Boy Scouts
I spent the weekend dancing, singing and laughing.
I was at camp with my local Boy Scouts Council.
I have been part of the Boy Scouts for the last three years, and I think is one of the best decisions our family has made. My boys love being Scouts and take pride in each badge earned. They make friends, learn about their culture, develop responsibility and leadership, and most of all they’re happy kids. We go to camp, field trips and have outdoor activities. In November we are going to serve food to a shelter home, and in December we will distribute gifts to those in need. They are learning values that will last a lifetime.
The oath tells everything you need to know about a Scout:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
My kids think they are just having fun. I think they are learning from experiences that will carry them through tough decisions.
Last Saturday they completed the requirements to move further into their advancement program. My 9-year old became a Webelo and my 6-year old a Tiger Cub. My oldest son got to sleep in a small tent now along with other kids. Parents were nearby, but the boys got to build their tent and verify all their belongings. It was a new experience for both of us.
I remember telling people that I would never go camping. I did not like all the packing, plus you don’t get to sleep well. So many people together and so many things to carry just to be comfortable. I was so wrong.
This is the most precious thing our family shares: Quality time, values and fun.
Posted by Momcrazyforkids.
October 30th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
I can tell with 90% accuracy if a man was once a boy scout (for any length of time). It freaks dh out, my psychic ability that is. But, a boy scout is always prepared and a grown boy scout isn’t much different. Go boy scouts!
I actually was a boy scout, unofficial of course. I was in girl scouts too, but boy scouts did cooler things and I just joined my brother. They never had a problem with it and I got to canoe the colorado river through 3 states, hiked the sierras for 60 miles, rock climbed in the Borego desert and learned to make a microwave out of a box and tin foil. Yup, it’s good stuff.
October 30th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
So you are down wtih the discriminatory practices they have? You are supportive of their views of homosexuality and such? I am glad you had a good time but the boy scouts, as an organization, suck.
you can find out more why I think they suck here at :
http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/
October 31st, 2006 at 6:52 pm
They are a private group that supposedly does not allow homosexuals as leaders but I knew of two in our troup (not leaders, scouts). Nothing was ever said about their coming out, and they did allow a girl. So while the organization may say one thing, each troup is different.
They totally do rock for boys to learn nature appreciation, survival skills, community leadership and if there was any other organization that did that, then they would have some mighty competition. But it’s boy scouts or nothing. So I say go for it. Or else you end up like my dh. Not a boyscout. LOL.
October 31st, 2006 at 9:36 pm
I think that as every organization run by humans there are some things that can be improve. That doesn’t mean that the organization does not function. There are problems in government, schools, church, sports organization and society. Does that mean we are going to stop being part of something that have great values?
November 1st, 2006 at 9:07 am
Discrimination is not a good value. You don’t need a segratest organization to teach your child about nature and the beauty of the outdoors and team work. There are many organizations that do that such as Campfire Boys/Girls, 4-H and perhaps a club at your local school. If you don’t have a club in your area , start one. But please don’t use the lousy/lazy excuse that well, it is all we have and they should be involved in something.
When you are a part of an organization that promotes discrimination regardless of whether your particular group engages in those practices still makes it a bad idea, IMO. Tolerance for discrimination allows asshats to continue to promote their adgendas because not enough people want to call them out on it.
Just because “each troup is different” does not mean that the Scouts are a good group. You belong to the whole organization, not just your troop.
Maybe you don’t mind because you feel it is okay to discriminate against gays, atheist and girls. We all have to live with our own choices. I will never choose to support such an orgainization.
November 1st, 2006 at 11:50 am
I don’t agree with you but I respect your opinion. Still, I do believe its a great organization and I hope the values they are learning helps them during their adult life.
My troop is a great one that promotes family and good relationships. No one has been discriminated and we try our best to teach kids right from wrong. In the end each person will make the decision of what to believe.
I’m very proud of the values I’m trying to teach my boys and discrimination is not one of them. I also try to teach them that a person is a complete world of thoughts and opinions. If you had any bad experience with them or any other organization that does not mean that the same thing will happen to those around you.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
I’ve actually been thinking about this lately, and I haven’t done much research into the Scouts, but my thought for now is that if my sons want to join up, I’ll make sure they know the whole deal - that their Uncle Jeff was a loyal scout as a kid, but that these days, he would not be allowed to participate. If they still want to belong, fine. I’ll show up at the Blue and Gold Dinner with my “I love my gay brother!” shirt on. And I’ll advocate for change.
Please note, as I said, this is my unstudied stance (and I followed your link but I’ve not had time to really explore). And for all I know, they’ll have no interest in the scouts, or they’ll opt out on their own because of the discrimination.
Of course I’m a Catholic, so I’m sadly used to such…compromise isn’t the right word…I’d prefer to call it trying to work from within the system, because there’s some good in there that I want.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:50 pm
I hear ya crazyforkids and Steph, but I still believe,no matter how nice some individuals are within the organization, it is bad to support (with your dues, membership, wearing of uniform….) an organization whose discriminatory practices are not only mean and unfounded but also illegal and have been to court for them.
It is nice to hear that you are so aware as parents to keep up the dialogue regarding equality. It is important to have involved parents who can help set things straight.
Stephy, as much as I support your ernest attempt to “change the system within” I really don’t see that happening anytime soon.
There have been lots of discriminating orgainzations through out history. I am sure there were some decent people among them. That still, IMO, does not mean you should support them. You are not an individual within this orgainzation…that is not what it means to belong. Everytime you pledge the scout pledge, you are saying that you support their ideals, mission and beliefs. You can not pick and choose what works for you and ignore the stuff you don’t like. They are pretty clear about who they are and you can pretend that you are not like that, but you are perpetuating this discriminatory behavior. (done beating a dead horse now. ahem.)
November 1st, 2006 at 3:28 pm
As I said before I respect your opinion so I hope you respect mine. In the end I hope you choose whatever works for you to raise healthy and happy kids.
I think that’s all that we want.
March 19th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
This is a totally different angle, but my husband holds an Eagle Scout badge and doesn’t have a clue as to how to fix a car or do a simple home repair. Based upon this scout and my husband’s brother (another scout), I have narrowly assessed that the BSA organization teaches things far fetched and not very useful in today’s civilized culture. If we lived in the mountains then maybe the skills they learned from BSA would be useful, but we live in a large metropolitan area and it seems to me that BSA was a huge waste of time in my husband’s and brother-in-law’s lives. They do not have practical skills like mechanical aptitude or ingenuity to be REAL men and in fact come across to most as being rather pansy or pretty-boy-floyds that don’t get their hands dirty. It’s very frustrating to me as we have three boys now and my husband wants to put them in scouting and I am very much opposed. I think sports will place them with more manly men that can mentor them in sports and develop relationships with them that can gradually introduce them to the more practical skills of mechanics and basic home-repair. Any ideas or comments are welcome.
June 20th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Sheryl,
I’m sorry your husband isn’t a master of home repair and mechanics, but that’s hardly the fault of BSA. My Eagle Scout husband is constantly surprising me after 14 years with his wealth of knowledge and experience of “real man” stuff, most of which came directly our of his BSA experience. Maybe your husband just isn’t into that. Why don’t you teach your sons mechanics and home repair yourself rather than hope that you can latch onto someone else’s dad through sports?