DaleEndFarm

Well, the PLC hasn't discussed it. I don't even think they think it is an issue on the table for them. As far as the adult leadership, I am one of them. Most of the committee and scoutmasters are observant, with the exception of the Scoutmaster. I am asking about how to handle it. I think with the program change it is going to become more of an issue.

My troop is chartered by the "Parents Troop XX," and we do not have a Chaplain. In addition we have a number of the troop who are not churched, including the scoutmaster, who is born and raised in China, not churched. The SPL is his son. We are in the Northeast as well, a large mission field. At the most recent program launch, it was discussed that the Duty to God will be part of Scout Spirit, which in our troop at least is decided by the scoutmaster. How is this going to be evaluated? For our eagles who do not attend a church (and I used this generically all through to mean religious organisation) we have required a letter from his parents in place of the religious leader. My question, aside from the Scout Spirit thing is, how do we, or can we at all encourage the religious emblem for our scouts that do not belong to any traditonal faith group? How will these scouts satisfy the Duty to God? (None of these scouts is an avowed atheist btw) Thanks

I am the advancement chair, and my husband the committee chair for our BSA troop. We have 3 sons, the youngest are both Life Scouts. I am also somewhat of a tomboy, and like to camp. I am not a scoutmaster because I want to be able to run the advancement stuff. I think there are benefits of single sex, and I see it all the time on campouts. It isn't actually that the boys are more free to be boys (loud, active etc). It's that they are more free to be kind, affectionate etc. When girls are around, they feel they have to act very manly, and it eliminates the display of the close friendship bond . I went to an all girls high school, and it helped form me into who I am today. In the all girls enviroment, I felt more comfortable in being active, competitive etc, whereas in coed groups I became more girly. I wonder why the venturing crew couldn't start at the jr. high level? Or have some jr. high crews if that nature of the adventures would be too much for younger teens of both sexes. That would offer the BSA scouting program without the donut hole, and yet preserve the single sex option for those who want it.