shortridge

What did you present to them?

If it was good enough for Paul, it’s good enough for me. Not quite sure what your point is, David. Can you elaborate?

Is this sarcasm? It’s a very handy trick in cold weather. Your clothes are already in your bag overnight to warm up. Requires mastery of The Shimmy.

I’ve been asked to serve as district program vice-chair, coordinating the training, advancement, camping promotions, and civic service functions through the committee chairs. I’m enthusiastic but know there is a lot I don’t know. My question is this: What would you like your district to do to support your units in those areas? (And, conversely, what do you NOT want the district to do? )

Bravo. Well said.

I saw nothing negative in Hedgehog’s description, but rather an embracing of the quirks and foibles of each person’s individuality. It’s entirely possible to be a strong goofball, a smart goober, a well-adjusted and socially-adept geek, and a devoutly religious misfit all at the same time. Highlighting only those qualities of perfection sets up a pretty impossible standard to follow, doesn’t it? Everyone has something that makes them unique or strange to others.Your devoutly religious young man may be struggling inside with his attraction toward other men. Your strong and smart Scout may only eat PB and pickle sandwiches. Extreme illustrations, sure, but I hope you see the point. A pedestal is no place for a young man or woman to live. In the words of one of my daughter’s friends recently, “We’re all weird!” - while simultaneously also being kind, caring, thoughtful, wise, and creative young people. To me, that was and is what was great about Scouting: It provides a safe space for our youth to learn, experiment, explore, take risks and be themselves in a natural outdoors environment outside of the constraints of school and society. My troop had your traditional popular church-going perfect kids, sure. It also had a guy with some attention issues who really liked playing with fire; two brothers from a tough home life who acted out and needed some stability and security of a group to belong to; and one or two boys who wouldn’t meet your CO’s standards because I’m pretty sure they were gay. We were all Scouts, we were all weird, and the program helped us and supported all in different ways.

Your unit is not required to accept that Scout as a member of your unit even at those events. You will be required to treat them as a fellow Scout. Is that really difficult to behave in a Scoutlike manner towards people who are different?

One really important point that I think we can all agree on. The prospective Cub who stands in front of us or calls us asking to join our pack is not “something.” He is a Scout. The girl who will be running the knot race at the district Camporee after next Feb. 1 is not “not normal.” She is a Scout. They just want to hang with their friends and go on adventures like everyone else. Regardless of how they got here, they deserve to be treated with respect and support during their journey in Scouting. That does not mean you agree with any science or disagree with your faith’s precepts or whatever the case may be. It means you’re a good human.

I missed this the first time around. @CalicoPenn, how is it a moot point next year? The issue of trans Scouts will still come in to play as their families approach single-gender Cub packs and Scout troops and are turned away or treated as “not normal” based not upon a CO’s preferences and policies, but on the prejudices and personal beliefs of an individual direct contact leader. Or am I missing something here? We’re going to need a lot more pins on the BeAScout site to determine who a unit will accept.

As has been explained elsewhere, the parent signs the membership application and this has to “sign off” on their child’s gender identity. How does abuse come in to play? I’m really not seeing your point.

I’m not telling anyone they should do anything except act like a Scout. But if you believe the program and the membership standards are the equivalent of child abuse, then perhaps it’s not the right fit for you.

I’m curious: How do your youth react or respond to that rule? Logistically speaking, when you have patrol meetings, do you have enough adults to break off with every patrol? And what is the CO, if you’re able to say?

I really can’t wait until 2024 when the members of this forum look back and say “Geez, what were these people all upset about? Well, I’ve got to put my uniform on to go to Samantha’s Eagle Court. She’s been a great patrol leader, I’m so proud she was selected for the Vigil Honor, and I know she’ll do wonderful in her fourth year on camp staff next week.”

Barry, you’re confusing behavior and identity. Behavior is how you manifest choices. Identity is who you are at the core. If any volunteer feels that calling a girl by the name she and her parents prefer is “child abuse,” then they don’t have to be a volunteer any more.

You don’t have to support it. Your unit is not being forced to accept anyone it doesn’t approve of. You just have to treat people and children like they are human beings and fellow Scouts. David, though we clearly disagree on key issues, you seem like a good person with the best interests of our youth at heart. Would you really walk up to a Scout and say to their face “You are not normal”? I doubt it. Also, your blanket statement that Scouters have had this forced upon them is false. I, for one, support the new membership policies wholeheartedly, and am very glad National finally moved to the right place.

It seems like each of these could, does, and has occurred with boy Scouts as well. Subtract the irrational lawsuit fears from the last item and that applies, as well. Why do you think girl Scouts would be more of a problem in this regard?

I can’t pick just one. A few that bubble up to the top of my memory, though: >> After I had been elected into the OA but before my Ordeal, I was pestering my SM about what the Ordeal involved, after having just read the Bronc Burnett novel (Eagle Scout). I clearly had all the key elements down. He sat me down out of earshot and basically told me I needed to go into it with an open mind. Five years later, he was my Vigil sponsor. >> My first campout, to which I arrived on Saturday after having been cleared of chicken pox the afternoon prior. It was rainy and windy and miserable and we were boiling hot dogs in the pot one at a time because we thought that’s how you did it ... but man, that spaghetti at dinner was the best meal I have ever had. >> My first year on camp staff as a CIT. Getting to see behind the scenes of my camp, teaching my first merit badge lesson, and hanging out with the staffers I had revered as a camper made me want to do that for the rest of my life. Even hauling outriggers and folding canvas was a blast while wearing the staff shirt. No job will ever compare.

It never occurred to me that food-buying might be done any other way than what you describe, with the exception of the whole patrol vs. the grubmaster going shopping. We all chipped in at the Monday meeting and the designated Scout carried a wad of cash around the store on Thursday or Friday while his parents waited in the car. My first time buying for my patrol was nerve-wracking. Was that the right kind of hot chocolate? What type of milk? Did I get enough eggs? What brand of bread? (The guys who preferred white over wheat were greviously disappointed by my pick.) So much pressure!

... and girls aren’t going to join if there are no troops in their area. Chicken, meet egg. 🐓 🥚

The title says it all. If you had the time, would you help get a stand-alone, non-linked Scouts BSA troop for girls off the ground? For those who answer yes, how would you do it?

@oldbuzzard, is this camp owned and operated by your troop, or by your local council?

That’s great that GSUSA has those high-adventure opportunities! Can I ask what you mean by “a much stronger national portfolio”? The key difference between GSUSA and BSA to me is that outdoor adventure is not a central and universal part of the GSUSA program nationwide. Whether a Girl Scout goes camping, and the quality of her experience doing so, is entirely in the hands of the adult leaders. My daughter was in it for three years and never even went day hiking. By contrast, you can’t advance in the future Scouts BSA without going camping.

That will be correct. BSA does not yet have a program covering those topics “specifically for girls,” and won’t until Feb. 1, 2019. Once that date rolls around, BSA will be the “largest national organization” to do so.

I have to admit I’ve never heard of a day camp program for Scouts older than Cubs. Do you mind sharing the name of the council and the camp for information’s sake?

It’ll be the best job you ever have. Congratulations! Get plenty of rest, hydrate, and have fun.