There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the Scouts recently! Allow me to share some personal insights: My community is quite supportive of Scouting. My daughter is thrilled to be a Brownie, thanks to the dedicated moms who make it a wonderful experience. Conversely, my son tried being a Cub Scout but quickly lost interest, much to my husband’s dismay, as he cherished his time as a Boy Scout. For our son, it just didn’t resonate, and while most of his friends continued, he opted out.
I admit it was a tough decision to let him join. Brownies seemed like a clear choice, but the Boy Scouts have a history of exclusivity. They only recently lifted their ban on gay Scouts, and their stance still seems uncertain. However, our local troop embodies the values of our community, and when I discovered that my son wouldn’t encounter any anti-gay sentiments, I set aside my reservations and enrolled him.
Recent news highlights the differing paths of these two organizations and hints at their future directions. The latest update for the Boy Scouts? No more water gun fights. While they can still shoot at targets, they can’t aim at each other because, in their view, kindness is paramount—and shooting at one another, even with water, contradicts that principle.
People are chuckling at this decision, yet I grasp the intention behind it. Some forms of play can be rough, but that doesn’t inherently translate to unkindness. I recall a moment when my daughter dashed in, eager to change into her bathing suit so my son could spray her with a water gun. They both relished the idea of play, and she was willingly participating.
On the other hand, the Girl Scouts find themselves in the spotlight, facing backlash for welcoming transgender girls who are recognized as such by their families and communities. The American Family Association has been vocal in its opposition, citing concerns regarding transgender acceptance as a mainstream lifestyle.
This topic is significant, but I’ll refrain from diving deeper into it now. As a society, we are in a transformative phase, with topics like gay marriage gaining traction and figures such as Alex Morgan and Laverne Cox bringing attention to the realities of transgender individuals. We are starting to discuss issues previously left unspoken and grappling with their implications for our laws and cultural norms.
From my perspective, I wish to see both organizations flourish. I view the Girl Scouts as forward-thinking while the Boy Scouts appear to lag behind. They still prohibit gay troop leaders, although it seems they may be addressing this issue. The water gun policy, although well-meaning, reflects a disconnect from reality. In my opinion, the exclusion of gay members does as well. Teaching boys kindness is vital, yet there’s nothing unkind about a playful water fight.
The Boy Scouts articulated it well when they acknowledged the inclusion of gay youth: “While opinions vary on this policy, we can all agree that children benefit when they participate in Scouting.” In contrast, the Girl Scouts recognize the need for evolution to remain relevant. They have focused on including more urban and minority girls and addressing contemporary topics like environmental consciousness and engineering since at least 2009. Eileen Doyle, the vice president of program at the Girl Scouts of the USA, stated, “We can uphold our historical consistency while also embracing fun, modern challenges for today’s girls.”
Boy Scouts, it’s time to take notes.
This article was originally published on May 21, 2015.
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Summary
The article discusses the contrasting approaches of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in light of recent news. While the Boy Scouts have made headlines for banning water gun fights to promote kindness, they still face criticism for their exclusionary policies regarding gay members and leaders. In contrast, the Girl Scouts are seen as progressive, especially with their inclusive policies for transgender girls. The author encourages the Boy Scouts to learn from the Girl Scouts’ adaptability and vision for the future.