I tend to agree with the article in the original post, the BSA needs to make a decision and make that decision a national one. Personally, they also need to keep up with the times, but that's just my opinion.
BSA is not what it used to be when I was younger, even Cub Scouts has changed it's perception among its peers. When I was young it was common to see scouts wearing their uniform to school on meeting days, that would Never happen today.
Face it, BSA is just not cool anymore, I remember my older son came home from a District Jamboree and told us he saw quite a few kids from his High School, kids he never knew were in Scouts. I laughed when he said they all had a look on their face that said "Don't tell anyone you saw me here"
The lack of kids not participating in Scouts in my opinion, has nothing to do with a generation being slackers (Something I don't believe this generation is) it has to do with the growing number of out of school opportunities kids have today. When looking at the Club Sports that start as early as 4 and 5 years old, Music camps, High School EC's, these kids are pretty busy these days. Many wouldn't have the time for Scouts even if they wanted to join.
Sure not every Eagle Scout is a model citizen, that can be said for almost every organization. Even the Military is not the last bastion of honor and integrity the recruiting commercials lead one to believe, one only need to read the newspaper to understand that. There are those that just check off the required boxes to reach Eagle, even then that's quit a few boxes. Parents that push their kids to reach Eagle are doing them no great service. Even with all this very few scouts ever make Eagle.
I'll admit, both my sons made Eagle, they did it on their own and with guidance from the Scout leadership. When my younger son reached 18 the troop had shrunk to low membership levels, recruiting new scouts is hard today for reasons I mentioned above. We were lucky, our kids were in a good troop with great leaders but trust me, over my involvement I saw plenty of the opposite. Scouts were a great opportunity for my wife and I to be involved with our boys in ways that we had not imagined. The boys learned to Scuba Dive, both getting Advanced Certs. We went on two dive trips to the BSA Seabase. The boys gained a love for backpacking and still enjoy it today. What they learned in orienteering was of great value when it came to Land Nav in ROTC. I remember when my older son started ROTC, he called one day and said they had just done a 7 mile Ruck March, he laughed because most the new cadets grumbled when they heard they would have to carry a 30lb pack, my son thought "Wow this is easy, last summer we did 50 miles with 65lb packs around Mt. Rainer. Scouts was a benefit to both of them.
Scoutpilot,
Your right, not a lot of people my age are running to join the Elks or Eagles, these organizations are suffering as well. I have to admit, my wife and I did join the Eagles in our neigborhood, actually a lot of fun, who would have thought.
As far as our generation screwing everything up, it's easy to feel that way. I thought the generation before mine messed things up pretty good, Vietnam tops that list. I guess I'm at the tail end of what they call Baby Boomers and we have a lot to answer for that is true. Every generation has problems with the generation that came before, I figure you must be in your early 30's, it won't be long before these younger kids start blaming your generation for the problems they will have, it's a big circle.
Your generation is no worse or better then the generations before, just different. I look at this generation of 20's and 30 year olds and see a lot of passion to make change, undeniable sacrifice, and a drive to make a difference. There were a lot of those same qualities in our generation. Most of the problems you mentioned were overseen by those older the I, and I share your frustration but I don't feel they ruined "Everything" although they did put a few dents in the fender.
Your right, we did raise this new generation of 20 sometings, and from those that I've met, that makes me pretty proud. Slackers, I don't think so, my kids have done more in their lives to date then I ever did, it was exhausting sometimes just to keep up.
Now the trick will be to keep this new generation from falling into the same pattern as those generation before, easier said then done.
Hopefully BSA will figure it out before they hurt themselves anymore, there is a lot of good still there with the right leadership.
BSA is not what it used to be when I was younger, even Cub Scouts has changed it's perception among its peers. When I was young it was common to see scouts wearing their uniform to school on meeting days, that would Never happen today.
Face it, BSA is just not cool anymore, I remember my older son came home from a District Jamboree and told us he saw quite a few kids from his High School, kids he never knew were in Scouts. I laughed when he said they all had a look on their face that said "Don't tell anyone you saw me here"
The lack of kids not participating in Scouts in my opinion, has nothing to do with a generation being slackers (Something I don't believe this generation is) it has to do with the growing number of out of school opportunities kids have today. When looking at the Club Sports that start as early as 4 and 5 years old, Music camps, High School EC's, these kids are pretty busy these days. Many wouldn't have the time for Scouts even if they wanted to join.
Sure not every Eagle Scout is a model citizen, that can be said for almost every organization. Even the Military is not the last bastion of honor and integrity the recruiting commercials lead one to believe, one only need to read the newspaper to understand that. There are those that just check off the required boxes to reach Eagle, even then that's quit a few boxes. Parents that push their kids to reach Eagle are doing them no great service. Even with all this very few scouts ever make Eagle.
I'll admit, both my sons made Eagle, they did it on their own and with guidance from the Scout leadership. When my younger son reached 18 the troop had shrunk to low membership levels, recruiting new scouts is hard today for reasons I mentioned above. We were lucky, our kids were in a good troop with great leaders but trust me, over my involvement I saw plenty of the opposite. Scouts were a great opportunity for my wife and I to be involved with our boys in ways that we had not imagined. The boys learned to Scuba Dive, both getting Advanced Certs. We went on two dive trips to the BSA Seabase. The boys gained a love for backpacking and still enjoy it today. What they learned in orienteering was of great value when it came to Land Nav in ROTC. I remember when my older son started ROTC, he called one day and said they had just done a 7 mile Ruck March, he laughed because most the new cadets grumbled when they heard they would have to carry a 30lb pack, my son thought "Wow this is easy, last summer we did 50 miles with 65lb packs around Mt. Rainer. Scouts was a benefit to both of them.
Scoutpilot,
Your right, not a lot of people my age are running to join the Elks or Eagles, these organizations are suffering as well. I have to admit, my wife and I did join the Eagles in our neigborhood, actually a lot of fun, who would have thought.
As far as our generation screwing everything up, it's easy to feel that way. I thought the generation before mine messed things up pretty good, Vietnam tops that list. I guess I'm at the tail end of what they call Baby Boomers and we have a lot to answer for that is true. Every generation has problems with the generation that came before, I figure you must be in your early 30's, it won't be long before these younger kids start blaming your generation for the problems they will have, it's a big circle.
Your generation is no worse or better then the generations before, just different. I look at this generation of 20's and 30 year olds and see a lot of passion to make change, undeniable sacrifice, and a drive to make a difference. There were a lot of those same qualities in our generation. Most of the problems you mentioned were overseen by those older the I, and I share your frustration but I don't feel they ruined "Everything" although they did put a few dents in the fender.
Your right, we did raise this new generation of 20 sometings, and from those that I've met, that makes me pretty proud. Slackers, I don't think so, my kids have done more in their lives to date then I ever did, it was exhausting sometimes just to keep up.
Now the trick will be to keep this new generation from falling into the same pattern as those generation before, easier said then done.
Hopefully BSA will figure it out before they hurt themselves anymore, there is a lot of good still there with the right leadership.