I am a former BSA Scoutmaster and current AHG leader. Recently I visited an AHG Troop and saw their "brother" Trail Life troop in action. Everytime I passed a group of boys meeting with their leader, I heard God's name or His Word. How refreshing!!!
Please remember the girls in all of this. I started a girls' Scouts BSA troop because many girls want outdoor adventures. They want to get dirty. They want to be challenged in leadership and become brave.
AHG needs more adults involved to get girls outside. Empty nesters: consider volunteering with AHG as a way to bless younger families and grow God-loving, outdoor-adventuring, servant leaders.
American Heritage Girls. It is a Christ-centered program for girls. Had a resource-sharing relationship with BSA in early 2010s and later shifted that sister relationship to Trail Life.
F STEPHENS
Our church in Florida just established a Trail Life troop and the community response has been amazing and overwhelming. Families are looking for that traditional, patriotic, youth organization embodying moral standards, and a belief in God that will build leadership in our kids.
ROND9149
I was a Boy Scout back in the late 50's-early 60's. I capitalized the "B & S" in reference to the organization that it was. As I was reading the above essay, toward the end, I read about: trustworthy, loyal, helpful... and before reading that 3rd word, the remainder of those 12 oath commitments flashed across my mind. They'e still imprinted in my 77 year old memory bank. I wonder if the members, or even the leaders, of today's "organization" can say them all, much less live them all.
KRAS6018
Counterpoint: Scouting America (formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America) still espouses and teaches the "heroic values" of morality, duty, honor, and capability to which you refer. Scouts are still taught the Scout Oath and Law and their significance, and expected to live by them. The changes people point to as "proof" that Scouting has abandoned its mission are primarily aesthetic; they have not changed the organization much on a fundamental level. To wit:
- Girls in Scouting:
While it is true that the central Cub/Boy Scouts program did not start letting girls officially join until 2017, the BSA's other programs (Explorers, Venturing, and Sea Scouts) have been open to girls since the '70s.
Insofar as you should be pointing fingers, point them at the Girl Scouts; the primary reason the BSA decided to allow girls into the Boy Scouts was because the Girl Scouts stopped being an outdoors program, creating a gap that needed to be filled.
- Divestiture from the LDS
People seem to operate under the misconception that, prior to this, the BSA was a Christian organization. *That is not the case.* While Scouting has always required that its members be religious (after all, how else can members do their "duty to God and Country" and be Reverent), it has never mandated a particular religion.
- Homosexual scouts:
The BSA's policies make it VERY clear that there is to be no sexual goings-on of any sort at BSA events. Therefore, there is no real reason to discriminate against them. Quite the opposite; they stand to benefit the most from the BSA's teaching of honor and moral uprightness.
Thank you for this input. I have observed all of what you mention during my recent involvement with Crews and Troops. Sadly, another change is likely coming...co-ed troops. I dread this, having seen young teen boys avoid leadership as faster-maturing girls step in. Co-ed troops may be necessary for two cultural shifts, though. First, there are not enough adults (particularly women) volunteering for the older units. Troops are forced to share adult resources. Second, co-ed simplifies the issues created by teens shifting gender identities.
Indeed. I also am not looking forward to the introduction of co-ed units (although this has historically been the norm in Venturing and Sea Scouts, so at least Scouting America has experience doing it correctly.)
The age difference matters. Crew members are 14+ (high school and older). I loved working with OA, because the scouts were generally older, co-ed, and worked great together. Troop members can be as young as 10 years old. Girls tend to be more mature than boys at those younger ages. Girls end up frustrated that boys aren't "doing their jobs" and boys are fine abdicating leadership responsibilities that the girls seem willing to do instead. I worry primarily for the boys' leadership development if troops go co-ed.
Would those who have chosen to downvote my comment care to explain their reasoning?
Jcalabr
Respectfully, this criticism misses the mark. There is an important role for a patriotic, traditional civic youth organization in 2024, one that aspires to an important set of moral standards, calls for a belief in God, builds leadership and citizenship skills, and respects and honors the traditional family. Scouts connects families, gives young men and women a wide range of new experiences (many outside), and for many churches is an important auxiliary ministry.
The adaptations on membership are driven by cultural forces outside of the Scouts' control. In 2024, it is very difficult for a non-religious entity to discriminate on the basis of sex or sexual orientation and maintain relationships with public schools, public parks, and other institutions. In 2024, it is difficult for any youth entity to keep up with the barrage of travel sports and other competitive activities (just ask a youth pastor). The inclusion of girls is largely intended to ensure Scouting is a true family endeavor, something that unites.
