Re: Girls in Scouting
Betsy O'Day (oday@SOCKETS.NET)
Wed, 7 Jan 1998 12:28:01 -0600
I'd like to comment on few comments Mary made in her post. I have been
involved in both programs since my children started and have had experience
in two councils in both programs. I have 6 children - 3 girls and 3 boys.
My oldest 2 girls are Senior Girl Scouts, my oldest boy is a Boy Scout, the
other 2 boys are Webelos and the youngest girl is only 2. I guess she's as
involved as the rest. She went to Girl Scout Day Camp when she was 3 weeks
old since I was camp director that year.
Mary wrote:
> The girl program is very good for young kids (under 12), maybe even
> better then Cub Scouting.
I agree. The one thing Girl Scouting does better at the Cub Scout age
level is
leadership progression and that's only if the leader makes sure that
happens. By this I mean, GS troops are involved in troop government and
their own program choices from the youngest to the oldest. If a troop
leader has been trained well and is following her training, the girls are
taking on more and more responsibility for their own government, meetings
and program as they progress in age. That means by the time they are 7-12
grades they should be running their own troop with advising from their
leader. In Cub Scouts, I don't see that happening and when the boys get to
Boy Scouts it's a bit of a rude awakening to them and their parents. They
don't just automatically assume responsibility in things like getting
verbal information home etc. and it is a big adjustment for them. Believe
me, I'm trying very hard with my Webelos to prepare them for
self-government.
>But the older girl program in GS needs a lot of work.
I really think this is a matter of perspective, what council you are in,
what district or region, what Service Unit etc. The older girl grogram
anywhere is what you make of it. I don't wait for council to provide
program for my girls. They provide their own. If they want to rappel,
they find a way to do it. If they want to backpack, they also find a way
to do it. If they want to shop, by golly, they may do that too. I like
the new IPP book and think it provides options for the girls to do whatever
they want. The GIrl Scout program especially at the Cadette and Senior
level is not necessarily badge driven.
>. However, really none of that has been as damaging as their
> program guidelines that they call 'Safety Wise'. This is a document that
> list all the rules you have to follow for specific activities just as
> BSA does with 'safe swim' etc..
I disagree. Frankly, I am much more impressed with 'Safety-Wise' than with
the 'Guide to Safe Scouting'. The guidelines are clearer, more complete and
I believe provide more toward the safety of girls. Obviously that is a
personal opinion, but I do believe you can never be too safe especially
when you are dealing with other people's children.
>. In our council the biggest event they put on every year for the older
girls is a lock-in called >'Midnight at the Mall' (believe me my child
doesn't need a lot of training in how to spend >money).
I agree that I wouldn't want my daughter involved in that event. Unless
I'm mistaken, you are in Mid-Continent council (old Sante Fe Trails) and
that is not a council wide event. It is probably a district or two
district event like Mabee Madness was or Junior Jazz. That event was first
discussed the last year I lived there because of the popularity of Mabee
Madness, Junior Jazz and Wentworth Whirl. I have directed Wentworth Whirl
and all those events contribute greatly to Older Girl retention in the
districts they are in. I voiced my dissenting opinion then. They wanted
something a little different than the rest. Please explore the other
opportunities for Older Girls in your council. There are some wonderful
ones out there.
Mid-Continent has a model leadership program for Cadettes and Seniors. It
is the best I have seen and we still come back to KC for it. The Getways
for Older Girls (a council publication) provides them with an opportunities
to find activities that interest them. In addition, they meet girls from
all over council doing these activities and sometimes girls from other
councils. I miss Mid-Continent's Older Girl programming and anyone there
is so very fortunate to have it. They have the resources to have an
Older Girl Program staff member.
They also have four camp properties, a rapell tower, a horse program and
several ziplines. There are opportunities for outdoor experiences in that
council that are certainly beyond many of the smaller councils. My girls
would give anything to have access to their camps. Unfortunately, out-of-
council troops have a difficult time getting in because they are always so
full!
> Troops are still ran by adults.
Not my troop or anybody else's that I train! And not when I was in
Mid-Continent either. One of GSUSA's training objectives is the
understanding and implementation of the girl/adult progression model. It
is one of my soapbox items when I train.
Finally, I would not want my girls in a BSA troop at any time or with Cub
Scouts. I think it is important that each have the opportunity to learn,
acquire leadership, gain confidence etc in a same-sex setting. I think
both programs have their benefits and drawbacks, but the bottom line is the
result. I am involved because of the girls and the boys. I had a girl
from a low income family come into my troop in 7th grade and her only
ambition was to quit school and become a truck driver or get pregnant.
This girl is now a Junior. She is still in school. She holds leadership
positions in FFA and other groups and she is about to complete her Gold
Award. Her future is much more secure than it was when she was in 7th
grade. I can't help but think that Girl Scouting had a big hand in that.
We are giving boys and girls opportunities they may not get otherwise by
providing these programs - both programs..
Jumping down off my soapbox now.
Betsy O'Day mail to:oday@sockets.net
Girl Scout master trainer, SUM, Senior troop advisor
Webelos leader, District Day Camp Director
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
