nickelrocket
1306
42
8
Assistant Scout Master here. Both daughters in GS, son in BS. Married to Girl Scout Troop leader who is SUPER-pissed that the BSA is making these moves. This is a constant battle at our house about resources and schedules and fundraising and swag and gear and on and on. IMHO the problem with GS is scaleability. One leader runs a "troop" of age-similar girls from Brownie to Ambassador and the cookie sales fund all of the troop activities. You wanna go camping, go sell cookies. However, one 10-15 girl troop will NEVER raise enough funds to outfit gear for an entire troop. Chuckbox, tents, rainflys, lanterns, stoves, dutch ovens, KP, backpacks plus transportation, scheduling, moneys, advancement, training... It's overwhelming for a lone mom or two to organize something that needs a committee to effectively execute on the boy side. Plus, if leader doesn't like/want camping - no camping. Most GS go cabin camping which helps on the gear requirement but misses out on a real part of camping which Cubs and Boy Scouts know no different. They only do tents.
2. Boy Scout fundraising swag is waaaaay better that GS. Knives, tents, drones, RC cars vs silly bands and plush. B/c GS cookies sales are for younger girls. No one can say no to a cute kid in a uniform. Older girls get tired of that quick. BS fundraising pays better too. $5 per $10 camp card. 25% average from popcorn sales. Vs. 25-35 CENTS per $4 box of cookies.
3. Journeys are BOOOORING. Journeys are GS activities "similar" to merit badges but it can take a full year to finish 1 Journey. Too much like school. Girls get bored.
4. *My experience only* Boy Scouts troops/patrols are "boy led" meaning adults are there to keep boys on task and provide guidance but they run the meeting and the program associated. GS troop has an adult leader who plans everything with girls' input. Both scenarios fall victim to "herding cats" occasionally.
I think both sides have plusses and minuses but i know the Girl Scouts will NOT combine with the BSA outright.
IKnowItWasNotDeleted
I'm an Eagle Scout and everything on the boys side is correct. I cannot say for the girls though
MuttonsChopped
The GS will have to either up their game and adapt or fold. As an Eagle Scout, I for one, welcome this change.
Billyjackjay
GSA exploits child labor to sell a name-brand product on a massive scale. Just an observation.
FartsSmellBad
Sounds like the real problem is GS management
nickelrocket
THey want to do it their own way. there was a shakeup in the mid-90's i think to its current program. used to be more BS-like before.
308Ryan
This
MAKlemore34
Did anyone else have a female BS leader? I had two but never heard of a male GS leader. I can imagine the reason why I haven’t.
nickelrocket
Female leaders in Cubs. Male leaders are welcome in GS but they must camp /away/ from the girls.
MAKlemore34
Ah ok, I had four leaders in BS- two of which were girls. I always wondered why they were leaders but I’ve never seen it in GS
IllyWilly
Venture Scouts. That is all.
nickelrocket
My daughter is interested. Don't tell my wife tho. (╬ ಠ益ಠ)
pkrevbro
Venturing is the way to go.
308Ryan
I didn't not know how other trips did it, but in mine, the troop owned a canopy and two mess boxes(Goodwill pans) and a Dutch oven.
308Ryan
All the scouts individually purchased a tent, pad, sleeping bag and pack.
nickelrocket
True. On top of dues, fees, camping costs, etc. Not making excuses but it's a lot.
nickelrocket
BS even more so. And if someone can't afford it...? Cabins so all they need is a blanket.
notme222
I'm not sure I agree with you on the fundraising, other than the margins. BSA wishes they had something as high profile as cookies. That's
notme222
a huge fundraiser. The only catch is that so much is taken out at the top level that the troop gets a small cut. But BSA works harder for it
nickelrocket
True. Boy Scouts sell lots of different things. Camp cards, holiday greenery. I sold bags of fertilizer as a lad. Whatever works.
nickelrocket
But the prizes on the bsa sheets make my daughters drool.