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17 hours ago, qwazse said:

The new scout's comment about GS/USA's potential vs. actuality of outdoor program should be a cautionary tale for us all.

Moreover, her comments were charitable.  GS/USA restricts range activities to archery only.  Shooting of guns is not allowed.

My earlier post, in italics immediately above, was incorrect.  Here's their version of Guide to Safe Scouting:  https://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/cookie/Resources/GSUSA_Safety-Activity-Checkpoints_2018.pdf

Ref.  p. 139

Edited by AltadenaCraig
Clarified my mistake
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14 minutes ago, AltadenaCraig said:

Moreover, her comments were charitable.  GS/USA restricts range activities to archery only.  Shooting of guns is not allowed.

I did not realize that. A few years back I read about a GS/USA troop whose theme was shooting sports.

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Oops.  My mistake.  I was going off of here-say and I should know better.  Here's an apparently official GSUSA document that includes shooting sports (p.139).  My apologies:

https://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/cookie/Resources/GSUSA_Safety-Activity-Checkpoints_2018.pdf

 

Edited by AltadenaCraig
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For GSUSA whether shooting sports are allowed varies by council

The Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts permits it:

http://www.gscwm.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gscwm/documents/2018/Volunteer Essentials 2018-2019.pdf

Quote

Caution: You must get written pre-approval from your council for girls ages 12 and older
who will: o Use firearms for target shooting (see Sport Shooting Safety Activity Checkpoints)

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts does not permit it:

https://www.gsema.org/content/dam/girlscouts-girlscoutseasternmass/documents/volunteer-essentials.pdf

Quote

In an exciting, learning-by-doing environment such as Girl Scouts, it is only natural that girls will sometimes want
to participate in activities not covered in the Safety Activity Checkpoints. When activities involve unpredictable
safety variables, they are not approved as Girl Scout program activities. These include but are not limited to:
. . . .
• Shooting Sports (GSEMA Specific)


 

Edited by Treflienne
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On 3/9/2019 at 7:41 PM, qwazse said:

The new scout's comment about GS/USA's potential vs. actuality of outdoor program should be a cautionary tale for us all.

Quote

interviewer: "The Girl Scouts don't do that?"

girl: "So the Girl Scouts can, it's definitely an option.  We just didn't end up doing that a ton with my troop."

Tactfully put.   But when options of all kinds are open to a GSUSA troop, and the majority decision rules,  if the majority decision does not want to do archery (or some other outdoor activity) then that activity will not happen for that troop.  And, importantly, the majority of the troop will be quite happy about that.

One thing I have seen with the BSA program is that it is attracting the girls who want to camp, and helping them find each other.   (And the girls who don't want to camp can look at the rank advancement requirements and decide that other youth-program options more suited to them.)

I really think that there is space for both the GSUSA and the BSA programs to exist side by side,  with similar goals of developing character, citizenship, and leadership in youth,   but appealing to and thus serving different groups of girls.

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