Post
by foolmeonce » Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:12 pm
EXMO Eagle Scout here:
As a Scout, I was lukewarm on the program but my mother pushed me through and I got my Eagle. As an adult in the church, I really started to dislike the program as it felt uninspired, and diverted a disproportionate amount of resources to boys, and I had to constantly come up with lame a$$ excuses to my daughter who couldn't understand why she had to go to boring achievement days when her little brother got to build cars and go to day-camp.
Fast forward to my post mo days: Skipping the detailed history, I now have my 3 boys in non-LDS Scouts (2 cubs and one boy scout). Out of the BOX BSA is 1000% better in non-LDS packs and troops. You would not believe the power of true volunteerism as opposed to compulsory obedience. Being able to independently align your volunteer hours with your unique skills and interests makes all the difference in the world. Plus supporting organizations that allow you to spend more time with your family not less is amazing. You actually look forward to your calling, instead of dreading it. (Two years in, I've found that getting people to volunteer is harder when you don't have the priesthood stick, but once you get them on board they tend to do a much better job over a much longer period). Then there's the fact that the boys in the organization are there because they like it, not because of compulsion. Long story short, if you like scouts, drop the LDS troop (they're out soon anyway IMO), and find a good troop somewhere else.
In terms of girls joining, I'm REALLY excited about this. The big problem with BSA is it unnecessarily excludes siblings who likely would be great participants. Our pack does a pretty good job of including sisters in big events where we can (family campouts, non-scout heats for pinewood derby, etc.), but it's really hard to ask sisters to sit it out at den meetings. In fact, it's cruel. Next year I'll be the cubmaster for our Pack, and my plan is to follow the "unique girl den rule" on paper, then just have combined Den meetings. Yes, there is going to be a lot of details for BSA to work through, but this is a great thing for Scouting. When I first heard about the LDS Church's plan for a slow tracked exit from Scouts, at first I was pissed, then I was happy. Getting the bigots off the board will be the best thing for BSA (hopefully SA in the not-so distant future).
Neo: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?
Morpheus: No, Neo. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to.