all these pregnancies things are nonsense... why didn’t anyone start making those comments when venture crews were established?... idiots
The Scout Association of New Zealand, who have admitted girls for 44 years, have never had this problem. But if girls are kept in separate troops and dens, like the plan is, this seems very unlikely.
There has always been Girls in the BSA , remember the Police and Fire Expolers and Today we have Ventering Scouts .Without any Backlash . Scouting is Everthing , Troop 701 - 872 Border - C - 10 Joshua Tree , California 92252 - 3393
If the girls thought BSA was better, why didn't GSA fix it to match in the first place so this crap would have NEVER happened??? How long have they both existed?? Seriously, I'm all for equality but having per-pubescent boys and girls together is not recommended, we have enough MTV dramas about underage pregnancy glorification already and this will probably cause and up tick, or scouts programs will be gutted so badly because the activities are classified as "sexist", such as starting a fire with two sticks, that would be sexists because sticks are an innuendo for penis and super offensive, packing a backpack, that would be too, because why limit what you can take, that would be oppression. Hiking? forget it, that is manual labor and should not have to be done, because its cruel and unusual punishment. It will keep going until its all nitpicked out to getting badges based on emotion and not skill.
It's like migration. 'The grass is greener over there.' 'Well, we could spend our time making our grass better.' 'Nah! Too lazy. I wanna go over there.'
Bro.... WHAT? What if GIRL Scouts eventually allows boys to join (WHICH THEY SHOULD) so that boys who want to do crafting and baking and focus on those sorts of badges can go there. I wad a girl scout and all i wanted was to get to do what the boy scouts got to do for badges and recognition for future jobs/college applications. I already did the things that boys did; i just didn’t get to get badges for it since being a girl disqualified me from joining. The fact that you even view rubbing sticks together, hiking, and backpacking as things that aren’t for women just shows how closed minded and misogynistic you are. How about the leaders teach the scouts sexual education and don’t allow the girls and boys to sleep in the same tent. That’s such a piss poor excuse to even come up with over not allowing girls in. I love hiking and backpacking and can keep up with any of the males I have gone with over the years. Oppression is not allowing women to join boy scouts based on something that we can not help. We were born with vaginas into a society of self glorifying men. We can’t help what we were born as. No one can choose their race or sex or family. Everyone is just as capable as the next to do anything. Sexism is not allowing women in based on our supposed gender roles and genitals. You are the one who oppresses women.
This debate almost always turns into "Well, the GSA should be better", but the BSA and GSA are completely separate entities. While they share a name and have similar values, the BSA and GSA are totally different in terms of program, unit structure, and leadership. In other words, the BSA are not responsible for the perceived failings of Girl Scouts, we can only change our program. The two organizations have never really had much to do with each other, and it annoys me when people who have never been a part of the organization try to guess at or criticize its motives. Obviously this isn't not the case for Chase and Karl, but it makes me sad to see an organization that has given me so much be used by conservatives who say things like "The Left drove a stake though Boy Scouts".
American Heritage Girls (AHG) is an Organization for Girls that has High Adventure opportunities, as well as a rank advancement system that is similar to the BSA track to Eagle.
Hey guys and gals, My name is Kyle (Eagle 2014 Troop 1210), I am all for having girls in the scouts (coming to events if they are qualified to safely perform). My best friend's little sister (Gold Award) was a girl scout and she joined in most of our high adventure activities and it was awesome. She had fun, we had fun and I have no quarrels with it. However, there is a clear difference between boys and girls. I am not saying all girls can't succeed but there are some requirements that may be adjusted just so girls can achieve Eagle Scout. For example, some of the merit badges require higher levels of physical abilities such as Life Saving that shouldn't change just so everyone can pass the requirements. If you can't save a life then you shouldn't get the merit badge. I understand anyone who can't earn Life Saving go for Emergency Preparedness but I don't want any of the rules to change just for girls. I agree that the girls scouts just make their program just more equal to boy scouts. If that is what the girls want to experience they should give it to them.
OOH I'm a staff member on an NYLT course! It's my fourth year on staff, and I have that camp coming up in a couple weeks! I'm so glad you liked NYLT! Subbing just for that :D
I think this is a disastrous desision the BSA has made. I just earned the rank of Eagle Scout so take it from me that guys need time to be guys. It's no secret that when girls are around, we don't act our selves. We all get a little more nervous of doing something stupid or embarising ourselves or we feal pressured to act differently all together to impress girls. It's just our nature as young men right smack in the middle of puberty and nothing can change that. Knocking down gender walls only makes us exepirance that uncomfortable fealing more rather than forcing us to get used to it. Take it from an Eagle Scout that whenever some dude's sister happened to be around or tag along on an event, we weren't ourselves and felt like we were being watched and studied by a girl at all times. I wouldn't even blame her if she was. Eagle Scout has always felt like a test of man hood and show of a young boy becoming a man and a leader. The idea of it representing a kid becoming an adult doesn't quite have the same ring to it. It's not sexist, it's just the way it is. Some things aren't meant to change and in our politically correct world today, change is being forced and it isn't always a good idea. Call me a conservative, I don't care. Change isn't always bad either but it isn't always good. Boy Scouts was created for boys, Girl Scouts was created for girls. Venture Scouts was created for boys and girls looking to do more active things that the Boy Scouts does without upseting the Boy Scouts working nature. Not to mention this decision of letting girls into Boy Scouts will greatly harm the Girl Scouts as well.
Mike, I agree with you. I was a Scout leader for many years and I am a woman. When it came time for camp, I stayed home and the men went. I was more in an administrative position and not hands on. I supported the program because I felt that men were being undermined and this program was an excellent program for supporting and celebrating manhood. My dad was Scout and a leader. My brothers were Scouts. My mom was a Girl Scout leader and my sisters and I were Girl Scouts. I have worked with almost every area of Scouting including Venture and I must say that young men need their own camp for the very reasons you'd stated. I argue for your reasons all the time and I am often made fun of or put down. The program is supposed to be boy led but the boys don't have much of a voice. It's going to be a disaster having girls in the Boys' camp. Venturing, as you'd said is a separate program. I encourage you to keep speaking your truth with courage. Be prepared!
Order of the Arrow and Eagle Scout... impressive. It will be interesting what happens. It is definitely a massive change to a century old program. But Scouting always changes but hopefully the Scouting message is not diluted.
As an Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster I am in favor of this happening. Girls have been involved in scouting for almost 60 years. They were in Explorer Posts at first and now in Venturing Crews. In those groups boys were still allowed to earn Eagle but girls were not. This should have happened a long time ago. I teach the boys skills and quailties that are NOT gender exclusive. Why would I not want girls to learn to enjoy and survive in the woods and be good leaders?
I couldn't disagree more. There’s a reason why fatherless households are on the rise, male suicide is on the rise, or why there’s an increase in school shootings. It’s because boys aren’t learning how to be men. Sure, you can teach anyone how to tie a knot, or how to sharpen a knife but there are certain social skills that men learn from being in groups of other men. The effects of testosterone on young men aren’t just physiological, they are psychological as well. Scouting gave boys a chance to figure out the psychological changes (increased aggression for example) in an environment where everyone understands. It gives boys a place where they can figure out what being a man actually means..We’re doing boys a disservice. Boys don’t go out and play anymore because of electronics which makes them hyper at school, so, we put them on Ritalin. Then, we take away/water down places where they can actually be boys and we wonder why so many young men are completely lost.
As a recently obtained Eagle Scout, I don't particularly mind if girl scouts do join, but as long as they don't try to massively change the rules or anything to fit what they want.
As an Eagle Scout I believe that the honor that comes with the Eagle Scout rank was earned, and I believe that the Girl Scouts can make their highest rank as honorable as they chose to make it. Let the meaning of the rank be shown through actions.
I was a Boy Scout, I loved it. The camaraderie of other guys, a great male role model as Scout Leader. I learned so much and admired the feeling of relatability with other fellas. There was a real bond within the troop I belonged. And now feminists, (who can't stand boys and men having anything for themselves) has imposed their misandrist ideology and must take delight in destroying yet another thing supporting positive male activities.
Soo whats so bad about having boy scouts and girl scouts? Why does boy scouts have to change to scouts and girl scouts remains girl scouts? Where is the organization for just boys? They're taking a classic organization for raising men and destroying it by saying they're allowing girls just because girls want to have fun in it? It's a men's organization.. yet girl scouts is still girl scouts.. stop feminizing men. That's what they're doing.. so there used to just be boy scouts then they created girl scouts now the girls are completely overpowering boy scouts.. this type of thing needs to stop.. men need to be allowed to have their own organizations without women coming along and taking them over all the time.. you don't see men taking over girls only groups.. they need to stop taking over men's groups.. they did it with golfing and pretty much every other thing men try to enjoy without female intrusion but they just barge in shamelessly and say we're here! Get used to us! Just gloating around taking up space and requiring your full attention to be on them at all times.. then it will just turn into how they feel they need to be taken care of better by men or they're being mistreated and become another #metoo thing.. they're going to whine and complain that they want in and when they get in they'll just whine and complain the whole time like they always do..
We should get rid of boy scouts *and* girl scouts. Just make it scouts, no prerequisite sex needed. It can then be up to the individual local troops to decide whether they are a "boyish" troop (outdoor activities, nature, survival, camping, fishing, etc) or a "girlish" troop (home economics, cooking, crafts, indoor activities, etc). Let girls join whichever troop interests them, and allow boys to do the same. It's ridiculous to keep people segregated by something uncontrollable like sex, just like we know it's wrong to segregate by skin color or ethnicity.
It’s alright guys, most of us spent our youth in Scouts and find it very close to home. As long as we’re around to become leaders, it might not go to shit really
I would not want this because a lot of the time guys act differently around girls and vise versa. They should be able to get eagle but, girls can just join venture. And some point in venture they should be able to rank up.
Ya'll feel the exact same way I feel. My son was on his way to eagle and decided to drop out of scouts because of this decision. Not that I agree with him and maybe he will have a change of heart. Girl scouts needs to revamp their organization and the boy Scouts needs to get back to what made boys into MEN. Stop worrying about being special interest group correct. The scouts WAS a great organization and their numbers have dwindled since their departure from raising men. Hope they take heed to your comments and ours. MAKE THE SCOUTS GREAT AGAIN
It's your job to raise the boy in your house, not scouts. If the thought of girls being able to earn what he does is threatening to him, then maybe he should stay out of scouts.
Just wanted to say that the Venture Crews was Co-ed. There was all girls Crews, and one of my friends in high school was in one of these Crews. but the problem is that the Girl Scouts is badly structured. I think that there would have been less problems if they would change the name of the final rank of the Girl Scouts to Eagle. Also having more of a partnership between the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts would solve a lot of the problems as well.
