WisconsinMomma

I haven't spoken with boys on this matter yet because --- we currently do not have any plans to add girl dens. I am curious to see what our CO advises. If they endorse girl dens, then I think we should explore how to organize things. But boys will have boy dens, and that is their space. I think we can minimize the impact to them while welcoming girls. Pack meetings? I'm not sure. It will be interesting to see what people think and feel about it. ETA: I am also not sure if any girls or girl volunteers are going to show up, so I don't think I need to get the boys' all worked up over something that may not affect them.

It's going to be up to the adult troop leadership to help show boys with doubts that scouting is still great and there are great opportunities for them in Scouting.

I've heard a lot of the phrase, "not my President" and this has a similar feeling with some of the reactions -- "not my BSA"??? As if either group has much of a choice in the result. I disagree on the interpretation of the message -- adding girl dens and troops does not equal telling the boys to get lost. Though there may be some rogue troops doing coed, that's not what has been shared from national. No.

I think the hard thing is proving that a change is a bad change. Who decides what is good change and what is bad change and the measurement criteria? There are a lot of opinions out there. Since this change is just beginning, it's impossible to know yet if it will be "good" or "bad".

Would you tell the 2% of girls to get lost? How do you think that would work out for you and for the BSA?

It's possible but unlikely. The girls might not show up. That's going to be the most interesting thing to watch.

Those were all canceled in 1952.

OK, talk to your Scoutmaster then, and ask him for a connection to an Eagle Coach. This is part of the process. For the fundraising, as I understand it (and I am only on the fringes of hearing about Eagle projects, not much experience) I believe you are supposed to keep a log of all donors, so -- to the best of your ability, you should make a record of all your cash contributions that have been made. Lastly, I don't think you can skip any of the paperwork -- take a look at your whole Eagle packet, read the instructions very carefully, twice -- and make sure you are covering all of the specific details. I'm sure there are other Scouters here who can help you more. Best wishes! Do your best!

I am certain that it's not only women who are helicopter parents, there are male helicopters too, and you all probably know at least a few. I certainly know a few.

While I agree that inexperienced Scout leaders are a potentially large problem, there is not a lot of difference between an inexperienced male and female Scouter. In fact, we could argue whether an inexperienced male or female Scouter would pay closer attention to the training.

Correct. I understand. And I suspect that when national talks about Family Camping, they are referring to CUB Scouts, because that's where the program is currently launching.

In Cub Scouts, family camping is great. It's a lot of fun for the younger kids. Our council offers scout only camps and family weekend camps, and it's nice to have that variety.

@Pselb don't jump the gun, there may still be all-boy camp opportunities. We need to wait and see how this shakes out, and there are many, many camps -- they might take different approaches. I think there will be all-boy options available, and they'll likely be very popular.

I think we're in a place where we need to figure out the best ways to work with the program. The change is made, now we get to work on making the best of the situation.

Turning girls away is a concern, and I think that districts should prepare to support troops and packs who will be faced with having interested girls, but no actual girls program yet. I think it would be great if districts would develop some girls program resources, a girls program chairperson or other go-to-person who can help interested girls connect with other interested girls and join up with Scouting if their most local troops and packs are not up to speed with the girls program yet. My pack is sponsored by an elementary school PTO. There is another elementary school nearby. I could see an opportunity for some collaboration if each school has a handful of girls who want to try Scouting. This will take teamwork and communication, but it could help small numbers of girls join up and get started together. Same deal with Troops -- we easily have 4 troops in close geography -- If all 4 troops could refer interested girls to a newly formed unit, it will take the stress off the individual troops. Of course new units will need CO's too.

It's Arrow of Light, Building a Better World, 6C. We did 6A when I was an AOL den leader. There is an annual Jamboree on the air in October, but the date didn't work for our group. I'd talk to member @Cambridgeskip or maybe some other international Scouters here for connections. Good luck! https://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Webelos_Scout_Adventures#Arrow_of_Light_Required_Adventures

Go talk to your Eagle coach and council folks and ask for their help to fix the issue. This is a good lesson, mistakes are made all the time in life, you just address the problem and go get it fixed. Great project -- best wishes!

They're leaving it to the locals to work out the specifics, and, I expect there will be some trial and error.

Only if we assume that an organized scout camp is superior to the boys planning their own fun. I am not sure that it is. And I think the BSA will be sensitive to helping boy only troops have access to resources. But that's just a guess. I don't know how it's all going to play out. One of the troops near me is opting out of summer camp this year to work on hiking and they chose a beautiful state park to visit instead. I bet they'll have a wonderful time.

I think there are multiple work arounds. Maybe a boy troop doesn't want to go to a camp with girls so they choose to do a summer camp at a state park or do another kind of adventurous trip. Maybe they want to work on merit badges as individuals or small groups instead of at a clinic or college. There's a lot of flexibility in scouting. ETA: Or maybe the girls want to get away from the boys and will reserve a public campground or do merit badges with a friend, too!

Yep, boys and girls might go to those same things. I am not sure how terrible that is. Is it terrible?

You're free to your thoughts, but realize you're not in charge of the organization. Also, if the program is youth focused, then the adults should try to avoid BSA (or any other) politics and focus on the program when working with the scouts. That's my point -- adult opinions are not important -- youth decisions on where to camp, and how to run their patrols are important. Make sense?

The Patrol method is a part of the current training. Or at least, patrols and patrol meetings and the roles.

The War on Boys stuff is concerning. I have three sons and am concerned about some of those issues. On the other hand, I think that girls will love the BSA program, and that girl troops do not necessarily take away from boy troops, and in the end, everyone will eventually live and work in society together. I don't see the BSA as getting run over by feminism by this move to allow girls to have dens and patrols or packs and troops. It is a time of major change, and I don't know how it will play out. I'm curious to see how it goes.