So, today, I just learned of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) had Department of Defense War partnership. I honestly did not know that this partnership existed, but I am not surprised. It seems that the scouts are losing their partnership most likely because of stupid stuff. Specifically "attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'" and "fostering 'gender confusion.'"1. Basically they're saying that Scouting America is too woke and their efforts to provide an inclusive program to boys and girls is a big part of the issue.
Honestly I am not sure how I feel about scouting. The organization left me behind decades ago when they were focused on the whole gay people in scouting while ignoring their own sex abuse scandal, ultimately leaving it up to the local councils to deal with. I quit shortly after coming out because it was no longer a place I felt welcome. This was an organization I was a part of from age 11, had gone through their program to Eagle Scout, and served about 6 years as an adult leader in a couple different troops, literally about half my life when I quit.
The program has changed though. They have come out of the sex abuse scandal with better policies in place but selling off assets to pay for the scandal. They started to allow gay and bi youth in 2014, and leaders the following year with a carve out for church sponsored troops.2 Not ideal, but much better than when I had quit. They started allowing girls and transgender individuals in 2017. The sad thing is, this pulled many people from the Girl Scouts, who have been significantly more inclusive for a much longer time.
When I got married, I gained 2 nieces that are now involved in Scouting America. It's interesting to see how they are navigating the organization, and what changes have happened, and what hasn't. Tween and teenage boys are in general stupid and immature, especially compared to similar aged girls. This leads to what you can imagine would be issues. So far, I have only heard about one incident where my nieces were harassed and lead to consequences for the boy who did it. Thankfully to date, nothing sexual has happened, and I pray it never does, but I will admit it always a concern when you have coed teen groups.
Part of me is sad that the boy scouts went this way. Not because the girls are being introduced, but because it shows that the girl scout program is not fulfilling a need. We have many girls that want to do the outdoors stuff... hiking, camping, backpacking, etc. The GSA program in general doesn't cover that stuff. Their leaders for the most part don't have the skills needed and the organization is not training them in the skills. Instead, the public perception of their program is that they teach home making skills, entrepreneurship, and cookie sales. It's not all they do, but that is the perception, and it's killing a quality organization that has so much promise.
So, the dropping of the partnership because of an anti-inclusive government not wanting to support inclusive organizations is not surprising. I have no idea what this is going to do to the organization. So much of the work is done at the troop and council level with the national organization not playing a big role in what the kids experience on a daily basis. It probably won't make a big difference except for the possibility of the National Jamboree. Considering it's congressionally mandated that the DoDW provide space for the jamboree, it probably won't ultimately be a big issue except possibly for the next one.
That the partnership is being killed is a good sign though. It means that Scouting America is adapting to the current world. They are conceptionally teaching inclusiveness through their recent actions. They are teaching the kids how to work with and respect everyone. The toxic masculinity that crops up in a boys only and hyper-masculine environment is not going to be accepted by the girls coming in. It can only help improve the social skills of all who come out of the program.
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