As a current leader of my son's troop, I was very concerned when the the changed occured until I learned about it. There is NO mixed gender troops unless you are in a Venturing crew (14 -21 yrs) If you can get a charter to represent you, then you can set up a ALL girl or ALL boy troop. They are not allowing mixing of sexes in any Troop/Pack. I really wish the media would tell all the facts and not stir up trouble.
On paper this is true, in reality we have just added a patrol or two of girls. The boy and girl troops meet together camp together, have the same people on their committees
I was a first year scout when I did the Archery MB and I couldn’t figure out how to position the bow correctly so my arm guard never worked and I left camp with this huge welt on my arm
I'm a eagle scout myself, and BSA is now dead, this is going to change the whole experience for the boys. BSA is not going to have the same high reputation it had same with boys who make eagle scout now, hell if girl's can get it now why not just make it easier for everyone or just give to any kid, why keep the age limit 17, why not let 40 year old men earn it
Brandon O'Neal how does allowing girls to earn Eagle make it easier? All rank requirements with the exception of one swimming requirement and the 5 mile hike only measure a scout against themself as a means to show growth. It's not like I the military where if you don't do XX push ups and run 5 miles in under XX time you don't promote.
Brandon K - didn't mean easier for girls, I meant like well every kid should get a trophy, why cut the age at 17, why not etc, etc so on and so on, I just want boyscouts and girlscouts to stay the same
Brandon O'Neal on that note then, i do not follow why you are saying to make the program easier just because girls were added. And yes, I understand it is a rant, lol. Just trying to get constructive dialogue, lol.
Brandon K well because bye adding girls your changing the whole program, bye changing the name to scouts of BSA, it's like that old saying ''if it ain't broke don't try to fix it''
Well if the values you live by are misogyny, then die. To actually be bummed out over a positive event like this is sexist. Anyone who is sexist is straight up garbage if they try to put their sexist beliefs on others.
Hey Chase! I’m an Eagle Scout and member of Marnoc Lodge 151 too. This past year I served as Unit Relations Chairman. If you ever have time maybe we could get in contact and you could pass on some of your wisdom to me, I’d love to pick up on some knowledge that might benefit the lodge. Great video!
So, 5 months into Girls being in the Scouts BSA, and I'd love to see what your re assessment is. Troops are single gender, though they can meet concurrently. It seems most of the issues you came up with did not come to pass.
Girls have been admitted to the Scout Association of New Zealand since 1976... yet we still deliver an active programme of development for our youth. My Venturer scout unit, of boys and girls ages 14-18, go camping around ten times a year, are self-led with a minimal amount of adult support, hold countless multi-day hiking expeditions for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme (and just for fun), plan, run, and participate in survival camps, volunteer with events run for younger scouting sections such as catering for camps and teaching keas, cubs and scouts the skills they need for the award/badge scheme, and we also fundraise for local and international causes such as the Australian bush fires. Furthermore, we still turn out a number of Queen's Scouts (equivalent to Eagle Scouts) who have proven they have benefitted extremely well from our youth programme. Gender has nothing to do with it - it's about community, self development, and having respect.
As an eagle scout just got it about a month ago I'm really dissapointed in the decision, I'm still working at the camp I always have even during college but man it's a big disappointment...
Very well done, Chase and Karl. Thank you for providing your perspectives in this matter. The only thing that I wish would have happened is for the Boy Scouts to have had this discussion with the Girl Scouts. From what I've been reading in the news, the Girl Scouts were not taken into account when the Boy Scouts reached their decision.
NO one was taken into account except money. They called parents in and showed us a propaganda video about how tapping this 'unserved market' would be good for BSA. They sold our boys out for money. It was just a formality to bring parents in and pretend to listen or care what we said.
I was an Australian scout Best years of my life My view on this topic is to just merge both girl and boy scout groups Australia did it and it works really well I understand their concerns though Just murge the groups!!!
The BSA has been trying since the 70's the GSUSA just won't agree to it.. It an American disfuction Mommy and Daddy just won't work together for the sake of the kids. So now we're in a custody battle.. Go figure..
I was a tiger and am now a star Scout on my way to life and this change probably screwed so many people over with hi status in the bsa people like life Scouts
Everyone, please educate yourself on the new Scouts BSA program changes before you get too hyper. The new program is NOT coed. It does NOT allow girls to join boy units. It simply allows for new, all girl, units to be created. For details: www.scouting.org/familyscouting/
I was a brownie and a Girl Scout and we did a lot of camping and out door activities. Maybe it depended on your troop leaders for those commenting that they didn't have those experiences in the Girl Scouts. As far as the prestige of an Eagle Scout I wonder if it's more perception and popularity -I don't know if my analogy will make sense but it's like our population is more drawn to the NBA then the WNBA. And it's not the female players fault-and it's no reflection on the abilities of the female players but they are not the superstars in our society that the men are. Maybe there could've been more marketing done on the demand some difficulties to achieve its equipment in the Girl Scouts. I can think of many talkshow hosts that would've loved to have a Girl Scout with the highest achievement on and that way that person can explain what it took. And if it needs to take more to achieve that to be as impressive as an Eagle Scout then let's make those changes.
As a new Eagle Scout, one example is when I go backpacking with my troop do I want to bring deodorant when every gram counts when we have to carry a 40 lb pack around a island for a week? We also have to change behind trees, do girls want to do that?
I just came across this. Being a woman who grew up in a very strong scouting family, I was very excited to hear that girls are going to be allowed to attain Eagle. On the other hand, I work at a boy scout camp, and have seen the positives of the boys having that time to just be themselves without the presence of girls. Thanks for your thoughts! Also, may I just say that Karl is very attractive.
As an Eagle Scout myself I am highly disappointed in this decision. When I made mine in 1998 there were three requirements to be a Boy Scout: 1) Be a boy under 18; 2) believe in God; 3) cannot be a homosexual. Now all those requirements are out the window. Boy Scouts is now officially dead, sad day in America....
Even in Venturing the highest award is still not as coveted as the Eagle Rank. So even though yes venturing is co-ed and high adventure, it is still not "Eagle!" I am a Cub Master of a Pack who is also a trained Venture Crew leader. The girls want a rank as prestigious as Eagle.
As a former Boy Scout leader of 15 years and raising 2 Eagle Scouts, I think it’s a bad idea. The program will get watered down and or there will be no more overnighters. Just my two cents.
In this world, Girl Scouts are known for selling cookies. However, the Boy Scouts are known for camping and the Eagle Scout rank. As a scout myself, I am highly offended by girls being let into BSA. They have completely broken the traditions of BSA.
I can completely understand where these two are coming from about the dynamic of the Boy Scouts is being changed, but the boys and girls are going to be separate for the most part. Meaning the boys and girls are only actually going to be with each other during certain activities. Otherwise the boys and girls will separate. I just wanted to clear that up because many people who are/were speaking about this seem to be mal-informed about about how the system is actually going to work. ☺️
Eagle Scout class of 2018 here, I think allowing girls into the rest of the program has been long overdue. Girls have been in the BSA program for over 50 years in the co-ed groups such as Venturing, Exploring, and Sea Scouts. In the rest of the world, completely co-ed scouting as been apart of society for decades without any major problems. Don't dare to hit me with "oh then why does the Girl Scouts exist?", the girl scouts exist because that's a completely different program and belong to a different global organization called WAGGGS, while the BSA is apart of WOSM, completely different ideologies and programs.
im a 14 year old girl who joined scouts 2 years ago, I am going to be an Eagle Scout within the next month, and its amusing to see the comments about whether or not girls should join scouts. my troop consists of a sister troop, and a brother troop. while we have the same troop number, we act as completely different troops. we do not stay on the same camp grounds together, we do not do all that many events together, and we have get-togethers maybe 2-3 timers a year. I have been in both Boy and Girl Scouts, and while it would be a good idea to change Girl Scouts from within, and make it more than just arts and crafts, but it is much more inclusive to allow girls into Boy Scouts, and it take much less resources. maybe in the future we can change Girl Scouts to the point where we can have boy and Girl Scouts, but at the moment this simply isn't available.
As an Eagle Scout myself, I guess I don’t get the big deal. Why not work to ensure that all kids, regardless of gender, get a chance to learn how to lead, how to enjoy the outdoors, how to work together? I suppose I just don’t get it.
The reason why there doing this is because girl scouts are failing there jamboree is 500 max when the boy scout jamboree is 5000-6000 people and I'm a first class scout and that's my opinion
This was a good unpacking of personal experience and expectations in American Scouting. I'm of the opinion that traditional Girl Scouting is victim of poor marketing of its highest award and an expansion of its program to allow (if not require) for outdoors focused activities in the pursuit of the gold award. Thanks for your thoughts guys. -father of a new Eagle Scout.
