BoyandGirlScouts.com – News, Opinion, Advice

18 July 2008

Same Mistake, Same Impression

Posted by admin under: International; policies .

A story in the Canadian Press brings up the oft-recurring theme of “Why is the membership in Scouting declining?” It’s the same issue that has come up many times in the USA. Some sources will say it is the policies of Boy Scouts of America. However, this is a Canadian story. Some will say it’s the religious nature of Boy Scouts. Then why, according to the New York Times, has the membership of Girl Scouts of the USA declined by 1 million since the 60’s? The only discrimination the GSUSA engages in is against boys which makes sense since it’s a group for girls.

The reasons are complex, I’m sure, with different factors pushing numbers down. People who try to say it is definitely one Scouting policy or another are pursuing their own agendas. Just about any of these agendas has been cited as reasons adults haven’t tried to talk their kids into Scouting. Overwhelmingly, however, the excuse given is, “I’m too busy” or “I don’t have time”.

I’ve done recruiting for both Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Across the board the attitude I find most often from adults who decide that their kid can’t join is that the adults don’t want to participate in the program. In any way. They want a cheap babysitting service. Being an active part of the program is something they are not interested in. As soon as you explain that Scouting is a community group that needs the participation of all the parents you begin to lose people. And that’s fine with me.

I don’t want to be somebody’s cheap babysitter. I want other parents who think teaching hiking and self-reliance is important and fun. I want a group that helps each other out realizing that we all have different strengths and opportunities. I’m not interested in having parents drop off a boy, pick him up after the meeting, and never bother to show up when he is presented with awards for his accomplishments. There is a large population that does not care about spending time with their kids to teach them skills and values. Just like a lot of things nowadays, people want instant results. Don’t ask them to spend time and effort on it because they’ll think you’re being too demanding and unrealistic.

Then what’s the reason why boys and girls aren’t badgering their parents to join? It’s society’s attitude towards Scouts and the values and activities they represent. Kids want to be viewed positively. When being accepted depended on how good and trusted you were, programs like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts flourished. When you had to create your own entertainment you looked for new places to explore. When being cool and rebellious became popular, the programs stalled. When being known as good and accepting your parents’ values was unpopular Scouting declined. How many kids talk about going for a long walk and trying to find birds, bears, caves, and weird plants? Not many and most of them are in Scouts. Kids will idolize the sports stars who can snowboard or dunk, but it seems almost contingent on the fact that they could never be described as being otherwise normal. They have to be apathetic or menacing.

As down as all this sounds, the reality is that most Americans still want others to respect them and not think they’re bad people. Being helpful to others is still admired. That’s why Scouting continues to be a strong program and a good investment of time and energy for families who want to spend time together having good, clean fun. When being cool and edgy is less popular than being good and trusted the Scouts shall rise again, to borrow a Dixie phrase.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Declining Interest in Girl Scouts – By Parents
• GSUSA Leadership Focus Panics Cookie Buyers
• Necessary Evil
• More Hispanic Push in Florida
• Possible Increase In Girl Scouts Membership Fee

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