I searched out a STEM thread to get some background on the program as our our pack is going to support it. Wow, I'm shocked at the negativity towards the program. Where do I start with what seem to be some ridiculous biases against the program?
I see the STEM program as a supplement to the base program. I don't think anyone is arguing for it to become the program. At least in our pack it will be an extra something for the boys to achieve. I liken it to the belt loop/pin program on steroids. I suppose those speaking against STEM felt the Academic portion of the Academics & Sports program had no value because it wasn't outdoorsy? Frankly the unspoken fear here is that some feel this will attract nerds and not campers. To the guy who expressed concern about this being an opening to allowing girls, in what decade are you still living?
And let's be very clear about something, the stemscouts.org site that keeps getting referenced above is not affiliated with BSA in any way. The BSA program can be found at http://www.scouting.org/stem.aspx. The BSA STEM program has all the normal protections and guidelines in place.
I'll also direct everyone to the BSA Mission and Vision Statements. They talk about values, not activities. Scouting is not all about hiking and camping.
For years proponents of scouting have pointed to certain famous ex-scouts as examples of what scouting has produced, possibly no person more so than Neil Armstrong. I don't know about you, but it may not get any more STEMy than him or any of the dozens or more scouts who became astronauts. Or what about the at least 5 Eagle Scouts who won Nobel Prizes in Science?