The Scouts are not pointedly counter-cultural, though you could say that about any number of churches. It has been beset at times by the terrible fruit of sin, though you could say that about any number of churches. Yet it still has much good in it, and can even be a vehicle that leads people to the light of the Gospel, much like so many churches. The Scouts are not the Church, but it remains one of the few institutions remaining that are adjacent to Christianity and the idea of external, aspirational standards for Americans. It still has many great people and great kids in it. It is better that we find and support those folks, and resist the urge to sit in the seat of scoffers.
The transformation of the Boy Scouts is nothing if not completely cultural! They have joined in with the zeitgeist and it's sad. So it's time to say goodbye, and celebrate other organizations like Trail Life that are resisting the siren call of the applause of the world.
YnotNOW
Well said. It's time to give up on the Boy Scouts (and the Girl Scouts, too). There are several good alternatives now - Awana, Trail Live, Pioneers. Make sure that your Church is sponsoring one of these, and that your children join them instead.
While there may be some good units, in my experience they suffer from the same problems as the Girl Scouts ("campout" = trip to the mall), just with an emphasis on Christian doctrine instead of Woke doctrine. They're better than the current Girl Scouts of the USA, but aren't really "Scouting".
Sadly, not a robust outdoor program from what I'm seeing. The girls are eager but adult availability/ willingness to get out there is limited. I'm hoping to change that in my troop.
I've tried alternative programs such as Awanas and Trail Life in the past, and been quite disappointed. Like with contemporary Christian literature/movies, they tend to be so focused on being Christian™ that they neglect everything else. For example, when a female relative of mine was in American Heritage Girls, her unit only went camping ONCE in the multiple years she was with them (and even then it was cabin-camping, which barely counts.) As a result, she immediately joined the Scouts BSA when they allowed girls in, becoming one of the first female Eagle Scouts in her council.
Special mention goes to Awanas; their requirement-based advancement system is similar to the Scouts' at first glance, but in my experience it is solely based around memorizing Scripture. In the 5+ years (and four states) I participated in the program, there was absolutely no outdoors skills, applicable moral instruction*, or anything else you would expect of a Scouting-esque program. While Scripture is important, there is nothing of the "heroic vision" Rev. Gingerich talks about.
* Note the word "applicable." My kids read and memorized plenty of Bible verses about morality; however, there was absolutely no instruction on how to apply any of it in their lives.
pastorrdh
Barton I am an Eagle Scout and my father was a Silver Beaver. I agree 100% with you. I have written to the Boy Scouts and told them I am telling everyone I know to pull any and all support from them and instead give it to Trail Life. I am praying for God to raise up men, primarily through pastors and parents.
David Houston, Brentwood, TN
I am a former BSA Scoutmaster and current AHG leader. Recently I visited an AHG Troop and saw their "brother" Trail Life troop in action. Everytime I passed a group of boys meeting with their leader, I heard God's name or His Word. How refreshing!!!
Please remember the girls in all of this. I started a girls' Scouts BSA troop because many girls want outdoor adventures. They want to get dirty. They want to be challenged in leadership and become brave.
AHG needs more adults involved to get girls outside. Empty nesters: consider volunteering with AHG as a way to bless younger families and grow God-loving, outdoor-adventuring, servant leaders.
What is AHG?
American Heritage Girls. It is a Christ-centered program for girls. Had a resource-sharing relationship with BSA in early 2010s and later shifted that sister relationship to Trail Life.
Our church in Florida just established a Trail Life troop and the community response has been amazing and overwhelming. Families are looking for that traditional, patriotic, youth organization embodying moral standards, and a belief in God that will build leadership in our kids.
I was a Boy Scout back in the late 50's-early 60's. I capitalized the "B & S" in reference to the organization that it was. As I was reading the above essay, toward the end, I read about: trustworthy, loyal, helpful... and before reading that 3rd word, the remainder of those 12 oath commitments flashed across my mind. They'e still imprinted in my 77 year old memory bank. I wonder if the members, or even the leaders, of today's "organization" can say them all, much less live them all.
Counterpoint: Scouting America (formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America) still espouses and teaches the "heroic values" of morality, duty, honor, and capability to which you refer. Scouts are still taught the Scout Oath and Law and their significance, and expected to live by them. The changes people point to as "proof" that Scouting has abandoned its mission are primarily aesthetic; they have not changed the organization much on a fundamental level. To wit:
- Girls in Scouting:
While it is true that the central Cub/Boy Scouts program did not start letting girls officially join until 2017, the BSA's other programs (Explorers, Venturing, and Sea Scouts) have been open to girls since the '70s.
Insofar as you should be pointing fingers, point them at the Girl Scouts; the primary reason the BSA decided to allow girls into the Boy Scouts was because the Girl Scouts stopped being an outdoors program, creating a gap that needed to be filled.
- Divestiture from the LDS
People seem to operate under the misconception that, prior to this, the BSA was a Christian organization. *That is not the case.* While Scouting has always required that its members be religious (after all, how else can members do their "duty to God and Country" and be Reverent), it has never mandated a particular religion.
