Tag: The Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts Extend Their Programs to Girls

Recent decision by Boy Scouts to extend their programs to girls has had mixed reaction from the public. Traditionally developed for boys and their development, the organization has recently started including LGBT and extended their programs to girls as well. Are they opening up their doors as part of their inclusiveness initiatives? Or are they looking to improve the dwindling attendance and head count?

Boy Scouts has excellent scouting programs for boys in grades one through twelve. Boys meet weekly once under the leadership of volunteering adults. They all plan different camping, fundraising, and volunteering activities in the community. Mostly funded by local churches, Boy Scouts has proved to be a successful program even in the remote parts of the USA. You can find an Eagle scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, in all fields of work around you. The achievement of Eagle rank itself is considered a greatest achievement for the Boys and is a constant reminder for them to keep trying for their goals through out their lives.

Camping by Boy Scouts is family friendly event and raises awareness of keeping the environment clean. Many local camping areas are seeing development due to the camping fees paid by the Boy Scouts. Leadership, patriotism, communication, team work, achieving goals, and so on are constantly inculcated in their merit badges and programs. Special funding is available for children with Autism and ADHD to join Boy Scouts. They aim to improve the social skills of the boys by involving in the Scouting.

Boy Scouts was perceived as very strict organization in terms of rules and procedures. Boy Scouts do have venturing programs to include families and siblings. To avoid confusion in their troops, the Boy Scouts have started including LGBT in their troops. The decision was appreciated by many as that solves the common situations. However, recent decision to include girls as well is not welcomed by many.

Girls Scouts have their own program and empowerment agencies. They are not willing to join the Boy Scouts and want to remain independent. By including the girls in the troops, the attendance will increase definitely. 🙂 However, what about empowering the boys. Boys in general have less programs exclusively for them. They had one Scouting program and now the girls are in it as well! In their newsletter to the families, the Boy Scouts leadership has specified that the programs for boys and girls will be different and there will be no changes for the boys. In that case, how the funds will be allotted? Definitely there will be cut for the Boys programs. How about the leadership? Are they willing to recruit LGBTQ and women for their leadership positions?

The scouts are okay with the decision because girls who are gays can end up friends with the boys. That is common in schools as well. Maybe, the latest decision to include girls as well is to accommodate the previous decision of including LGBT. It is at the discretion of the local troops and churches about how they would go ahead with the latest changes. Maybe in future, they are looking for gender neutral scouts. It is uncertain about how the changes will effect Boy Scouts in the long run. Let me know your thoughts. 🙂

Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby

The boy scouts of the the Illinois and Iowa Council get together for the annual Pinewood Derby this 23rd. I was not aware of the Pinewood Derby races earlier, but as the time comes nearer the tension builds up as all the scouts prepare for the final race. 🙂

Pinewood Derby

Pinewood Derby is a miniature car race held by the Boy Scouts annually. Children receive a Derby pack consisting a block of wood, wheels, screws, and some stickers. The real challenge is in preparing a design for the car. Each car has to be according to the specifications mentioned in the letter. Typically, the maximum design specifications for a derby car are 5 ounces weight,  2 3/4 inches width, and seven inches length. The car must be free of springs and attachments as it should run freely on the track.

Before the race, the scouts meet in multiple sessions. The den leaders help the scouts to design, build, smooth, color, and attach the wheels for their cars. Additional weights can be added on the final day of the race. The car must pass the inspection before it can participate in the race.

Initially, the children may be clueless about what to do about the block of wood and what has to be done to meet the specifications. But, as the sessions progress, they gain knowledge, experience and confidence.

Apart from the scouts, parents and siblings can participate.  The entire excitement of building their own car and adding designs and competing against each other is a different experience for the scouts and families as well. It is just amazing to watch how serious families get about the race and winning. 🙂

Boy Scouts Popcorn Sales

The Boy Scouts of America are a self supporting organization which earn through popcorn sales. Scouts sell yummy popcorn online and face to face to earn money for their troops.

The Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.


For nearly a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through nearly a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

To buy popcorn and support your local scouts visit Trail’s End.