Jameson76

It is possible - The timeline (from attaining First Class) is 16 months. That being said to get to First Class requires: Since joining Boy Scouts, participate in 10 separate troop/patrol activities, at least six of which must be held outdoors. Of the outdoor activities, at least three must include overnight camping. These activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help erect, such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee. If the troop is active, a scout should be able to get the outdoor requirements There is camping merit badge - a. Camp a total of at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events.* One long-term camping experience of up to six consecutive nights may be applied toward this requirement. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent. *All campouts since becoming a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout may count toward this requirement. Again, IF the troop is active and IF the Scout comes to things, that can be done in a shortened window. The challenge will be that older girls will look to join and earn the Eagle Scout. With a new troop or a new linked troop, getting all of this met could be an issue. Also will the unit have MBC available for all the required merit badges and earning 21 in that time can be a challenge We have a scout that joined when he was 15 almost 16. Had a conversation with him about what he wanted to accomplish in BSA beyond just the fun, experience, outings, and leadership (and if he had said that was all would have been fine). He indicated he may hope to get Life Scout but felt not enough time for Eagle. We sat down and looked at the timeline and key dates. Talked about merit badges and what he needed for that. Basically last summer (his first with us) he did High Adventure, and both summer camps. This summer he is doing High Adventure and our second summer camp. Also he has attended some of the merit badge weekends and clinics for some additiona. If he stays on track he could accomplish the plan within a two year window. That being said we are working with an older Scout and that helps.

Correct we are the Boy Scouts of America, but as a point of historical fact the BSA grew out of association with the English Scouts. If you are not cognizant and aware of the basic roots of the organization, then the shift of emphasis can be missed. The point is that BSA and earlier the English scouts were founded and fostered to meet a need to work with and help develop boys into men who can be a positive asset to their community. The leaders, movers and shakers, and people of influence saw that need. They also saw a need for a similar organization for girls. Now, yes society has changed. The point is there is still that needed for an organization to work with and help develop boys into men who can be a positive asset to their community. The current BSA has expanded their reach into many many things, not sure all of them are that focus. The Girl Scouts (and they do have issues) at least continue to focus on their core mission. Though you many want to, you are not able to rewrite or ignore history. It it not 1984

Presuming you have reviewed this document https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/outdoor program/aquatics/pdf/430-501.pdf Admittedly does not help on the where to find the training. If you are inexperienced you may want to look for a commercial river outfit, do a 3 - 4 hour float / paddle. See how that works, then expand

Funny because it has a ring of truth....

Pretty sure poorly rolled out is an understatement With each "Big Announcement" (no doubt prepared by the the well paid PR team) there come out multiple clarifying statements.

Not disputing that the activities can be done by anyone of any gender. That being said, the first sections of the older SM guides are clearly about boys, male youths. The intent is to focus on the boys, and the program is interpreted and (at the time) designed for boys. The discussion is about boys. From the British - About the Boy Scouts Association - Royal Charter 1912 The aim of the Association is to develop good citizenship among boys by forming their character -- -training them in habits of observation, obedience, and self-reliance --- inculcating loyalty and thoughtfulness for others --- teaching them services useful to the public, and handicrafts useful to themselves --- promoting their physical, mental, and spiritual development. From 1913 Scoutmaster Handbook - The ultimate Aim of Scouting Aim to secure balanced, symmetrical activities for your patrols. Remember your Scout is four sided, that he is physical, mental, social and religious in his nature. Do not neglect any one side of him, but get the proper agencies to cooperate with you for these ends. Let the boys do what ever they can. Merely insist on adequate adult supervision. Above all be patient, practical and business like and remember that old heads never grow on young shoulders. The Scout Master should take his place in the community by the side of the teacher of secular and religious instruction. He is an educator and is dealing with the most plastic and most valuable asset in the community — boyhood. Let him take his task seriously, look upon his privilege with a desire to accomplish great things, and always remember that the good of the boys is his ultimate aim.

That is correct, but to be clear the mission statement has not always been part of scouting canon, it is a product of the 60's or likely 70's. There has not always been the feel good mission statement Looking at the old school Scoutmaster Handbook (mine is 1938 printing) the emphasis is clearly on Boys. What do Boys need. How can the Scoutmaster make an impact in a Boys life. What do Boys do and how do they interact and function in their gangs No youth, only boys

That is accurate, but there are many CO's that likely have little of no involvement with the Scouts. They may provide a space (as does ours) but beyond that no real material support. If anything we try to keep reminding the church what we do. Eagle projects, include them in our Social Media, name on T-shirts, etc. If the coed issue driven by the media gets legs, some will say "What...we have Boy Scout troop??"

