John-in-KC

In cities big enough, we will see boy packs and girl packs. In smaller towns, we will see coed by den for roster purposes... and Den 1/2 will meet together. Frankly, I think we will see this in Boy Scouting too. Troop 600 will be the Boys Troop in Nowhere, NE, Troop 601 the girls. The leaders will be the same, the kids will wear their numbers, the meeting location/night will be the same, but the meetings will be the Wolf Patrol and the Mustang Patrol being the girls, and the Mountain Lion Patrol and the Tiger Patrol being boys.

Moved by a Moderator, this is business as usual, not an I&P issue.

Friendly reminder: Scouters are Friendly Courteous Kind.

Respectfully disagree. If they are going to award Eagle to girls (and they say they are), we're going to see "separate but equal" troops of girls. I wonder how long that will last...

2-3 years from now, Ordeals. Stand by for requirement for regalia to cover the chest at all times, imo.

I'm already watching the FB group of volunteers in my Council go bananas. So is @@WAKWIB ...

Here it is, folks. It's a decision. From the Scouting Newsroom VERBATIM QUOTE Research reinforces interest expressed by families and girls nationwide as organization looks to offer programs that meet the needs of today’s families Irving, Texas – October 11, 2017 – Today, the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors unanimously approved to welcome girls into its iconic Cub Scout program and to deliver a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout. The historic decision comes after years of receiving requests from families and girls, the organization evaluated the results of numerous research efforts, gaining input from current members and leaders, as well as parents and girls who’ve never been involved in Scouting – to understand how to offer families an important additional choice in meeting the character development needs of all their children. “This decision is true to the BSA’s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example – are important for both young men and women,†said Michael Surbaugh, the BSA’s Chief Scout Executive. “We believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children. We strive to bring what our organization does best – developing character and leadership for young people – to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders.†Families today are busier and more diverse than ever. Most are dual-earners and there are more single-parent households than ever before [1], making convenient programs that serve the whole family more appealing. Additionally, many groups currently underserved by Scouting, including the Hispanic and Asian communities, prefer to participate in activities as a family. Recent surveys [2] of parents not involved with Scouting showed high interest in getting their daughters signed up for programs like Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, with 90 percent expressing interest in a program like Cub Scouts and 87 percent expressing interest in a program like Boy Scouts. Education experts also evaluated the curriculum and content and confirmed relevancy of the program for young women. “The BSA’s record of producing leaders with high character and integrity is amazing†said Randall Stephenson, BSA’s national board chairman. “I’ve seen nothing that develops leadership skills and discipline like this organization. It is time to make these outstanding leadership development programs available to girls.†Starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts. Existing packs may choose to establish a new girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack. Cub Scout dens will be single-gender — all boys or all girls. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the organization will also deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single gender model while also meeting the needs of today’s families. This decision expands the programs that the Boy Scouts of America offers for both boys and girls. Although known for its iconic programs for boys, the BSA has offered co-ed programs since 1971 through Exploring and the Venturing program, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2018. The STEM Scout pilot program is also available for both boys and girls. For more information about the expanded opportunities for family Scouting, please visit the family Scouting page. About the Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®†The Scouting organization is composed of nearly 2.3 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and approximately 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org. [1] PEW Research Center survey conducted Sept. 15 – Oct. 13, 2015 among 1,807 U.S. parents with children younger than 18. [2] BSA surveys included two external Harris surveys and four internal surveys conducted from April to September 2017. Surveys were conducted online. Keep it civil.

Closing the thread. National has made the decision. It's a done deal.

Always good to hear from you, E!

Here's the link to Brian on Scouting's blog article From the article: Full details in the article.

Having been the Merit Badge Counselor Trainer for my District, I am here to say: As stated above, a parent may counsel their own child. A parent counseling their own child is absolutely, positively not a best practice! It defeats the Adult Association Method! A child knows exactly where the buttons of his parents are. In addition, what happens when he's 16? He goes to Mikkie Dees, Ozark Auto Lube, or Fillerup and Go quick shop and asks: "Mr (Ms) Smith, may I work for you?" How does being counseled by his own parents prepare the Scout for exposure to adult strangers??? Inquiring Scoutering minds...

I asked Mr Anthony Escobar, the SE of the Caddo Area Council, TX-AR. Varsity will terminate as a BSA program on 31 December 2017. He has email from the National Office stating this.

At one of our two Scout Reservations, there is a Venturing Crew chartered to an area high school. The Advisor is our Bear Resident overnight 1+1 camp director, she has 'de facto' the Camp Staff Venturing Crew. it's been running that way since 2007. And yes, we pay our staff.

Ping @@RichardB ourlon of the National Safety Team.

I think Dr Hannan is right though, this is the beginning of an attempt by BSA to take over GSUSA, using a bottom-up (get the members) approach.

WaPo is doing nothing more than re-writing buzzfeed. Their article adds nothing of real value.

Our Council has a contract in place with vendors for the various program area supplies. Supplies for arts and crafts are available at the trading post. Ammunition is bought (ticket) at the trading post, and provided at the range ammo point. I've noticed good troops have a routine supply of arts and crafts stuff they bring to camp, because frankly, the kits at the trading post are triple keystoned...

When I speak of delivering the program at FOS gigs, I mean "this money turns on the lights, pays the bills, and pays the staff their salaries at the Council office...

They're reacting because this may mean competition. Remember, fees+fundraising=salaries for professional staff.

I do not know the facts. I do not want to know the facts. Airing linen on a public forum rarely solves much. I think a business meeting with your Council's SE is in order. If your business is a player at the Council level, your boss might want to provide some influence in your behalf. The goal of the meeting should be to have the SE and a staffer at National review the matter informally. They can then tell you if an appeal will work. I do not know if that will fly, I'm looking for a trailhead here. @@Beavah, if you are out there monitoring, do you have any thoughts? You've played at this level...

Remember, there is a portion of the Boy Scout Handbook covering youth protection for youth. It's a joining requirement for all levels. For Venturing, there is actual YP training for youth. I would hope @@RichardB ourlon is working on separate YP training for youth that youth leaders can present.

Lots of thoughts. First, Messrs SM, CC, COR, and IH need a not-so-friendly cup of coffee with the District and Council Advancement Chairmen. Their question should be: You are required to ensure the Scout performs to the identical standard at camp that he would at home. How did you screw up on this, and when will this MB be stricken from ScoutNet for these boys? Next, Messrs COR and IH need to have a business meeting with the Council President and the Chairman of the Long Term Camping Committee (or whatever entity oversees the council camp on this particular council board). They need to ask a simple question: How are you delivering the Scouting program in compliance with the terms of the charter (licensing agreement)? Finally, the boys need a Scoutmaster Conference. They need to be told, gently, the truth (their experience was substandard and they have not properly earned the badge). They need to be given credit for what they did do, and they need to be pointed to Counselors so they can complete this Eagle Required MB. One more thing: Before Mr Scoutmaster lets kids take cooking at camp next year, he drives out to camp and inspects the program in action, to ensure it meets the requirements...or that it only gives a partial.

(sarcasm) Have you noticed how @@RichardB and the National Safety Team have weighed in? (/sarcasm)

Contact your: Unit Commissioner District Executive. Institutional Head Make arrangements to transfer property and funds to the chartered partner. Ensure all youth transfer out with up to date records.

I will just leave this here... Bryan on Scouting presents Troop 501 of the Pony Express Council, Missouri...