Most of the outcry is based on ignorant assumptions. People think that girls have never been in BSA programs, that BSA and GSUSA are related, that girls and boys will be in the same units, etc. I blame the BSA for how they rolled out the announcements and the media for inflammatory headlines - both are famous for these errors. *Full disclosure: I was a Girl Scout many years ago and have been a Girl Scout leader for 10 years. My daughter is working on her Gold Award. I am a Mom of an Eagle Scout and A Star Scout working towards Eagle. I have been a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for more than 16 years. I have mixed feelings about the BSA decision that have nothing to do with relationships between boys and girls. The BSA tends to screw up most changes so I expect nothing less this time around too. Girl Scouts of the USA has failed to respond to the needs of today's young ladies. GSUSA is more concerned with empowment and busting glass ceilings (and crafts and songs) than in truly preparing girls to be women in today's world. (If I hear "GIRL POWER!" one more time, I'm gonna scream.) The Girl Scouts is an extremely liberal organization and while many think that the Boy Scouts of America is leaning more and more liberal every day, they are still significantly more conservative than Girl Scouts. Some families may be comfortable leaving Girl Scouts and taking their daughter to American Heritage Girls (which I was also a leader for) but for those that are not Evangelical Christians, AHG will not likely be a good fit for your family. Meanwhile, girls are leaving Girl Scouts by the MILLIONS and have few other options for Scouting programs. I apreciate that the BSA listened to their registered families - multiple surveys went out to registered Scouts, leaders, and parents over several years aksing about this very topic and the response was overwhelming positive for adding additional programs for girls. Thousands of sisters were already attending Cub Scout meetings and summer camps, doing the same things as their brothers but not earning any patches or rank for their efforts. Girls were sucessfully integrated into other BSA programs (Venturing, Exploring, Sea Scouts) DECADES ago. Female Venture Scouts have already been attending camps and Jamborees for years. Where was the uproar then? Why are people only freaking out now? In most other countries, Scouting has been co-ed for decades. Are they perfect programs? No. Do some girls and boys "fool around"? Yes. But you know what? The ones NOT in Scouting do it too. Shhh... I wouldn't want to alarm people ;) ***FACT ALERT*** Girls are not joining the boys' dens and troops. Girls will not be sharing tents and showers with boys are camp. The BSA is simply adding Cub Scout Dens and Scout Troops for girls. The boys get to keep their "guys-only clubs" and some girls will now get to be a part of something they have envied for so long but couldn't have in Girl Scouts - a challenging program that just might prepare them to be a great citizen. So, please, just CHILL. PS: Please don't respond with ignorant comments like, "Why don't the Girl Scouts just change?" Ugh. that's like saying, "Why doesn't Congress get more done?" or "Why doesn't my boss listen to me and do things that make more sense?" GSUSA has an aggenda and lining up their program to look more like Boy Scouts doesn't fit the agenda. Besides, most little girls enjoy crafts and songs and don't love camping. It's the older or the more adventurous girls that are stifled by the program. Yes, each Troop can choose to do more outdoorsy stuff but it requires a LOT more time and a LOT more training for the leaders because you're be basically creating your own program and the girls wouldn't get any recognition for it either. My Girl Scouts are almost done with high school so they're not entertaining the idea of joining the girls program that the BSA is starting in 2019. My daughter is one of those girls that tagged along to Cub mtgs and Cub camps. She's a regular at Boy Scout mtgs and has been with us on Boy Scout family campouts. The Scouts know her well and treat her like a sister. The BSA skills, advancement requirements, leadership structure, merit badges, meetings, and camps are way more interesting to her. I really wish that Girl Scouts hadn't changed their program a few years back. It wasn't awesome but now it's so watered-down that you can earn most badges in a single meeting without ever leaving the building. To give you an idea of how easy the badges are, here is a link to the "Adventurer" badge for high school-age Girl Scouts. Remember you only have to do ONE thing in each of the five areas. drive.google.com/file/d/0B6ggdlXxWNQ-dEc4aFllaEFzdXc/view Here is a chart that shows all of the badges that a girl can earn over the lifetime of being a Girl Scout. (Ranks are based on age and not on achievements.) www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/our-program/Grade_Levels/GSUSA_Badge-Log_17_SENIOR_Chart.pdf Not one badge is required as a part of earning the level awards - Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Now, compare this to the list of merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts - just even the Eagle required ones. Can you see why some girls are ditching GSUSA and joining the BSA??? Gosh. That was long. Sorry. I'm kinda passionate about this topic. Kudos and thanks to those of you who read it all :)
Can’t Girl Scouts also do stuff that Boy Scouts do if the leader allows doing all that outdoor stuff. I’ll be honest, I have nothing against girls, but I think that there are some organizations that were meant to be left alone. I’m pretty sure that Venture Scouts can be joined by boys and girls. As a Life Scout, all I want to do is attain the rank of Eagle, then get out before it becomes another everyday thing. I wasn’t very happy about the decision, but what are you going to do about it.
@@adamborn9456 and Ryan Okubo, so you're just doing the requirements to get Eagle for what? You have no plans to give back to the organization in any way? Because that's a question you'll have to answer during your board of review. Some people probably don't deserve the honor based on many posts I'm reading.
blackmangopit although it’s gonna prove to be difficult to continue trying to be active in my troop though bc of college and it really makes me feel bad.
I grew up a boy scout and hope my children get to be one I dont like getting politics involved, the girl scouts didn't have to change anything why do the boy scouts need to? If I can redo anything in my life it would be going back to the boy scouts and doing it all over again.
Eagle Scout, class of 1965 here. I think this move was designed to destroy Scouts, teaches too much self reliance and thinking for yourself. Spent my life "Being Prepared", living outside the life of the normal indebted wage slave.
You completely realize that minus a small minority, the US is the only country in the world not to allow girls into the main program up until recently. Scouting in the ways Lord Baden Powell ordered should be open to everyone, regardless of age, race, sexuality, economic status, gender, or religion.
Eagle Scout here. If BSA wants to stop bleeding members it needs to modernize and open itself up to whoever wants to join (even atheists, who for some idiotic reason are banned). Not doing so is a nice way to destroy their finances, especially after the abuse cases blew up in their faces.
We allowed girls in Scouts in Australia about 25 years ago. There were no more camping trips after that. We just did craft and games at the club house. The Scouts is now completely irrelevant here.
Yep. That about sums it up.
My unit had heaps of camping trips
It didn't really change anything
I find that kind of hard to believe, all scout troupes in Australia are supposed to go on camping trips, how would you earn any badges without doing so? Honestly we never did girly stuff in my troupe. And went on camping trips several times a year, and basically all the leaders were men.
But I still wish it was gender segregated. There are almost no male only spaces in society now where we can learn to be men. When women enter a group of men it changes the dynamic of the group, guys start acting differently because there is a girl around, if a cute girl is around guys start competing, a lot of the time it’s subconscious, but it happens. Why can’t we just give boys a space once a week where they can just hang out with other boys and just be boys.
I did scouts and I went on heaps of camping trips. It is sad that you didn't, but calling scouts completely irrelevant is not at all true.
That sucks, maybe you guys need to grow some balls.
I was a Girl Scout and I was the sister of a Boy Scout. BSA was way more impressive, BUT, I was also a Boy Scout Leader for 14 years and this decision by BSA is a disaster. My son is an Eagle Scout. I created a Venture Crew. I have managed camp outs with Venture aged Scouts and it was a disaster. I know other leaders had better experiences then me, but I held true to the rules and still I had problems. In my experience at Scout Camps (which I only visited during the day during summer or winter camp and camped only on Cub Scout weekend events) Boys need a place to just be boys and to have the freedom to do all those things that celebrate boyhood. The stress of having girls around will hinder this unique opportunity that Scouting provides. When I walked through camps, I was very careful to not impose myself or disturb the boys when they were having their guy time. Also, the entire goal we had during all that time was raising boys to be men of honor and so our entire program was directed towards manhood. I do not agree that the program is suited to boys and girls. I was a Tiger Cub , Wolf, Bear, and Webelos leader as well as Cub Master, Den Chief leader/trainer, district leader and organized council events. I trained leaders and did all sorts of things to support the program, but the goal was always to celebrate manhood and to provide opportunities for boys to grow in confidence to become male leaders both for our country and as husbands and fathers. If I were leading girls (being a woman), I would be focused on girl's issues (and this would include learning outdoor skills because I am also a homesteader and love the outdoors.) It's already very confusing for boys and girls during this difficult time of transitioning into manhood and womanhood - but to throw them into the "survival" type of environment camping together, it's just too young. I am quite sure many will disagree with me, but I've had an awful lot of first hand experience (I am now 59) and have seen it from all angles. My dad was a Scout Master and my mom was a Girl Scout leader so I've been having some sort of Scouting experience all my life. I did see that packs and troops can choose to remain strictly male. I would surely encourage this. If anything at all failed here, it was not BSA boys only policy. If girls want a program that gives them opportunities to achieve a rank that holds the kind of respect that Eagle Scout does, then they need to create it as BSA created it for boys.
Packs and troops cannot choose quite as you've said. All dens within a pack (Cubs) are single gender. Some packs are and will be single gender. Whether to be all boys, all girls, or a "family" pack is decided by the pack's Chartering Organization under advisement from pack leaders. All troops (teens) are and will be entirely single gender. Some troops may be shared by a CO and sometimes meet together, but they will be separate entities. (Dens of opposite gender might also meet together if Den Leaders decide it's right for their groups.)
Strict Youth Protection Training guidelines apply to all BSA activities, ensuring a trained adult is present to match the gender(s) of attending Scouts.
I'm sorry you had trouble as a leader in Venturing. I've read others who had very different and positive experiences, but of course we and our interactions with others are all different.
(Edited for clarification: BSA (Boy Scouts of America) is the organization, Scouting BSA is one program within, formerly both known by the same name.)
BAYOU TOWN Productions thank you I agree they should've created a new branch in scouting
Joe Duke I hate people like you because this “problem” is only in the US. Go to Canada or Mexico and you will find that their programs are for both boys and girls. They always were like that and they worked. So I am not sure how this happening will not be working. Since you clearly haven’t heard about problems of these programs reaching the news.
Owen S well if I were to be technical the boy scouts we're not always co-ed it was originally just for boys. Now to get to tell you why I stand for what I said so this time you can judge me while knowing where I stand where I stand. I think girls should be allowed to do the same as the boyscouts and vice versa but the reason why I say it should stay gender specific is 1 because as an scout I went through the program from tiger to eagle and I always looked at as a place to be myself hangout with guys don't have to worry about trying to act cool to impress the girls and what not. And when ever there was a campout that we went with the venture scouts we always tried to impress the girls there and while that can be fun I think it to also be a distraction. And #2 tradition, traditionally it has always been for boys and I think as one of the last boyscouts to still be for just boys we stand as a symbol for tradition. Now what I said probably ain't gonna change that fact that you hate people without understanding where they are coming from but at least you now know where I a come from
Zachary Messer I don’t hate people like you. I hate people that take feminist bull crap and lies into account. Also tradition is not always the best. If we stuck to tradition woman wouldn’t be able to vote and there would still be slaves
I love how the normal people, especially the right, NOW care about the BSA since they did this. If they cared, maybe help the program because it really needs it. I earned my Eagle Scout in April 2018, and my brother earned his in March 2014, and we're both 3rd generation Eagle Scouts.
The sad truth is, Boy Scouts is dying. The only reason attendance is as high as it is, is due to the Troops organized by Churches, especially the LDS churches here in the Pacific Northwest.
Girl Scouts have also been suffering worse because they are stuck in the 1950's idea of women, and most women who are interested in Scouting would like to do the things in Boy Scouts. Yeah, there's Venture crews, but they're very different than Boy Scouts and is still predominantly male and gets no promotion.
Mad respect for Eagle Scouts! a back burner regret of mine, I didn't finish.
Thanks man!!
Nick Barrows I have no respect for eagle scouts they don't know a damned thing they aren't smarter than a Red Cross Master
Linda Thrall: Sir? Do you actually have any analytical basis for your statement? Your entitled to your opinion, but right now you are stating it as if it were a fact. Do not discredit men who have tirelessly earned their Eagle Scout because I’ll let you know, it is NOT an easy process.
The Zesty Potato. First of all I'm not a man I happen to be a Red Cross Master First Class I have no respect for eagle scouts they are the only ones that haven't gotten any respect from me they have to earn my respect before I give it to them.
Lmao, people working for hours every week, 52 weeks a year, up to eight years straight, nonstop, to earn the award of Eagle Scout. About 4% of all scouts get the rank, putting out hundreds and hundreds of hours of service to the community, and in my case thousands. Taking part in upwards of 30 merit badges, studying for tests, writing letters to congressmen, talking about family life, developing in being a productive member of society. Not to mention the survival skills, such as first aid, fire building, shooting, shelter building, camping, etc. And putting those skills to the test on 2 week backpacking trips through the mountains at Philmont Scout ranch in New Mexico, hiking up elevation changes of over 6000 feet with nothing but a backpack and some boots. And you're telling me you don't have respect for us Eagle Scouts? Ok bud, you do you.