And therein lies the problem. Few volunteers really have a depth of experience actually starting new units. I have done it and it is a long play. In a district of maybe 30 Cub packs and 30 Boy Scout troops you may actually start from scratch maybe 1 or 2 units per year. There will be rebuilding and reforming some existing units, but few from scratch. Now the onus will be to possibly startup 6 - 8 new units. Some districts will have resources and gumption to do that, most probably will not. Then there will be the hue can cry from girls wanting to join, but the troops will not allow access, BSA is not allowing access, the deck is stacked against them... Cue the media outcry, then there will be a coed option, then the units that do not want to be coed will come under pressure and I bet in less than 3 years, all will be coed Actually the hue and cry will begin in October of 2018, (less than 5 months away) as potential Web II young ladies visit troops (Webelos Scouting Adventure requirements 2 and 4) and they hear of what neat things troop XXX is doing, but alas that is not an option for them.

A Boy Scout of America sheath knife?

We work with the GS Troop(s) at our church on Scout Sunday. For next year I guess we can all be there, it seems we will not be able to talk to each other.....

I guess we are on the other end of the desire for coed spectrum. No plans for anyone currently in our unit to start a linked troop. If persons (we have to designated them as an Unsubs (unknown subjects)) want to start a Girl Troop, we wish them well. Family camping would be a no go for me personally.

History often (somewhat) repeats itself https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting/USA Scouting/USA was a "communicative name" chosen by the Boy Scouts of America in 1971 in an effort to rebrand itself. The Scouting/USA symbol was unveiled at its biennial National Council meeting. The organization retained the name Boy Scouts of America as its legal name, but planned to use the new name on literature, billboards, insignia, business cards and stationery and for most other promotional material. They abandoned this effort by 1980.

Just as you have stated and advised to let's see and hope for the best, many of us are troubled about what may come. Most of us (right or wrong) are concerned about the unforeseen consequences of the Girls into Cub Scout and Boy Scouts decision. Over time I suspect there will be more impacting than many hope. Many may find this shocking, but boys are not girls. The unknown is that the program will change in some undetermined manner. BSA National has clearly demonstrated a propensity to move with the social winds. BSA National and the Exec Board have not been good stewards of the program at a national level. Yes the nuts and bolts at the unit level still work, but many overreaching decisions are not well planned long term. Specifically the continuing cash sink at Summit, the continued growth of the non-unit facing professionals, the funds and public capital spent to defend membership policies only to immediately change those, the membership grab with the addition of Lions (oh my yes let's do 6 years of Cubs), the emphasis and cost of non traditional In School scouting (yes good efforts but does it take the view off of core BSA programs), the raising of the membership fee 38% to cover insurance shortfalls, the unfunded pension liabilities that were allowed, the current emphasis moving away from serving youth to serving "families", etc etc What changes may come (and they surely will) will possibly evolve to a program that is less attractive to boys and not attractive enough to girls. The road to the "coveted" (not my words) Eagle Scout award is long and has many potholes. It takes a well formed village to assist a Boy Scout to attain that rank. Looking down the the road in about 5 years, when not enough girls are becoming Eagles, will we hear about the “disparate impact” unfair requirements are having? No one will be pleased. Membership may continue to decline. I hope I’m wrong.

Actually got some feedback from some of our Boy Scouts yesterday. They were not enthusiastic about the name change. They also felt the "new motto" (their words not mine) was meh, very cubby oriented What I found interesting is that 1) they were aware of it 2) they took the time to give some feedback This is from the core group of actual participants

My wife just wonders how long I will continue with the troop......

No dissent it allowed (guess you missed that memo). Either embrace the changes or run the risk of being un-Scoutesque (like the variety of Scouts formerly known as Boys) and chastised for not living up to the Oath and Law. You may be chided for being inane and foolish also, so at least that can be a goal.

Man...if I had a $1 for every Cease and Desist order I had been served....

Correct it is not a new concept. I was advisor for a coed Explorer post in the early 80's. We were chartered as High Adventure. It was what would now be Ventures I suppose. This was before YPT etc, but we did need a female over 21 for outings if the girls wanted to attend. That was an ongoing challenge. This was before I got married (actually getting married was not a help to my camping efforts) and I burned through some girlfriends when I asked them to go camping with us.

Not disagreeing with that sentiment. The pushback I would give is that the changes are literally all top down, and we (in the trenches volunteers) are just expected to embrace these and keep on keeping on. At this point my involvement is for the Boy Scout troop, nothing more. I guess we all have our own lines in the sand with regards to the Boy Scouts and what is the straw that breaks the camels back. Not sure when I personally get there.

They were not able to figure out how to monetize the Gold Award...GSUSA - We're the capitalists in your town ®

I'd Venture to say that's right

The day isn't over....