With all of the flack that the Boy Scouts of America have been getting there is some concern that they may not be relevant anymore. As the leadership focuses on its Christian roots this is a legitimate concern, but there is a lot that the Scouts can offer boys even today. As they continue to keep pace with most events it is an organization worth looking into.
[The issue regarding homosexuality makes a certain sense given how contentious the issue has been. There is the obvious issue that they have always been a conservative organization, ensuring that they would be slow in accepting anyone with an obvious difference. However, there is also the perceived publicity issue: Despite any number of studies that have been done, too many parents have voiced concerns about having homosexuals in charge of their boys. This has forced the Boy Scouts to walk a line that other boy-related groups have been forced to walk. It's an issue that needs to be relegated to the dustbins of History.]
The biggest advantage is that it's an organization that allows boys to be boys. Too many organizations seem to be interested more in shaping boys to be generic. Rather than taking advantage of the creativity and energy of the teenage boy, they are more interested in forcing boys into being some sort of "paragon of society", and that's just wrong. Boys should be allowed to be who they are and not be transformed into some generic person in order to make someone feel good about their personal agenda. Boys tend to figure things out once given a chance, and the Scouts give them that shot.
The Scouts also tend to teach a lot of miscellaneous skills, giving boys a lot more confidence in their abilities as well as a wide range of skills that they can take advantage of later on. Although there is a focus on survival skills, boys also learn a number of mechanical skills as well, not to mention life skills such as cooking and banking. This "expanded toolbox" gives boys the opportunity to try a lot of different things and see what they want to be, as well as handy skills for life.
They also provide an outlet for competition that boys need. Boys are natural competitors, and require that in order to not go crazy. The Scouts provide a framework for boys to compete and to get stronger from that competition rather than tear each other apart. Those competitions are not just for athletes but for academics as well; jocks as well as geeks gain from scout competitions. There are also group competitions as well, ranging from team sport to construction events. A boy looking for serious bragging rights can do a lot worse.
This should not be seen as a total paean to The Scouts, however. Some boys do not well as part of an organization, and it is a rather rigid organization. It can also get rather expensive, and there is a lot of fund-raising. While it does give a lot of room for creativity, it can be a rigid organization. Nonetheless, it is something worth considering.
[The issue regarding homosexuality makes a certain sense given how contentious the issue has been. There is the obvious issue that they have always been a conservative organization, ensuring that they would be slow in accepting anyone with an obvious difference. However, there is also the perceived publicity issue: Despite any number of studies that have been done, too many parents have voiced concerns about having homosexuals in charge of their boys. This has forced the Boy Scouts to walk a line that other boy-related groups have been forced to walk. It's an issue that needs to be relegated to the dustbins of History.]
The biggest advantage is that it's an organization that allows boys to be boys. Too many organizations seem to be interested more in shaping boys to be generic. Rather than taking advantage of the creativity and energy of the teenage boy, they are more interested in forcing boys into being some sort of "paragon of society", and that's just wrong. Boys should be allowed to be who they are and not be transformed into some generic person in order to make someone feel good about their personal agenda. Boys tend to figure things out once given a chance, and the Scouts give them that shot.
The Scouts also tend to teach a lot of miscellaneous skills, giving boys a lot more confidence in their abilities as well as a wide range of skills that they can take advantage of later on. Although there is a focus on survival skills, boys also learn a number of mechanical skills as well, not to mention life skills such as cooking and banking. This "expanded toolbox" gives boys the opportunity to try a lot of different things and see what they want to be, as well as handy skills for life.
They also provide an outlet for competition that boys need. Boys are natural competitors, and require that in order to not go crazy. The Scouts provide a framework for boys to compete and to get stronger from that competition rather than tear each other apart. Those competitions are not just for athletes but for academics as well; jocks as well as geeks gain from scout competitions. There are also group competitions as well, ranging from team sport to construction events. A boy looking for serious bragging rights can do a lot worse.
This should not be seen as a total paean to The Scouts, however. Some boys do not well as part of an organization, and it is a rather rigid organization. It can also get rather expensive, and there is a lot of fund-raising. While it does give a lot of room for creativity, it can be a rigid organization. Nonetheless, it is something worth considering.
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