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National news, pshaw! They blow everything out of proportion by using military terms. All those politicians just asking folks for votes ... they called it campaigning as if they were some kind of Roman legion.

I don't think we need to be more obtuse. Nor do we need to throw down any gauntlets, but if we did .... Best Scouts of America (Abbreviation: BSA)

Welcome, and thanks in advance for all you'll do for our youth!

Under the Good Book maxim "Make peace with your enemy while he is far off ..." BSA should settle, but not in any way that undermines GS/USA's brand. There is nothing to be gained in misleading potential parents into thinking our "Scouts BSA" is somehow ignoring sex differences. "Family scouting" is anathema to, well, a lot of us. There is something to being plain spoken. "Boy Scouts - for Girls" makes it clear that we are taking a program that was built for boys, but being asked for by thousands of American girls. It's also an admission on so many levels that we're kind of winging it hoping that separate-but-equal will garner smiles. The lawyers can then go apply for jobs at the House of Representatives.

It's a pity nobody here was suggesting a name to National that would avoid wrong impressions.

Pinewood derby. Blocks, markers, stickers. Race! 'Nuff said. If you're really cleaver, you will stick that Q-R code, contact info, and meeting times to the bottom of the blocks!

Well, this is one problem about when rank advancement was denied to anyone over age 18 in the late sixties. Those ovals were seen as strictly kids awards. And, as the thinking evolved, what one learns as a kid isn't necessarily what one needs as an adult. Personally, I wish every ASM would have to earn 1st class rank, at least. Then, any specific adult training would indeed be material that probably wasn't taught to them as a scout. Heck, I would get rid of the age 18 deadline for eagle. What do I care if my SM tries to earn Eagle? An exercise in humility for sure, but the mere fact that he would be trying to do so would show our scouts how important the award is. That's not the world we have. Folks don't want to ditch the traditions we've built in the past 50 years. And along with those traditions is the assumption that new adult leaders can only learn through special classes just for adults, and somehow those classes will help adults get up to speed faster and retain more than the simple-minded pedagogy of an earlier time. The best you can do is not fall for it. Be judicious about your training. Choose things that will round out your current skill-set. Prioritize those and let your co-leaders know what those priorities are. If there's something required that you think you know well, ask your district training coordinator if you can help teach the course and in the process get credit for taking it. That should keep you busy for a couple or three years. By then, Woodbadge might sound appealing.

Make's sense. Among my social media friends of friends, its the new-to-scouting parents who are asking question about which to choose. When I have an opportunity to reply, I suggest that question #1 should be "Are the leaders kind?" Now, in my "seasoned scouter" rubric, kindness also includes a willingness to pack in 3 miles on the trail to camp in the cold with your scouts. And that could be the limiting factor in putting together units here up north. We need to get moms and older sisters used to a certain "weather envelope" before we're really ready to offer girls the same program we offer boys. That doesn't make BSA4G impossible, it just tilts the odds against it ... because leaders of girls' dens will have a good sense that it's gonna have to be them in that snow for Klondike in a couple of years.

I never thought to call it that either. That's the concern parents voiced when I was starting a crew. It could be where you lived. I was basically "stuck" with the same circle of girls in school, extracurricular, and church. And, yes, when it was time to go camping, getting away from them (and a few of the guys I always saw) as a real plus. For my sons, those circles were non-overlapping. Then came the telecom revolution and the rise of post-modern nomadic life.

I personally believe the patrol meeting where husband wife are nearby (e.g., doing chores around the house while the youth are in an open area) would provide a more than adequate barrier from abuse. Many of our crew meetings were like that.

I'm leaning towards real paradox. Venturing in our area seems to have stuck in more conservative (politically and socially) communities. The parents of female venturers who I've talked to do not believe in "girl power" or "safe spaces" as a means to equal and fair treatment of women. They see that their daughters will be better served working together with other boys and girls in an environment where sex-differences are not swept under the rug. Likewise, I'm guessing that about half of conservative parents of boys want them spending quality time with other young men and women in an environment where they learn to treat one another with respect. (Mrs. Q and I certainly looked for that for our sons.) The other half want their boys to have a "safe space" from girls for a few years. As boots-on-the-ground, I've found it a real challenge living up to the expectations of either "safe space" or "mutual respect." So much depends on neighborhood, media, and environments far beyond my control.

