Setonfan

Good that there are troops getting ready to provide a quality experience.  Over 7,000 girl Webelos are now registered and it’s still very early in the recruiting season.  Looks like there will definitely be a critical mass.

Over 20,000 new girl Cub Scouts registered nationally as of Friday 9/7.  7,000+ are Webelos.  

Hawkin,

You are absolutely right.  We need as many young people involved in character building organizations as possible.  The real competition is parents who don't see the need for activities like Scouting,  coupled with sports, church, etc. that helps support them in building values in their kids.  Glad to see the BSA continues to be positive about all other quality youth organizations. 

Not to be too contrarian, but...I know today's helicopter parenting and society's concerns with youth safety have cause some changes in the program, i.e. patrols not heading off for weekends alone without leaders, no squirt guns, paintball, etc.  That said, if you look at the things that were core to the Scouting program in the 60's and 70's that really made the experience, (long backpacking trips, canoe trips, wilderness survival, etc.)  they are all still there for the most part.  It seems that the actual adventure opportunity has increased.  The activities that are done today, whitewater, climbing, zip lines, mountain biking, and everything at 4 high adventure bases certainly provide as much as and more than my troop did.  In total, it would appear to me that the level of challenge- depending on troop leadership has the potential to be more exciting than my experience as a youth, which actually was pretty great (even though I didn't know I was participating in the disaster of the "new program" of the early 70's).  My troop never went to Philmont or Jamborees, but we did a lot of adventurous things that can still be done today.  My troop didn't allow patrols to do their own weekends- not sure even if in the 70's that would have been Ok with our parents.

And honestly, as a youth I didn't miss playing with squirt guns and paintball didn't exist.  Reading the latest issue of Boy's Life, the program still looks pretty exciting to me, doesn't look like we are really "putting kids in bubble wrap". 

Just a comment on the original post- I actually thought the content was pretty good, maybe I'm missing something.  Went through all the articles, and while my perspective may not be reflective of everyone else, found the following stories by category:

Family articles- 9

Outdoor oriented- 12

General interest- 8

Inspiration (Eagles, OA service, etc.)- 9

Safety- 4

And of course, some ads.  While a couple of the family based articles were a few pages, overall it seemed pretty balanced, especially for a new program type launching.  Guess we will see what the next issue looks like!

I would love to use it for my church, I haven’t seen any other youth organization who’s done anything of this quality.  I’m glad they are making it available for other groups, just my opinion, but the BSA has been way out front in providing quality YPT material for a long time. Don’t see a lot of others doing it.  Every church youth group we’ve seen has generally been way out of step with what the BSA teaches, and puts youth at much greater risk.  And, interestingly, almost all churches do co-ed camping with few of the YPG the BSA has in place.  Just my .02

Just saw the recruitment numbers for the Orlando Council.  They are getting a huge number of new Cub Scouts, and they are getting more new boys as well as new girls compared to last year, school to school.  Have heard that the number of new adult volunteers is up as well, interesting side note, a number of the new adults are Eagle Scout dads who have just had girls in their family and are now signing up.  

I am glad that the handbooks will be separate, it emphasizes that all boy troops are still just fine and there is not a push to go “co-ed”, and it also gives girl troops their own handbook without a forced co-ed look.  As long as the requirements do not change and it’s clear that it is just pictures and language, makes sense to me.  One would think, that at some point, as the program gains experience with young women, that there might be some specific “girl topics” presented, just like our Boy Scout handbooks have done in many of the editions.  That said, if this is going to work as described, the requirements need to be the same.  

Guess no one else is here from the forum, but this has been awesome.  Interesting  all here seem to be all in favor of girls joining Scouting.  

Whether Professional or Volunteer, isn’t donating for the future of Scouting a good thing?

I heard him and the CSE at the Council of Chiefs.  Seems like a real guy, just served as Council President, has a good vision.  

I am now all in.  Looking forward to it.  

Have been enjoying NOAC this week.  Some rain, but weather cleared up and has been nice.  All very well organized from what I’ve seen, smaller than last one, but the “normal” size didn’t seem to diminish the quality of the events, shows, etc.  All seem to be having a great time, as am I.  Wide range of Scouters here, from Council Presidents to Scoutmasters, to those super involved OA advisors.  Youth leaders very impressive, their speeches have been awesome and inspiring.

Did anyone else get the email on the BSA changes on family Scouting?  I thought the video was pretty good, am sending to my friends who have been negative on girls coming into Scouting.

Is anyone aware of a time the BSA shifted liability to an individual leader? 

I seem to get involved in just about everything.

Long time Scouter here, often have read the forum but never registered.

Gaga ball is cropping up all over.  It was very popular at the last Jamboree, and it’s super busy at our local summer camp.

Will be there, looking forward to the adventure, first World Jamboree!