- Homosexual scouts:
The BSA's policies make it VERY clear that there is to be no sexual goings-on of any sort at BSA events. Therefore, there is no real reason to discriminate against them. Quite the opposite; they stand to benefit the most from the BSA's teaching of honor and moral uprightness.
Thank you for this input. I have observed all of what you mention during my recent involvement with Crews and Troops. Sadly, another change is likely coming...co-ed troops. I dread this, having seen young teen boys avoid leadership as faster-maturing girls step in. Co-ed troops may be necessary for two cultural shifts, though. First, there are not enough adults (particularly women) volunteering for the older units. Troops are forced to share adult resources. Second, co-ed simplifies the issues created by teens shifting gender identities.
Indeed. I also am not looking forward to the introduction of co-ed units (although this has historically been the norm in Venturing and Sea Scouts, so at least Scouting America has experience doing it correctly.)
The age difference matters. Crew members are 14+ (high school and older). I loved working with OA, because the scouts were generally older, co-ed, and worked great together. Troop members can be as young as 10 years old. Girls tend to be more mature than boys at those younger ages. Girls end up frustrated that boys aren't "doing their jobs" and boys are fine abdicating leadership responsibilities that the girls seem willing to do instead. I worry primarily for the boys' leadership development if troops go co-ed.
Would those who have chosen to downvote my comment care to explain their reasoning?
Respectfully, this criticism misses the mark. There is an important role for a patriotic, traditional civic youth organization in 2024, one that aspires to an important set of moral standards, calls for a belief in God, builds leadership and citizenship skills, and respects and honors the traditional family. Scouts connects families, gives young men and women a wide range of new experiences (many outside), and for many churches is an important auxiliary ministry.
The adaptations on membership are driven by cultural forces outside of the Scouts' control. In 2024, it is very difficult for a non-religious entity to discriminate on the basis of sex or sexual orientation and maintain relationships with public schools, public parks, and other institutions. In 2024, it is difficult for any youth entity to keep up with the barrage of travel sports and other competitive activities (just ask a youth pastor). The inclusion of girls is largely intended to ensure Scouting is a true family endeavor, something that unites.
The Scouts are not pointedly counter-cultural, though you could say that about any number of churches. It has been beset at times by the terrible fruit of sin, though you could say that about any number of churches. Yet it still has much good in it, and can even be a vehicle that leads people to the light of the Gospel, much like so many churches. The Scouts are not the Church, but it remains one of the few institutions remaining that are adjacent to Christianity and the idea of external, aspirational standards for Americans. It still has many great people and great kids in it. It is better that we find and support those folks, and resist the urge to sit in the seat of scoffers.
The transformation of the Boy Scouts is nothing if not completely cultural! They have joined in with the zeitgeist and it's sad. So it's time to say goodbye, and celebrate other organizations like Trail Life that are resisting the siren call of the applause of the world.
Well said. It's time to give up on the Boy Scouts (and the Girl Scouts, too). There are several good alternatives now - Awana, Trail Live, Pioneers. Make sure that your Church is sponsoring one of these, and that your children join them instead.
Look into AHG for girls. They are a sister organization to Trail Life.
While there may be some good units, in my experience they suffer from the same problems as the Girl Scouts ("campout" = trip to the mall), just with an emphasis on Christian doctrine instead of Woke doctrine. They're better than the current Girl Scouts of the USA, but aren't really "Scouting".
Sadly, not a robust outdoor program from what I'm seeing. The girls are eager but adult availability/ willingness to get out there is limited. I'm hoping to change that in my troop.
I've tried alternative programs such as Awanas and Trail Life in the past, and been quite disappointed. Like with contemporary Christian literature/movies, they tend to be so focused on being Christian™ that they neglect everything else. For example, when a female relative of mine was in American Heritage Girls, her unit only went camping ONCE in the multiple years she was with them (and even then it was cabin-camping, which barely counts.) As a result, she immediately joined the Scouts BSA when they allowed girls in, becoming one of the first female Eagle Scouts in her council.
Special mention goes to Awanas; their requirement-based advancement system is similar to the Scouts' at first glance, but in my experience it is solely based around memorizing Scripture. In the 5+ years (and four states) I participated in the program, there was absolutely no outdoors skills, applicable moral instruction*, or anything else you would expect of a Scouting-esque program. While Scripture is important, there is nothing of the "heroic vision" Rev. Gingerich talks about.
* Note the word "applicable." My kids read and memorized plenty of Bible verses about morality; however, there was absolutely no instruction on how to apply any of it in their lives.
Barton I am an Eagle Scout and my father was a Silver Beaver. I agree 100% with you. I have written to the Boy Scouts and told them I am telling everyone I know to pull any and all support from them and instead give it to Trail Life. I am praying for God to raise up men, primarily through pastors and parents.
David Houston, Brentwood, TN