Two of my brothers and a cousin entered college on athletic scholarships. One lasted a term the other two earned their degree with their scholarship. One went pro. But, as far as I can tell, none of them where coddled by their parents. Sports was just one of many ways to get through college. We try to counsel parents of young athletes in the same way.

It's so incredible that we are bogging great work down with ridiculous stipulations.

My FL nieces have been family camping with their brothers' pack for years. So, I suspect there's a comfort factor, that you might not see up north here. It's a lot harder to convince a girl to go camping when there's a chance of snow. But that's just one guess. The other guess is that TL/USA (which has done better in the south) cleared the field of units who would never allow girls in the first place. Leaving room for more open COs to prepare to host a girl's unit. The third is simpler: southern hospitality. All you all are just naturally better at making kids feel welcome. If there's a door to open, you'll do it better.

There's more where that video came from. The BSA communications Youtube site is cranking out a few that can be clipped for boys, girls, or both, as well as leaders. I think I like this one best so far. It's a little bit much on the big zip-lines, but it ends with astronomy. Always a win for me.

@wallacesusan, welcome to the forums! What's at stake here? Is your son 17, thus making it impossible to tenure for Eagle?

After some thought, as requested. An unwritten, required, part of my advisor uniform: a thick skin. For about every five favorable reactions to our crew launching, I got an unfavorable reaction. Of the negative reactions, the ones to to my face were preferable to the backbiting. But, at first, I was not prepared for either reaction, and it took observing the council Venturing Officers Association and talking to the Venturing committee to get confidence that I could run a program that would ensure female youth were welcome and respected. They told me that although my "by the book" approach to Boy Scouts and Venturing was a little crazy, it was also right. An area commissioner also told me to check out scouter.com for more perspective. This forum is a great opportunity to "hear it first" here, preparing us for reactions in our other spheres. I shared this vid with my daughter yesterday, and she liked it. I expect to share this vid on my social media soon. I expect some of my friends to not share her enthusiasm and to reply in a fashion that is not nearly as courteous as the posts here. But, at least I can tell someone who replies that way that he/she's not alone, and I've read the opinion elsewhere. As to a general attitude towards negative reactions, I've found the "... and that's that" attitude to be the least conducive to personal growth.

The one thing that kept me from jumping on canister stoves was 1) more moving parts than I wanted to deal with and 2) they didn't really support my smallest espresso pots -- I needed to jury-rig the SMs jet-boil with some tent pegs to get us a decent cup of coffee. Then, I borrowed son#1's Primus classic. Because its support tines are welded at the center, they don't bend (a problem I've observed in other dropped models) and can support a base with as small as 1 inch radius. Stores in two pieces -- with room for a small multi-tool and spork in a small pouch.

I held an SMC for life rank of a boy in another crew, but that was at the request of his advisor who had never done one.

A good video that sells GS/USA as easily as it does BSA4G. You've made my earlier point. Regarding the down-votes. As much as I -- believing co-equal and even co-Ed scouting helps young men and women develop healthier roles than stark sex segregation, and believing BSA is the best suited to do that -- disagree with @SSF and @The Latin Scot, I strongly disagree with @shortridge and @ParkMan wanting to relegate dissent to I&P.

Seriously? This is not about court testimony. It is about accountability and prevention. Mrs. Q and I were "the two" on several occasions. Seabase Bahamas being the most notable. However, this being a brave new world and all, scouters should make sure they aren't running afoul of their CO's guidelines. Pulling it back on topic that's the other thing that this particular promo is missing, adult association.

Welcome, and thanks in advance for all you will do for the youth!

The SM/Advisor needs a cheering section. Our CC does a lot of communication to the parents. Historically our "emeritus" SM's/CC's approach parents about helicoptering or other issues. This year, on several occasions, an MC sent notes to parents about how the boys were doing and how well the SM made sure that every one was well cared for. He then basically said the same thing to parents at our last CoH. As our new SM rotates in, I am quick to point out the things he does right. I also tell him that it's his turn to build a record in the boys' collective history of goofy screw-ups. So there is a promise of a full amount of ribbing, along with a guarantee of support.

Gotta say, it's one of National's better productions. But, it's as good a pitch for GS/USA as BSA. Load the canoes with gear for an over-night, show that fish being cleaned and cooked, chocolate fondue instead of s'mores, a flag being raised at the campsite, and (I can't believe I'm saying this) the girls pulling uniforms out of their dry bags for evening flag retirement. Then you get a little closer to what we're actually selling.

I sincerely hope her idea involves paint ball, laser tag, or catapults.