Wow, given how old this string is, I certainly didnt expect to have so many responses so quickly. Well, what this tells me is that people are still at least thinking about it.
Hi Scoutldr, thank you for your response. While I personally have not found anything that dictates Girl Scouts are prohibited from using BB guns, I have been told by many people in our school that they were told they couldnt. They were also told they could not participate in archery as well as several other items. The leader that told me that had a variety of outdoor interests as well as indoor and was trying to get her girls more involved in both. Due to the restrictions placed on her by the GS Council she felt that she could not continue as leader. Since that time, she has gathered several girls that were inclined to the same interests as her and her daughter and they have basically formed a rogue group that has a curriculum derived from both the Girl Scouts and the Cub Scouts. The girls, the leader and the parents of those girls are very happy with the results and the group they have formed.
Hi GS-CS_leader, thank you for your response. I too am a middle aged woman and also a former Camp Fire Girl. My mother started our group when I was in first grade and the core of our group stuck together all the way through our senior year in high school. Through those years we had 17 girls at most and ten at the very least. My mother stuck it out (without any assistance) and raised two boys at the same time. As Girl Scouts we were taught and participated in cabin camping, tent camping and open-air camping. At no time were we ever allowed to bring suitcases, propane stoves, or other such modern conveniences. We brought matches that were wax-coated (for water proofing), a mesh bag (that we made ourselves) with our dishes, a cast iron crock pot and skillet. We dug a pit for our fire, put rocks around the top to hold the pans and cooked on an open flame. He hiked, we learned to use a compass, we built trails for future troops, we dug pits for potty needs, we took zero showers and we had a great time. Back at home, we learned to work on cars (basic needs only tire and oil changes), we participated in wood working activities and we earned enough money from a summer long bake sale to pay for all 14 of us plus chaperones to go to Matamoras, Mexico. It was an amazing experience and one I wish all those interested youth would be allowed to participate. Those childhood experiences have helped me to be a better parent and a better person.
Hi epalmer84, thank you for your response. Im afraid Ive found slightly different information regarding the forming of the Scout program. Once Baden-Powell founded the Scouts in 1907, it spread over most of the world. Baden-Powell founded a parallel program called Girl Guides (to later be called Girl Scouts in the US) in 1910. The Girl Guide movement was run by his sister Agnes Baden-Powell until her death in 1945. Olave Baden-Powell assisted in running the Girl Guides and became Chief Guide in 1918 and World Chief in 1930. Campfire Girls was found in 1910 also and by Luther Gulick and his wife, Charlotte Vetter Gulick, of whom also aided in founding the Boy Scouts. I dont imagine that any of the three will ever be combined. My comment on combining was more of a flippant comment rather than a suggestion.
Hi ScoutNut, thank you for your response. Honestly, I dont see them combining. I also agree that it would be prudent for them to combine if they were to combine curriculums and go co-ed. Im not so dense as to not understand why each program was created to be a unique, gender specific youth program. I believe however, that gender specific programs, for the most part, are archaic.
As far you girls who want to join BSA or a boy has wanted to join GSUSA. I personally experienced and believe that society has been more accepting of girls participating in less traditionally female roles (or more masculine) than they have been accepting in boy participating in less traditionally male roles (or female). I consider this to be a sad reflection on the times.
The purposes of BSA and GSUSA that I quoted ARE both a bit dated. I couldnt agree more however, it was an accurate quote and one that people fighting law-suites against BSA to allow girls to join use very frequently. In using it however, they conveniently leave off the end where it is stated, using the methods that were in common use by boy scouts on June 15, 1916. I have a feeling (and strongly hope) that if most people realized a good many of the rules or standards BSA follows are based on behavior from 1916, they might have a different opinion of allowing girls to participate. The Mission Statements may have changed over the years but the archaic beliefs are often still practiced.
While both group programs are aimed to develop good character and leadership they are also both teaching our children to discriminate against genders as well as other groups.
I think that both programs have wonderful benefits for our children. I also think that both have practices that could be detrimental. We, however, participate heavily in our childrens lives. We are there to see, hear, correct what they might be exposed too in those group activities. What they dont provide, we provide at home. My boys know how and participate in: cooking (or at least they are learning), sorting and putting away laundry, cleaning and upkeep of our home, care of others and our family pets and certainly not least care and cleanliness of themselves. My boys are six and eight years old. They are great!
Everyone thinks its cute and expected when girls play with dolls, it helps them to be better mommies. My boys all played with dolls at an early age. Many people criticized my husband and me over this. To which we replied we are proud that our boys roll-play with dolls, perhaps it will help to make them better dads when they grow up, I certainly hope it does.
I will state this again because I want to make sure you all (some more than others) actually understand what it is that I am saying and what I originally said: My dream, my hope, is not to take anything away from the Boy Scouts or the Girl Scouts but, to create a program from which both genders will benefit more fully.
Thank you all. I will continue to research this topic after all, knowledge is power.