Girls would be better staying in the GSA and changing it from within - demand change!
Peter McIver, it's not GSA (girl scouts of America). It's GSUSA (Girl Scouts of the United States of America), because they are their own orginization, completely unaffiliated with the BSA orginization. I agree that they could have changed their model to appeal to those girls seeking the same types of activities as the BSA. However, the GSUSA didn't listen to what parents said their daughters wanted, but the BSA did, hence the addition. I wrote addition because the change isn't really a change, but rather an addition to the BSA orginization. If you read any actual press releases from the BSA you know that the girls eagle track program is NOT co-ed (just wanted to be clear that I'm not referring to the several other programs available to females within BSA, that are co-ed). So this IS the change that has been demanded, the BSA just did it first, and without taking away from the gender specific nuances that The Scouting program provides.
clint bond
I'm British so I just guessed it was GSA
It just seems that when boys/men want to have something for themselves nowadays girls/women want to join it/break it up/change it
The GSUSA aren't very happy about this because their numbers have been dwindling over the years plus they're concerned about financial irregularities and alleged sexual misconduct within the BSA and worried about going into that environment
Also, as the black guy said boys and girls behave differently when they're together than when they're in separate groups
I wasn't in the scouts so I'm not bothered either way
Peter McIver, the GSA/GSUSA clarification and organizational separation, often has to be made to Americians, so i have to make the distinction to a lot of ignorant people. You are correct, boys and girls do act differently around the opposite sex, especially at that age. In fact boy scouts often loses boys when they turn 16-17 do to jobs, sports, girls, or all 3. However, as I stated, the troops will not be co-ed. Although, the BSA orginization has had co-ed programs over the past 20 years, so I don't understand the americians constant worry over hormones or the possibility of sexual desires running rampant. It hasn't really been a problem, people just didn't know these co-ed programs existed.
We have to figure out how to kick these feminists and feminist's confidants out of our Troop!
Yea but to do that you would have to go thru leaders parents and scouts who think there's nothing wrong with the program
I am also an eagle scout and personally I believe that they could've just created a new branch of scouting to achieve this they did not have to change the boyscouts.
I hear your remark about Venturing Crew, and I'm going to say that Venturing is great and all, but girls have to wait until they're 14 to join. They don't get to earn Merit badges, and they still don't have the prestige of Eagle. BTW, the military looks at the Gold award, the Summit(Venturing), and the Eagle with the same prestige(automatic promotion in Navy and Army), but I think that Eagle still seems to stand out in people's minds as THE award.
Anyway, I love how people are freaking out about how this is going to kill the BSA and that we're going to have a bunch of pregnancies running around now. How is it that other countries have had co-ed Baden-Powell scouting programs for years without all these issues that we're all of a sudden worried about here?
It’s called the silver summit award but... both young men and women have to wait until they’re 14 to be a venture scout. To return to the Silver Summit Award, it is of the same, if not GREATER value than the Eagle Scout Award
Next on today's news: Teenage pregnancy is on the rise. Apparently, not all of the boy scouts were prepared.
This must be why they did that. To show the world that men are beasts and this is how the Boy Scouts gets shut down.
Oh come on now, we all know that you pack rain coats on a trip. You just have to put them on. Lol
You are soul yep
You are soul I was in boy scouts but when moved I left my pack (pack 108 hempstead teaxs) I was going back in but the boy scouts the programit self at anit going last more then 20 more years
i dont want to like this comment, buuuuuuuut
Also CAN NOT WAIT for the awkward mess that will be BSA sorry, SA trying to fix Family Life MB and having a mixed class for that badge
I am a mother of a boyscout and a girlscout. I believe with my whole heart that they should be separated. It’s boyscouts for a reason. Girlscouts for a reason. Adds too much pressure for both of the genders when mixed together. They need a place where they can just be themselves. Especially in the formidable years where their bodies are changing and all the drama that goes with that.
I have to say that this is the first video instead of comments that is somewhat in the right direction of what's going on. But I think it's important to clarify some points. First and foremost the Boy Scouts of America Works to what's called charters. Charter has the power to determine how they are going to operate their unit. If a charter decides that they do not want to have girls and their units or that they don't want to operate girl units, they don't have to. If a unit decides to have girls then the girls must be in separate units and not mixed with the boys the girls unit must even have its own separate leadership. Even in the Cub Scouts the girls must be in separate dens from the boys. The Boy Scouts of America have always work from the operating bases at the age of 14 is a good age to mix both sides and it is done so through either venturing or exploring or Sea Scouts. No requirements are being changed nothing the program is being changed they are being segregated. What I invite you all to consider is that the program was originally coed. But it took the form that we are currently developing for the Boy Scouts now Baden Powell developed Boy Scouts and had his wife develop Girl Guides while we are not using this term this is essentially what we are setting up in the United States. Keep in mind there is only about 7 countries left that have segregated programs separate completely. I think that if they can figure out how to make it work in Indonesia successfully as well as a hundred and thirty other countries, I think it can be successful here and open it up to a new chapter in a successful program it develops leaders boy or girl.
Thank you for the non bias educated perspective. Its inspirational amongst the crickets..
💜💜💜
If only you could travel up to Newtown Ct to see troop 870. We're a group of 6 girls, a one patrol troop that's just as tough as all of the boys. We came because we don t want to sell cookies on the side of the road. We want to adventure, go outside, and learn skills to last a lifetime. In girlscouts I learned how to run a bake sale and be kind. In boyscouts, I learned how I'm going to live my life for the rest of forever. Become a scout. It's the right thing to do.
This could have all been avoided and less awkward if girl scouts would have just changed they're program at least in part to fit the boy scouts curriculum. At one time long ago they were more similar, but these days, from what I've read from many accounts, girl scouts are kind of a joke. Its sad that this seems to be the consensus. But no one would say it if it wasn't true and further more the girls wouldn't be flocking to the BSA if it wasn't true either. Aside to selling cookies and doing typical girl stuff what do they do? What do they offer for the more adventures girls out there?!? I'm glad that this is an option now but there should always respect for the old treasured traditions of the BSA while still having that ability for boys and girls to be separate in some cases because they really do need that same sex bonding time. And lets be honest. Imagine how distracting gym class in middle/high school would be if it were coed. Really think about that.. Then lets add focusing on school work while living in coed dorms. Super distracting, right?.. Then the very worse part is puberty. Girls got it really bad but its no spring vacation for boys either. The body starts doing very weird things at that age and you need support from the same sex peirs and leaders. This is very important to consider. This is why there should be separation but I don't think theres any reason why a girl can't do the same things that any boy can do in the scouts. With proper leadership anything's possable... And No, its not going to be the same as it was. You can act like a baby and drop out days before geting awarded Eagle. All that work for nothing over a hissy fit. But If girls could have the same momories and experiences these Eagle scouts can have wouldn't that be a good thing?.. Attack me all you want people. You gotta admite girls got the shitty end when it comes to scouting programs..
I love that these guys calmly talked about both sides of the argument and didnt jump to yelling about their opinion! That seems like that happens alot these days and its hard to get a good discussion and actually come to some sort of agreement. So I love this!!!
I know this video is pretty old, but I'll say this anyways. First I'll start off by saying that I am an eagle scout. Now, my opinion on girls joining Boy Scouts. I can see why they did it. I'm looking past the whole gender issue here and thinking about how Girl Scouts is structured. They are a completely different organization than the BSA. Events, ranks, requirements, and activities are all different. What I think should happen is that Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts should be two separate groups, but under the same organization. Maybe not have all of the same ranks, but definitely allow for more freedom of events and activities within the Girl Scouts. I also believe that the rank Eagle Scout should be achievable by both. It is the one rank that stands out and carries weight in the Boy Scouts. Giving girls the same goal and requirements, but separate groups still, would hopefully solve a lot of the modern day Boy Scout problems.
As an Assistant Scout Master you do know that the Troops will NOT be Mixed the Girls will actually have their own troop.
I'm a girl scout and also now a scout in Scouts BSA here to offer some insight I haven't seen in the comments here. The girl scouts used to have patrol method and essentially was set up the exact same way as boy scouts is now but with activities meant to turn a girl into a housewife. The program has changed a lot since then, evolving into single age group troops that dont offer camping and adventures as part of the main program like Scouts does. I'm also working towards my Girl Scout Gold award, which was originally called the golden eaglet (similar to Eagle) when girl scouts first started.
So far in my few months in scouts, I have camped more times than my two girl scout troops did in my over nine years in girl scouts. I was drawn to Scouts BSA because it offers experiences and opportunities I could never have in girl scouts. It should also be noted that girls are in troops made of only girls. If we attend the same camps as boys we have our own separate campsite just like any other troop.
A few years ago the BSA offered to combine with the girl scouts. Girl scouts didn't want to combine because their program is so different from boy scouts. Girl scouts also sued BSA for wanting to change their name to just scouts. Overall, there is definitely tension and big differences between the organizations.
I didn't want to waste the opportunities in scouts BSA waiting for changes that probably aren't going to happen anyway in girl scouts.
The Boy Scouts have made a terrible decision
Doge Mazing i am a boy scout my self and i agree that the bsa organization has made a very big mistake
Agree
I'm also Boy Scout in Philippines and BSP or BSA is didn't make mistakes
I am an Eagle Scout and I full heartedly agree with BSA’s decision.
I disagree with this decision
I am very disturbed by the decision. I am a mother of 14 children and they all love scouts. We have been involved with scouts for about 12 years. My Eagle scout said he feels sorry for his little brothers and he's glad he became an Eagle before the girls joined in. I see the boys against the girls and girls against the boys even in my home. Its funny there's a natural separation that boys and girls have. The sad part about the decision is the minority gets to call the shots. The majority of boys inside of scouting have no voice and no choice but to leave if girls take over their troop. If girls think girls scouts are too boring, they can join venturing scouts. Get it adVENTURE. Venturing scouts are for boys and girls. Why don't they add 5 to 13-year-olds to Venturing scouts that way the whole family can be together. And they don't have to destroy the boy scouts. I have 2 Girls that achieved their Gold Award and to be honest they are treated like queens with royalty better than the Eagle scouts and everyone is amazed at their great accomplishment. Maybe they can change the name to Golden Eaglette Award to stand out more. We need to fight against this. It really sounds like a feminist movement. Give the boys their space back they want to be morally straight not be tempted to loose their virginity.
Audra Seay Girls are required to be in their own troops, not just different patrols.
Bitch, 14 kids? Are you living in Uganda?
Thank you. I've been telling people that there have been so many girls at summer camps in scouting alongside troops in Venture scouts.
