Boy Scouts trying to rebuild their ranks...

[cynatnite]

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — Her crown glinting in the morning sun, Miss America was telling 45,000 Boy Scouts and their leaders the other day how thrilled she was to be here at the National Scout Jamboree, to be among “the most amazing young women ...”

Whoops! The scouts, ever courteous and kind, could nonetheless barely stifle a collective groan. Some covered their faces in embarrassment. Miss America — Caressa Cameron, the former Miss Virginia — quickly recovered, apologized and explained that she usually speaks to groups of young women.

The slip was an inadvertent reminder of a host of issues, including whether to admit girls, that the Boy Scouts of America faces this year as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The organization, long an icon of wholesomeness in a simpler America, has seen its membership plunge by 42 percent since its peak year of 1973, when there were 4.8 million scouts. In the last decade alone, membership has dropped by more than 16 percent, to 2.8 million.

The declines reflect the difficulties of keeping up with changing times and shifting demographics, as well as of battling a perception that the organization is exclusionary because it bars gay people and atheists, not to mention girls under 13.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/us/31boyscouts.html?_r=1&hp

[sakabatou]

1. Well, the beauty contestants are renowned for brains...

[cynatnite]

2. I wondered if that oops was intentional. n/t

[Ken Burch]

3. The Boy Scouts needs to go, and to be replaced by something else.

Baden-Powell started the Scouting movement(personal disclosure, I was in Cub Scouts up to the Wolf Badge level and my mom was a den mother)in order to get young males used to wearing uniforms(also possible to give himself the chance to look at underage boys in shorts, but that's ANOTHER discussion).

There needs to be a group that's closer to the values of Ernest Thompson Seton, with the emphasis on getting young people connected with nature and teaching them about the world around them-not the proto-military organization that Scouting developed into.

[Cid_B]

4. Then go start your own...

... and quit demanding that others just go away. Scouts was one of the best parts of my childhood.

[bedazzled]

6. i had never heard of Ernest Thompson Seton

what a fascinating man! i've got some reading to do. thanks
for the heads-up...

[NeoGreen]

5. I link the decline corresponds with the influence of the...

Mormon Church and their increasing emphasis on religion.

When I was in as a scout no one really openly discussed or inquired about the 'Reverent" part of the Scout Law, ever.
It was understood to be a private matter.

Now, 34 years later as a scout Dad, I see too much emphasis on having to openly acknowledging 'God', and display your
Reverence. Whatever happened to Mathew 6:5-6?

The BSA is addicted to Mormon money, and the influence shows, and I am disgusted by it. The position that a young man
can't grow into a good person without acknowledging god (whose god?) is bunk. Pure and simple bunk.

[NutmegYankee]

7. Absolutely! I noticed the same during my time in Scouting.