The BSA has always tried to keep up with the changing times in order to provide a better program for their youth no matter their race, age, or religion and now gender. A little back ground information on me in relation to this subject. I have recently came through all three parts of the scouting the program YES THREE!! Through the Cub Scouts then the Boy Scouts program I earned my Eagle Scout and became a apart of the Order Of the Arrow also known as OA it is national honor society of boy scouts that serves as the back bone for scouting. Then I joined what is called a Venture Crew at 16 after i earned my Eagle while i was still extremely active in the OA. A Venture Crew can be all one gender or co-ed. Mine was co-ed. OMG girls in scouting already!!. Venture crew is from ages 14-21 and has program similar to Boy Scouts but focuses on skills for everyday and for high adventure activity or specialized activities. I also served as the youth representative for the Central North Carolina Council for 2 years and as a member of the camping committee organizing and running events. I was able to do this because i was the Lodge Chief for OA lodge associated with the Council. The council is made up of Cabarrus, Rowan, Stanly, Montgomery, Union, Anson, and Richmond County. The OA lodge is ran by youth just like the ideal Boy Scout Troop. Our advisers jobs where to make sure our plans where safe, and wouldn't bank-rupt the lodge because everything costs money. Even when our plants didn't work they would give us a little guidance but it was up to us to make the decisions and put plans into action.
Girls in Scouts
Now that you know a little back ground on me. From what I have seen and had to participate in as a leading youth in a boy scout council for a few years this has been in the works for a long time. Venturing was created in the early 2000's as way to provide a program for the girls that where to old to join and complete the girl scouting program. It was made for male who either wasn't interested in the normal scouting or already achieved eagle to join and still learn scouting skills a life knowledge. I know for sure that in 2015 that having girls joined the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts was in the work. In 2015 the OA held a national conference at MSU they hold every four years or so (they changed it to line up with anniversaries and around other national events). At this event this event the Lodge Cheif's where invited for a Q&A that also served as survey on opinions for the National Board. Guess what they asked us about girls joining the scouting program in all aspects. What better way to get opinions from a youth ran organization by asking the youth that run it. Also many of the High Adventure Bases and Summer Camps are staffed by Venture and OA scouts so the staff is already co-ed.
Everything costs money. Scouting is not about profit but scouting needs money to run. The main way scouting brings in money is through membership. Membership has been falling way before the first political incident involving scouting. It is hard for an active organization to compete with video games, sports and other activities. It takes parents to bring the scouts to the meetings and most parents arent willing to any more when their kid can just play a video game in their room. Most of theses bigger changes is an attempt to reach more youth. Scouting could solve these issues by raising the national dues but they would loose members. Last years national dues was only around 20 bucks if i remember correctly and some of the people that need to the scouting program the most can barely afford it. Know a few units that are completely supported by donations because they are made up of low income families. Those are my favorite units to interact with at camps and events because I know those scouts are learning things that are going to help them raise up and not fail in life. I know of few scouts that seeing them walking down the street you would never think they where a scout or ever go off to college but they did and not just community college. One scout still messages me every once in awhile he went from failing and not trying in school into getting almost a full ride to Chapel Hill because the Scouting program taught him skills and showed him that you can succeed in life even though the odds are stacked against you.
Membership isn't going to sky rocket right away but over time will as it provide a great program for the youth of america just like the scouting program does in other countries. OMG there is scouting in other countries!! Yes in many others and they are all connected through the world scout movement. Come 2018 Sadi-Arabia is the only scouting movement that doesn't allow girls in all aspects of the movement.
My Opinion:
I fully support the change but it needs to be done correctly with implementing more standards for Youth Protection than venturing follows because now you are involving younger participants that don't understand certain things and cant be taught just yet.
Sorry this is long winded but this is a topic i care allot about. If you want more or have question just let me know!