I’m sorry.... but as a MOTHER of young women, why would you not want to teach them that they can do and be anything they want to be? And be just as good.... if not better than their male counterparts? Why would girls joining be destroying the boy scouts. Girls simply want the choice and opportunity to become eagle scouts for applications, resumes, and other opportunities. Because the majority of people do give greater respect to boy scouts over girl scouts. Now, my parents are not anti feminism, but they certainly have shown me their biases over the years, and every time, i call them out for it. I do not allow anyone to treat me as less than due to my genitals or preordained gender role for a gender that I did not choose to be born as or identify with. I am a woman and i do identify as one, but I didn’t get to choose my birth. I am just as capable of taking care of myself as a man is for himself. Teach sexual education to women and young men which will lead to less pregnancy. Simply separating the two will not get rid of hormones or stop people from sneaking around. If a young man or woman chooses to lose their virginity, it certainly won’t usually be in a tent surrounded by the rest of the troop. I’m sure you’re a great mom, but if I were your daughter, I would not stand for any sexism towards me. Your daughters are equally as important as your sons, and they deserve to have a choice in pursuing any opportunity that your sons get to with no questioning based on gender.
@@rileykathleen6199 It sounds to me like you can care less about the power of a man. Many feminist dismiss men and try to out do them, get into their space and try to move them out the way. Mothers like me raise our men to be strong just like how God made them to be. You can't out run them, you can't out wrestle them, you can't out box them, and you can't lift more weight than them. You definitely would not be a better fireman. And I can go on and on. I have a very happy home because I have lot of respect for my husband and all of my children appreciate the love that my husband and I share. I definitely want him to be strong and take care of me even though I could take care of myself. My mother raised 4 of us on her own so I obviously know how to be single and dismiss a man, but thats depressing that's why feminist have a lot of hate for men they are depressed. They would make terrible wives just because of their mindset. Why are women jealous of men and want to be like them? You are the weaker vessel. God made you that way, it can never be changed and you can have just as much fun in scouting without invading their privacy. I hope your life goes well and please have respect for men as they ought to have respect for you. God bless
I'm an Eagle Scout as well, and I found this news to be amazing. The Boy Scouts is such an amazing program that everyone deserves the opportunity to go through. You can learn so much stuff that you cant learn anywhere else. The Girl Scouts is an awful program, but Boy Scouts provides you with a plethora of life skills. I could go on about this forever, but this is an amazing change. The Girl Scouts had the opportunity to fix their program and they never did. All they are known for is their cookies, while the Boy Scouts are known for its respectability, credibility, and so much more. If a girl is willing to join the Boy Scouts and put in all the effort to earn badges and work harder than ever, let them join! As an Eagle Scout, I wanted to express how very proud of the Boy Scouts of America for this decision. Thank you.
A little glimmer of kindness amongst so much hate. I can't believe such a change could through the scout law right out the window..
I keep seeing similar negative stuff from all of the eagles I have seen on youtube and in real life. I am an eagle too, and I agree this is a very disheartening event that I personally believe strays away from the vision that Baden Powell set down for scouts. One of the eagles I talked to even suggested that the eagles should unite to form a contemporary group to offer a program that returns to the core of what BSA is supposed to be. I don't know if I can trust the BSA to teach my potential future family--at this point I would rather teach my children myself.
I agree with you
That would be awesome!
respect for my fellow arrowman
Just did my ordeal this weekend it was amazing
Congrats!!!
Im brotherhood yo if you get the chance do it
Mount Baker Council, Sikhs Mox Lamonte Lodge... Brotherhood, and I still serve as a scout leader....
I'm pretty sure Karl, was in the same council as myself....
I'm from Philippines and I'm a girl and I'm also part of the Boy scout, i think there's nothing wrong with it, We girls should know how to be Boys sometimes, boys can do some things that girls can do, we girls should know other things that boys think they can do by just being a boy. I just want to say to you guys that being a part of a boy group either we're a girl or a boy isn't the problem, the problem there is how the community reacts on it. :--)
kween j Yah i agree to your last point, as a scout my troop had a couple girls in it and no one cared. However these changes and the others in recent years dont come from the troops but the parent organization to cave to social pressures or push an ideology which is really gross.
As an Eagle Scout the BSA has lost its way. It is a sad day for scouting and it will never be the same again. I am a member of the LDS church and glad they are pulling out. Adios to the BSA!
Tevita Toutai I am also LDS and have just earned my Eagle rank. I am both sad and happy we are leaving BSA the changes are not the best. I have to agree that BSA has gone a different way. The week long Scout camps are going to be missed.
Tevita Toutai ....... if “losing it’s way” is things to do with other than allowing girls in, then okay, everyone has their opinions, but if it because of girls being allowed in, then that is extremely misogynistic of you to say. Then again, i know that misogyny is not a foreign concept to men... especially in the LDS church since they are taught that they are kings and superior to women. Women aren’t even allowed (or very very few) to reach the same level in missions in the LDS church.
I’m agnostic, but was raised catholic. I was also a girl scout growing up. I enjoyed having a social gathering to go to every week, but I absolutely hated the things we were made to do in girl scouts since 99% revolved around baking, crafting, and other women gender role activities. All i wanted was to be allowed to go hiking, camping, make fires, and do all the things that boys could do since i did them anyways in my everyday life of just being a curious kid. I could learn baking and crafting in school/ at home if i so pleased. I didn’t need the girl scouts for that which is why I eventually left them. As a women, it’s truly revolting to know that some people view me as less than and most men have their own internal biases towards women whether they mean to or not. Our jobs are not to be baby machines who want to be gentle and ladylike all of the time. Men can be gentlemen and women can be gentlewoman in appropriate settings while still having the sides to themselves that are carefree to do what we please in all other aspect of life. If i want to do anything a man gets to do without question, then I should be able to. Eagle scouts get more respect than girl scouts which can help with college and first jobs & other opportunities. The only thing that stood in the way of women getting to be eagle scouts too was not based on our abilities or desires, but rather the fact that we didn’t have dicks. Shame on you and anyone who thinks that women can’t do anything and everything a man does... and just as well...if not BETTER.
The "impressing girls" thing, there are boy troops, and girl troops. We only mix at things like camporees, and other special activities.
I support their decision. Girl Scouts doesn't do anything fun like Boy Scouts does. No pine wood derby, no Eagle Scout status or equivalent that boys get recognition for and not any real fun. Just arts and crafts and some camping trips, but nothing serious. We didn't learn any important skills when I was Girl Scouts. Maybe they could have all girl troops so that boys could still get that one on one time with their dads for those who are worried about that.
From what I hear there are no co-Ed troops, I am in an all female troop. Scouts is truly the best thing to happen to me. It’s not just about wanting to camp. It’s about character and leadership.
With luck you may be able to take that character and leadership to the battlefield. The draft will not be just for boys anymore. You may be among the first girls to sign up for the draft when you are 18. Isn't that great!
I'm a girl that joined Scouts BSA. Before I get all y'alls hate, my brother is a Boy Scout (and Order of the Arrow also went National Youth Leadership Training, and will bea camp counselor this summer ), and due to my parents not trusting my neighbors enough, I have been forced to go to all his events. Before he joined Scouts, I LOVED (and still do) to go camping, hiking, mountain climbing, etc. I hope this helps you realise that girls are just as capable of doing things boys do. One of the big reasons why bsa did this was because the girl scouts have a award called the Gold Award that's equvalent to an Eagle Scout. Also one of the big reasons for this change is that due to sexest people, it's now much harder for gsa to get permits for camping sites. The Boy Scouts knew this and decided to help girls like me have a chance to do the things that we love. After all, A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty brave, clean, and reverent.
Your Scouting friend Savannah Jones, Troop 24
I'm in troop 339, and its cool to see other girls in the comments in BSA :)
The Odd Life of Savannah Jones how is your Scouting experience going so far?
@@EagleScoutMacGuzman Thank you for asking. It's going amazing, the only issue is that the girls in my troop are two year younger than me, and they think everything is just given to them. It's honestly so pathetic. I just wish it was more like my brother's troop. None of them want to go camping, hiking, or anything else outside.
The Odd Life of Savannah Jones the age difference (especially newly transferred Webelos) can be an initial hurtle to overcome. Hammering home the requirements for Scout, the Patrol Method, and the EDGE method should help. Scouts BSA is supposed to to Scout led not adult fed.😀
Danielle PANDA how is your scout experience going?
I got my eagle scout reward in 2017, i went to national jamboree in 2017, i saw when i was there how they were trying to change the name, i say they are ruining American heritage by adapting to the P.C community, im still in scouts but the first girl that joins my troop i will quit scouts all together
what's ruining scouting is this type of attitude. If you're an Eagle Scout, behave like one. My son earned his last year and scouting around the world is integrated with boys and girls except a few countries which are by the way, eternally patriarchal and misogynistic
blackmangopit PREACH!
Sorry it took some time to get my response, but im now out of the whole scouting scene, but the whole reason i didnt like it was because at the time the scouting organization was losing its grip on our community and i was seeing it lose pull in others and we had less people joining mainly because the things i could do when i first joined were now considered politically incorrect and or dangerous for example we cant fire model rockets anymore for rocket merit badge because they are dangerous. And there were a bunch of things they changed. But when i saw that they were going to add the girls to the scouting scene i saw problems and more crap that our area has to do. So now our camps are required to have flushing toilets and electricity at every camp site. So now our camp has to build new out houses, rewire the entire camp to every-camp site and because the way our shower house was built we had to tear it down and build a new one. So now our struggling camps and organization had to roll out lots of money and time to adapt the girls to the program. I dont dislike girls joining it was just the inconsiderate higher ups that not only added it but put mire restrictions in. To top it off the big camps that are around the big cities have no problem because they already had everything and the program in smaller towns and rural areas is shutting down. But you probably don’t care most of the people are from big cities and don’t give two flying figs about us. And saying im not acting like an eagle scout is just an ignorant way of saying that you cant have your own opinion because it might be considered mean and or problematic for people.
blackmangopit i gave my response but forgot to put in your name so you get it
I’m actually completely fine with the change. I’m a Star scout in troop 776 and from what I’ve heard from all the councils in my area the troops are going to be separated which means we won’t be camping, Riding in cars, or even having the same meetings
6/29/18.....I am a retired lady....I wasn't. Brownie or Girl scout but I assisted a friend when she was a GS leader.....We had fun doing GIRL things & NOBODY complained about NOT being a Boy Scout.
I think they should keep it separated like they did for the 1st 100+ yrs....I think boys & girls need yo have separate interests/crafts/skills at all ages....They can always get together on special occasions & train/compete.
I was in Girl Scouts when I was younger ( I was a daisy and a brownie) , and to be honest I didn’t really enjoy it. I remember hearing about all of the cool things the Boy Scouts did and I wanted to do that - all we really did was eat snacks , played outside , pick up trash , and sell cookies. I’m now an American Heritage Girl , and I personally enjoy that program much better. I think it’s what the Girl Scouts are missing. You have the chance to earn something called “The Stars and Stripes Award” it’s compared to the Eagle Scout. There are also more activities for the girls to do. Everything from Camping , to Cake Decorating there’s a badge for almost everything!!! It’s not really as big as the scouts of America , but American Heritage Girls as well as Trail Life (a similar program for the boys) are going back to the basics of what the Boy and Girl Scouts were meant to be in the beginning.
Kendall Pedersen there is also venture scouting which is boys and girls high adventure activities.
Kendall Pedersen there something called venture crew for this. It’s coed Boy Scout same trips different ranks
Kendall Pedersen I was in trail life. 😃👍
Kendall Pedersen feminism should have made girls scouts good, but, women dont build anything they simply try to take over boys and mens spaces, look into it, feminism is antithetical to observable reality,
The girl scouts and other programs like it are leadership organizations. If you are unhappy, take leadership and make your group happy.
@Chase Jones I am the current serving Lodge Chief of Onondaga Lodge, which is in Section C4-A along with Marnoc Lodge!! I plan on running for National Chief of the Order of the Arrow in December of 2019. Also, it’s worth noting that before this change was even talked about, there were 74,000 registered female scouts. This means that the program won’t be changing much at all, contrary to popular belief.
When I got my Eagle, their ads said: "Scouting rounds a boy out." Now scouting will round out girls too! :-) What are they going to do when the dad is 14 and can't support a kid? Prediction: Many will sue the troop and headquarters big time.
P.S. At night, when most boys are asleep at midnight on a camping trip, some hanky panky goes on. As a straight boy scout, I refused offers from gays. If the offers came from hot girls, how many boys would resist? (Duh).
The program is not going to be Co-Ed at the 11 - 18 year old level. Only during Cub Scouts
I believe that America transform our scouting programs into one giant community. I think that we should still have the separation by gender but both groups would follow the same program outlines. All of the ranks and requirements could remain the same, but you still have the separation so that there is less drama. I feel that a conversation between the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts could solve a lot of problems instead of both sides despising each other and playing this corporation chess game.
My son is an Eagle Scout. I’m a former Girl Scout Troop leader for my two daughters. My oldest daughter also was a Venture Scout (the first BSA female scout to peak the 10,000 hike). Both of my daughters learned primitive camping in the Mojave desert with Girl Scouting. My Scoutmaster husband and I strongly disagree wi allowing girls in to the program. It has ruined Boy Scouting as a way for boys to be themselves and become men.
Yes, because single gender troops don't exist for both genders
Thank you both for your thoughts and stories. I'm very much on the "for" side, but I appreciate the professional and courteous way you both stated your concerns AND stuck to the Scout Law. (Putting it on the screen was good, following it is always better and too many people commenting on this issue don't.) Even disagreements can be presented in a positive and helpful way.
I'd look forward to hearing more from both of you, now that more info is out, like troops being separate and the program name change to Scouts BSA.
My Mom served in boy scouts for years and was even awarded the silver beaver award. She was broken hearted when the scouts made this decision.
Eagle Scout here. My favorite memories in the Boy Scouts are the high adventures. I canoed 50 miles down the Current River in Missouri and a couple of years later I hiked the trails of Philmont in New Mexico. I loved those so much. It put into perspective on the whole scouting experience and it made you apply everything you learned on the path to Eagle.
As for the recent decision of the Scouts name change, I'm reticent. I am very much a traditionalist when it comes to matters of BSA but I also am a progressive and am wondering what would happen should girls attain the rank of Eagle.
I'm a Missouri local river rat. The Current river is a true treasure here in Missouri. May I ask what part did you float?
There is a misconception about the new ruling. Yes they are allowing girls in but they are not mixing dens or troops. They are allowed in the program but kept in a separated from the boys. Both organizations are at ends now more so then ever and it would be better to offer the programs to the youth
How will it take before we nick-name it "Pregnant Scouts of America"
About 5 minutes....
Because of the way this will be organized, the troops will not be Co-Ed. In a troop, you will have either an All Male troop, or an all Female Troop. Venturing is the only scouting organization that is Co-Ed. This is not a problem in Venturing, with ages 14-21. This means that pregnancies will not be possible.
Andrew Rice finally... thank you for being someone that actually knows what they’re saying. I also believe that sailors are co-ed? Also all these pregnancies things are nonsense... why didn’t anyone start making those comments when venture crews were established?... idiots
Liam Plays I somehow forgot about sailors because they’re not in my area. I believe They are also Co-Ed.
The Scout Association of New Zealand, who have admitted girls for 44 years, have never had this problem. But if girls are kept in separate troops and dens, like the plan is, this seems very unlikely.
There has always been Girls in the BSA , remember the Police and Fire Expolers and Today we have Ventering Scouts .Without any Backlash . Scouting is Everthing , Troop 701 - 872 Border - C - 10 Joshua Tree , California 92252 - 3393
If the girls thought BSA was better, why didn't GSA fix it to match in the first place so this crap would have NEVER happened??? How long have they both existed?? Seriously, I'm all for equality but having per-pubescent boys and girls together is not recommended, we have enough MTV dramas about underage pregnancy glorification already and this will probably cause and up tick, or scouts programs will be gutted so badly because the activities are classified as "sexist", such as starting a fire with two sticks, that would be sexists because sticks are an innuendo for penis and super offensive, packing a backpack, that would be too, because why limit what you can take, that would be oppression. Hiking? forget it, that is manual labor and should not have to be done, because its cruel and unusual punishment. It will keep going until its all nitpicked out to getting badges based on emotion and not skill.
It's like migration.
'The grass is greener over there.'
'Well, we could spend our time making our grass better.'
'Nah! Too lazy. I wanna go over there.'
^^^^EXACTLY!!^^^^
GSA is also in BSA
Bro.... WHAT? What if GIRL Scouts eventually allows boys to join (WHICH THEY SHOULD) so that boys who want to do crafting and baking and focus on those sorts of badges can go there. I wad a girl scout and all i wanted was to get to do what the boy scouts got to do for badges and recognition for future jobs/college applications. I already did the things that boys did; i just didn’t get to get badges for it since being a girl disqualified me from joining. The fact that you even view rubbing sticks together, hiking, and backpacking as things that aren’t for women just shows how closed minded and misogynistic you are. How about the leaders teach the scouts sexual education and don’t allow the girls and boys to sleep in the same tent. That’s such a piss poor excuse to even come up with over not allowing girls in. I love hiking and backpacking and can keep up with any of the males I have gone with over the years. Oppression is not allowing women to join boy scouts based on something that we can not help. We were born with vaginas into a society of self glorifying men. We can’t help what we were born as. No one can choose their race or sex or family. Everyone is just as capable as the next to do anything. Sexism is not allowing women in based on our supposed gender roles and genitals. You are the one who oppresses women.
This debate almost always turns into "Well, the GSA should be better", but the BSA and GSA are completely separate entities. While they share a name and have similar values, the BSA and GSA are totally different in terms of program, unit structure, and leadership. In other words, the BSA are not responsible for the perceived failings of Girl Scouts, we can only change our program. The two organizations have never really had much to do with each other, and it annoys me when people who have never been a part of the organization try to guess at or criticize its motives. Obviously this isn't not the case for Chase and Karl, but it makes me sad to see an organization that has given me so much be used by conservatives who say things like "The Left drove a stake though Boy Scouts".
Here you go bringing logic into this discussion... Don't you know that is against the rules of UA-cam commenting?
It is interesting how much of the argument is politically driven... You can always depend on plan ol' logic from an educated perspective..
American Heritage Girls (AHG) is an Organization for Girls that has High Adventure opportunities, as well as a rank advancement system that is similar to the BSA track to Eagle.
Hey guys and gals,
My name is Kyle (Eagle 2014 Troop 1210),
I am all for having girls in the scouts (coming to events if they are qualified to safely perform). My best friend's little sister (Gold Award) was a girl scout and she joined in most of our high adventure activities and it was awesome. She had fun, we had fun and I have no quarrels with it. However, there is a clear difference between boys and girls. I am not saying all girls can't succeed but there are some requirements that may be adjusted just so girls can achieve Eagle Scout. For example, some of the merit badges require higher levels of physical abilities such as Life Saving that shouldn't change just so everyone can pass the requirements. If you can't save a life then you shouldn't get the merit badge. I understand anyone who can't earn Life Saving go for Emergency Preparedness but I don't want any of the rules to change just for girls. I agree that the girls scouts just make their program just more equal to boy scouts. If that is what the girls want to experience they should give it to them.
OOH I'm a staff member on an NYLT course! It's my fourth year on staff, and I have that camp coming up in a couple weeks! I'm so glad you liked NYLT! Subbing just for that :D
Patrick Hanlon my brother also staffs. I’m going on my first NYLT camp this summer :D
Woo Hoo! I hope you have fun!
I think this is a disastrous desision the BSA has made. I just earned the rank of Eagle Scout so take it from me that guys need time to be guys. It's no secret that when girls are around, we don't act our selves. We all get a little more nervous of doing something stupid or embarising ourselves or we feal pressured to act differently all together to impress girls. It's just our nature as young men right smack in the middle of puberty and nothing can change that. Knocking down gender walls only makes us exepirance that uncomfortable fealing more rather than forcing us to get used to it. Take it from an Eagle Scout that whenever some dude's sister happened to be around or tag along on an event, we weren't ourselves and felt like we were being watched and studied by a girl at all times. I wouldn't even blame her if she was. Eagle Scout has always felt like a test of man hood and show of a young boy becoming a man and a leader. The idea of it representing a kid becoming an adult doesn't quite have the same ring to it. It's not sexist, it's just the way it is. Some things aren't meant to change and in our politically correct world today, change is being forced and it isn't always a good idea. Call me a conservative, I don't care. Change isn't always bad either but it isn't always good. Boy Scouts was created for boys, Girl Scouts was created for girls. Venture Scouts was created for boys and girls looking to do more active things that the Boy Scouts does without upseting the Boy Scouts working nature. Not to mention this decision of letting girls into Boy Scouts will greatly harm the Girl Scouts as well.
Mike, I agree with you. I was a Scout leader for many years and I am a woman. When it came time for camp, I stayed home and the men went. I was more in an administrative position and not hands on. I supported the program because I felt that men were being undermined and this program was an excellent program for supporting and celebrating manhood. My dad was Scout and a leader. My brothers were Scouts. My mom was a Girl Scout leader and my sisters and I were Girl Scouts. I have worked with almost every area of Scouting including Venture and I must say that young men need their own camp for the very reasons you'd stated. I argue for your reasons all the time and I am often made fun of or put down. The program is supposed to be boy led but the boys don't have much of a voice. It's going to be a disaster having girls in the Boys' camp. Venturing, as you'd said is a separate program. I encourage you to keep speaking your truth with courage. Be prepared!
Order of the Arrow and Eagle Scout... impressive. It will be interesting what happens. It is definitely a massive change to a century old program. But Scouting always changes but hopefully the Scouting message is not diluted.
i am a girl boy scout this program is amazeig
As an Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster I am in favor of this happening. Girls have been involved in scouting for almost 60 years. They were in Explorer Posts at first and now in Venturing Crews. In those groups boys were still allowed to earn Eagle but girls were not. This should have happened a long time ago. I teach the boys skills and quailties that are NOT gender exclusive. Why would I not want girls to learn to enjoy and survive in the woods and be good leaders?
I couldn't disagree more. There’s a reason why fatherless households are on the rise, male suicide is on the rise, or why there’s an increase in school shootings. It’s because boys aren’t learning how to be men. Sure, you can teach anyone how to tie a knot, or how to sharpen a knife but there are certain social skills that men learn from being in groups of other men. The effects of testosterone on young men aren’t just physiological, they are psychological as well. Scouting gave boys a chance to figure out the psychological changes (increased aggression for example) in an environment where everyone understands. It gives boys a place where they can figure out what being a man actually means..We’re doing boys a disservice. Boys don’t go out and play anymore because of electronics which makes them hyper at school, so, we put them on Ritalin. Then, we take away/water down places where they can actually be boys and we wonder why so many young men are completely lost.
As a recently obtained Eagle Scout, I don't particularly mind if girl scouts do join, but as long as they don't try to massively change the rules or anything to fit what they want.
Armaan Shojaie of course it's going to change. Merit badge requirements, camps, etc.
There would be some that are reasonable to change I would assume.
As an Eagle Scout I believe that the honor that comes with the Eagle Scout rank was earned, and I believe that the Girl Scouts can make their highest rank as honorable as they chose to make it. Let the meaning of the rank be shown through actions.
I was a Boy Scout, I loved it. The camaraderie of other guys, a great male role model as Scout Leader. I learned so much and admired the feeling of relatability with other fellas. There was a real bond within the troop I belonged. And now feminists, (who can't stand boys and men having anything for themselves) has imposed their misandrist ideology and must take delight in destroying yet another thing supporting positive male activities.
Soo whats so bad about having boy scouts and girl scouts? Why does boy scouts have to change to scouts and girl scouts remains girl scouts? Where is the organization for just boys? They're taking a classic organization for raising men and destroying it by saying they're allowing girls just because girls want to have fun in it? It's a men's organization.. yet girl scouts is still girl scouts.. stop feminizing men. That's what they're doing.. so there used to just be boy scouts then they created girl scouts now the girls are completely overpowering boy scouts.. this type of thing needs to stop.. men need to be allowed to have their own organizations without women coming along and taking them over all the time.. you don't see men taking over girls only groups.. they need to stop taking over men's groups.. they did it with golfing and pretty much every other thing men try to enjoy without female intrusion but they just barge in shamelessly and say we're here! Get used to us! Just gloating around taking up space and requiring your full attention to be on them at all times.. then it will just turn into how they feel they need to be taken care of better by men or they're being mistreated and become another #metoo thing.. they're going to whine and complain that they want in and when they get in they'll just whine and complain the whole time like they always do..
ThothHeart Maat well said.
ThothHeart Maat they have the choice to join venture scouts which is a coed organization that does more camping and fun camping and
Other stuff. It get me so upset whenever I get mentioned about this topic lol
We should get rid of boy scouts *and* girl scouts. Just make it scouts, no prerequisite sex needed. It can then be up to the individual local troops to decide whether they are a "boyish" troop (outdoor activities, nature, survival, camping, fishing, etc) or a "girlish" troop (home economics, cooking, crafts, indoor activities, etc). Let girls join whichever troop interests them, and allow boys to do the same. It's ridiculous to keep people segregated by something uncontrollable like sex, just like we know it's wrong to segregate by skin color or ethnicity.
It’s alright guys, most of us spent our youth in Scouts and find it very close to home. As long as we’re around to become leaders, it might not go to shit really
I would not want this because a lot of the time guys act differently around girls and vise versa. They should be able to get eagle but, girls can just join venture. And some point in venture they should be able to rank up.
Ya'll feel the exact same way I feel. My son was on his way to eagle and decided to drop out of scouts because of this decision. Not that I agree with him and maybe he will have a change of heart. Girl scouts needs to revamp their organization and the boy Scouts needs to get back to what made boys into MEN. Stop worrying about being special interest group correct. The scouts WAS a great organization and their numbers have dwindled since their departure from raising men. Hope they take heed to your comments and ours. MAKE THE SCOUTS GREAT AGAIN
It's your job to raise the boy in your house, not scouts. If the thought of girls being able to earn what he does is threatening to him, then maybe he should stay out of scouts.
@@blackmangopit You are a loser, get out of here.
We have to figure out how to kick these feminists and feminist's confidants out of our Troop!
Randy Ferwerda how cute, took you a year to come up with that? 🤡
blackmangopit Right back at you.
Just wanted to say that the Venture Crews was Co-ed. There was all girls Crews, and one of my friends in high school was in one of these Crews. but the problem is that the Girl Scouts is badly structured. I think that there would have been less problems if they would change the name of the final rank of the Girl Scouts to Eagle. Also having more of a partnership between the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts would solve a lot of the problems as well.
As a current leader of my son's troop, I was very concerned when the the changed occured until I learned about it. There is NO mixed gender troops unless you are in a Venturing crew (14 -21 yrs) If you can get a charter to represent you, then you can set up a ALL girl or ALL boy troop. They are not allowing mixing of sexes in any Troop/Pack. I really wish the media would tell all the facts and not stir up trouble.
On paper this is true, in reality we have just added a patrol or two of girls. The boy and girl troops meet together camp together, have the same people on their committees
I was a first year scout when I did the Archery MB and I couldn’t figure out how to position the bow correctly so my arm guard never worked and I left camp with this huge welt on my arm
I'm a eagle scout myself, and BSA is now dead, this is going to change the whole experience for the boys. BSA is not going to have the same high reputation it had same with boys who make eagle scout now, hell if girl's can get it now why not just make it easier for everyone or just give to any kid, why keep the age limit 17, why not let 40 year old men earn it
Brandon O'Neal how does allowing girls to earn Eagle make it easier? All rank requirements with the exception of one swimming requirement and the 5 mile hike only measure a scout against themself as a means to show growth. It's not like I the military where if you don't do XX push ups and run 5 miles in under XX time you don't promote.
Brandon K - didn't mean easier for girls, I meant like well every kid should get a trophy, why cut the age at 17, why not etc, etc so on and so on, I just want boyscouts and girlscouts to stay the same
Brandon O'Neal on that note then, i do not follow why you are saying to make the program easier just because girls were added. And yes, I understand it is a rant, lol. Just trying to get constructive dialogue, lol.
Brandon K well because bye adding girls your changing the whole program, bye changing the name to scouts of BSA, it's like that old saying ''if it ain't broke don't try to fix it''
Brandon O'Neal A Rose by Any Other Name. . .
As an Eagle Scout I think this sadly is the end of an organization that has formed the values I currently live.
Well if the values you live by are misogyny, then die. To actually be bummed out over a positive event like this is sexist. Anyone who is sexist is straight up garbage if they try to put their sexist beliefs on others.
Hey Chase! I’m an Eagle Scout and member of Marnoc Lodge 151 too. This past year I served as Unit Relations Chairman. If you ever have time maybe we could get in contact and you could pass on some of your wisdom to me, I’d love to pick up on some knowledge that might benefit the lodge. Great video!
All Eagle Scouts! Comment the year and month (if you remember) the day you earned the Eagle Scout rank!
I will start, July 9th, 2017.
December 14 1990
May 18, 1992.
May 14, 2018
November 9, 2005
So, 5 months into Girls being in the Scouts BSA, and I'd love to see what your re assessment is. Troops are single gender, though they can meet concurrently. It seems most of the issues you came up with did not come to pass.
It's not to long ago that the Boys CLUB of America started letting Girls in the club . Now it's been over 20 years and it has never has any backlash .
Girls have been admitted to the Scout Association of New Zealand since 1976... yet we still deliver an active programme of development for our youth. My Venturer scout unit, of boys and girls ages 14-18, go camping around ten times a year, are self-led with a minimal amount of adult support, hold countless multi-day hiking expeditions for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme (and just for fun), plan, run, and participate in survival camps, volunteer with events run for younger scouting sections such as catering for camps and teaching keas, cubs and scouts the skills they need for the award/badge scheme, and we also fundraise for local and international causes such as the Australian bush fires. Furthermore, we still turn out a number of Queen's Scouts (equivalent to Eagle Scouts) who have proven they have benefitted extremely well from our youth programme. Gender has nothing to do with it - it's about community, self development, and having respect.
As an eagle scout just got it about a month ago I'm really dissapointed in the decision, I'm still working at the camp I always have even during college but man it's a big disappointment...
I got mine a week before my 18th haha! I know the feeling!
Very well done, Chase and Karl. Thank you for providing your perspectives in this matter. The only thing that I wish would have happened is for the Boy Scouts to have had this discussion with the Girl Scouts. From what I've been reading in the news, the Girl Scouts were not taken into account when the Boy Scouts reached their decision.
NO one was taken into account except money. They called parents in and showed us a propaganda video about how tapping this 'unserved market' would be good for BSA. They sold our boys out for money. It was just a formality to bring parents in and pretend to listen or care what we said.
Actually, the Boy Scouts have been talking with the Girl Scouts since the 70's. The Girl Scouts had no interest.
I think you speak for any scouts who have spent a good amount of time in BSa
Hell no!
I was an Australian scout
Best years of my life
My view on this topic is to just merge both girl and boy scout groups
Australia did it and it works really well
I understand their concerns though
Just murge the groups!!!
The BSA has been trying since the 70's the GSUSA just won't agree to it.. It an American disfuction Mommy and Daddy just won't work together for the sake of the kids. So now we're in a custody battle.. Go figure..
I was a tiger and am now a star Scout on my way to life and this change probably screwed so many people over with hi status in the bsa people like life Scouts
Everyone, please educate yourself on the new Scouts BSA program changes before you get too hyper. The new program is NOT coed. It does NOT allow girls to join boy units. It simply allows for new, all girl, units to be created. For details: www.scouting.org/familyscouting/
There is another group called American Heritage Girls and Baden Powell Scouting Assoctiation.
I was a brownie and a Girl Scout and we did a lot of camping and out door activities. Maybe it depended on your troop leaders for those commenting that they didn't have those experiences in the Girl Scouts. As far as the prestige of an Eagle Scout I wonder if it's more perception and popularity -I don't know if my analogy will make sense but it's like our population is more drawn to the NBA then the WNBA. And it's not the female players fault-and it's no reflection on the abilities of the female players but they are not the superstars in our society that the men are. Maybe there could've been more marketing done on the demand some difficulties to achieve its equipment in the Girl Scouts. I can think of many talkshow hosts that would've loved to have a Girl Scout with the highest achievement on and that way that person can explain what it took. And if it needs to take more to achieve that to be as impressive as an Eagle Scout then let's make those changes.
As a new Eagle Scout, one example is when I go backpacking with my troop do I want to bring deodorant when every gram counts when we have to carry a 40 lb pack around a island for a week? We also have to change behind trees, do girls want to do that?
I just came across this. Being a woman who grew up in a very strong scouting family, I was very excited to hear that girls are going to be allowed to attain Eagle. On the other hand, I work at a boy scout camp, and have seen the positives of the boys having that time to just be themselves without the presence of girls. Thanks for your thoughts! Also, may I just say that Karl is very attractive.
You know, there is a girls scouts. Boys are supposed to be woth other boys in BOYS scouts.
As an Eagle Scout myself I am highly disappointed in this decision. When I made mine in 1998 there were three requirements to be a Boy Scout: 1) Be a boy under 18; 2) believe in God; 3) cannot be a homosexual. Now all those requirements are out the window. Boy Scouts is now officially dead, sad day in America....
Even in Venturing the highest award is still not as coveted as the Eagle Rank. So even though yes venturing is co-ed and high adventure, it is still not "Eagle!" I am a Cub Master of a Pack who is also a trained Venture Crew leader. The girls want a rank as prestigious as Eagle.
As a former Boy Scout leader of 15 years and raising 2 Eagle Scouts, I think it’s a bad idea. The program will get watered down and or there will be no more overnighters. Just my two cents.
Troops are all female or male within Scouts BSA. To my knowledge troops are not mixed gender even though the same opportunitys are open to both.
In this world, Girl Scouts are known for selling cookies. However, the Boy Scouts are known for camping and the Eagle Scout rank. As a scout myself, I am highly offended by girls being let into BSA. They have completely broken the traditions of BSA.
Yeah thoughs girls need to go back into the kitchen and make more cookies where they belong... Smh..
I think it's great! Girls have been allowed into Venture for years yet were not allowed to earn the Eagle Scout award (and that is sexism).
I can completely understand where these two are coming from about the dynamic of the Boy Scouts is being changed, but the boys and girls are going to be separate for the most part. Meaning the boys and girls are only actually going to be with each other during certain activities. Otherwise the boys and girls will separate. I just wanted to clear that up because many people who are/were speaking about this seem to be mal-informed about about how the system is actually going to work. ☺️
Eagle Scout class of 2018 here, I think allowing girls into the rest of the program has been long overdue. Girls have been in the BSA program for over 50 years in the co-ed groups such as Venturing, Exploring, and Sea Scouts. In the rest of the world, completely co-ed scouting as been apart of society for decades without any major problems. Don't dare to hit me with "oh then why does the Girl Scouts exist?", the girl scouts exist because that's a completely different program and belong to a different global organization called WAGGGS, while the BSA is apart of WOSM, completely different ideologies and programs.
I think girls being drafted is overdue. But its coming. Congrats on opening the door for future girls to do their part on the battlefield.
Oh man, now I REALLY NEED to finish my Eagle NOW. I don’t want to be the disgrace that earned theirs with girls in.
I know I feel so bad for myself God the world going to shit
What happened to girl scouts? When I was in scouts the only time a girl was around was when parents were dropping there sons off for the meetings.
im a 14 year old girl who joined scouts 2 years ago, I am going to be an Eagle Scout within the next month, and its amusing to see the comments about whether or not girls should join scouts. my troop consists of a sister troop, and a brother troop. while we have the same troop number, we act as completely different troops. we do not stay on the same camp grounds together, we do not do all that many events together, and we have get-togethers maybe 2-3 timers a year. I have been in both Boy and Girl Scouts, and while it would be a good idea to change Girl Scouts from within, and make it more than just arts and crafts, but it is much more inclusive to allow girls into Boy Scouts, and it take much less resources. maybe in the future we can change Girl Scouts to the point where we can have boy and Girl Scouts, but at the moment this simply isn't available.
As an Eagle Scout myself, I guess I don’t get the big deal. Why not work to ensure that all kids, regardless of gender, get a chance to learn how to lead, how to enjoy the outdoors, how to work together? I suppose I just don’t get it.
Why don’t they just change there own program? Seriously someone give me a answer.
The reason why there doing this is because girl scouts are failing there jamboree is 500 max when the boy scout jamboree is 5000-6000 people and I'm a first class scout and that's my opinion
This was a good unpacking of personal experience and expectations in American Scouting. I'm of the opinion that traditional Girl Scouting is victim of poor marketing of its highest award and an expansion of its program to allow (if not require) for outdoors focused activities in the pursuit of the gold award. Thanks for your thoughts guys.
-father of a new Eagle Scout.
Most of the outcry is based on ignorant assumptions. People think that girls have never been in BSA programs, that BSA and GSUSA are related, that girls and boys will be in the same units, etc. I blame the BSA for how they rolled out the announcements and the media for inflammatory headlines - both are famous for these errors.
*Full disclosure: I was a Girl Scout many years ago and have been a Girl Scout leader for 10 years. My daughter is working on her Gold Award. I am a Mom of an Eagle Scout and A Star Scout working towards Eagle. I have been a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for more than 16 years.
I have mixed feelings about the BSA decision that have nothing to do with relationships between boys and girls. The BSA tends to screw up most changes so I expect nothing less this time around too.
Girl Scouts of the USA has failed to respond to the needs of today's young ladies. GSUSA is more concerned with empowment and busting glass ceilings (and crafts and songs) than in truly preparing girls to be women in today's world. (If I hear "GIRL POWER!" one more time, I'm gonna scream.) The Girl Scouts is an extremely liberal organization and while many think that the Boy Scouts of America is leaning more and more liberal every day, they are still significantly more conservative than Girl Scouts. Some families may be comfortable leaving Girl Scouts and taking their daughter to American Heritage Girls (which I was also a leader for) but for those that are not Evangelical Christians, AHG will not likely be a good fit for your family. Meanwhile, girls are leaving Girl Scouts by the MILLIONS and have few other options for Scouting programs. I apreciate that the BSA listened to their registered families - multiple surveys went out to registered Scouts, leaders, and parents over several years aksing about this very topic and the response was overwhelming positive for adding additional programs for girls. Thousands of sisters were already attending Cub Scout meetings and summer camps, doing the same things as their brothers but not earning any patches or rank for their efforts. Girls were sucessfully integrated into other BSA programs (Venturing, Exploring, Sea Scouts) DECADES ago. Female Venture Scouts have already been attending camps and Jamborees for years. Where was the uproar then? Why are people only freaking out now?
In most other countries, Scouting has been co-ed for decades. Are they perfect programs? No. Do some girls and boys "fool around"? Yes. But you know what? The ones NOT in Scouting do it too. Shhh... I wouldn't want to alarm people ;)
***FACT ALERT*** Girls are not joining the boys' dens and troops. Girls will not be sharing tents and showers with boys are camp. The BSA is simply adding Cub Scout Dens and Scout Troops for girls. The boys get to keep their "guys-only clubs" and some girls will now get to be a part of something they have envied for so long but couldn't have in Girl Scouts - a challenging program that just might prepare them to be a great citizen.
So, please, just CHILL.
PS: Please don't respond with ignorant comments like, "Why don't the Girl Scouts just change?" Ugh. that's like saying, "Why doesn't Congress get more done?" or "Why doesn't my boss listen to me and do things that make more sense?" GSUSA has an aggenda and lining up their program to look more like Boy Scouts doesn't fit the agenda. Besides, most little girls enjoy crafts and songs and don't love camping. It's the older or the more adventurous girls that are stifled by the program. Yes, each Troop can choose to do more outdoorsy stuff but it requires a LOT more time and a LOT more training for the leaders because you're be basically creating your own program and the girls wouldn't get any recognition for it either. My Girl Scouts are almost done with high school so they're not entertaining the idea of joining the girls program that the BSA is starting in 2019. My daughter is one of those girls that tagged along to Cub mtgs and Cub camps. She's a regular at Boy Scout mtgs and has been with us on Boy Scout family campouts. The Scouts know her well and treat her like a sister. The BSA skills, advancement requirements, leadership structure, merit badges, meetings, and camps are way more interesting to her. I really wish that Girl Scouts hadn't changed their program a few years back. It wasn't awesome but now it's so watered-down that you can earn most badges in a single meeting without ever leaving the building.
To give you an idea of how easy the badges are, here is a link to the "Adventurer" badge for high school-age Girl Scouts. Remember you only have to do ONE thing in each of the five areas. drive.google.com/file/d/0B6ggdlXxWNQ-dEc4aFllaEFzdXc/view
Here is a chart that shows all of the badges that a girl can earn over the lifetime of being a Girl Scout. (Ranks are based on age and not on achievements.) www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/our-program/Grade_Levels/GSUSA_Badge-Log_17_SENIOR_Chart.pdf
Not one badge is required as a part of earning the level awards - Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Now, compare this to the list of merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts - just even the Eagle required ones. Can you see why some girls are ditching GSUSA and joining the BSA???
Gosh. That was long. Sorry. I'm kinda passionate about this topic. Kudos and thanks to those of you who read it all :)
2010 Eagle Scout Troop 233
TONKAWA 99 LODGE
I'm Completely against it but I can also see the benefits of it but its still a bad idea
Can’t Girl Scouts also do stuff that Boy Scouts do if the leader allows doing all that outdoor stuff. I’ll be honest, I have nothing against girls, but I think that there are some organizations that were meant to be left alone. I’m pretty sure that Venture Scouts can be joined by boys and girls. As a Life Scout, all I want to do is attain the rank of Eagle, then get out before it becomes another everyday thing. I wasn’t very happy about the decision, but what are you going to do about it.
Ryan Okubo I totally agree I’m doing the same thing with my Eagle Scout
@@adamborn9456 and Ryan Okubo, so you're just doing the requirements to get Eagle for what? You have no plans to give back to the organization in any way? Because that's a question you'll have to answer during your board of review. Some people probably don't deserve the honor based on many posts I'm reading.
blackmangopit I’m still active in the OA after Eagling
blackmangopit although it’s gonna prove to be difficult to continue trying to be active in my troop though bc of college and it really makes me feel bad.
Clicked on this randomly and this guy says he was the lodge chief of marnoc lodge!? Small world fam!! I’m a manatoc kid as well!!!
Awesome! Current or past?
The 17 and almost 18 guy. Every troop has one.
I grew up a boy scout and hope my children get to be one I dont like getting politics involved, the girl scouts didn't have to change anything why do the boy scouts need to? If I can redo anything in my life it would be going back to the boy scouts and doing it all over again.
Well looks like the trail life USA will get a lot of new membership next year. For some reason.
cfinecoco
They are getting three from me