I learned so much from the Scouts. How to camp out and survive bad weather. Start a fire in the rain. How to tie various knots. How to track animals, canoe, and use a compass.

We didn't have any predators among the men who volunteered their time to help out with the troop--just good role models. My Dad was one of them.

We didn't have any girls in Boy Scouts then.

What happened to the Boy Scouts of America? Do they still exist? Do they still teach outdoor skills like I was taught?

Jim

I have a friend that is the care taker of a Boy Scout camp at Silcoos lake on the central Oregon coast, so yes they are still around.

Western Wildlife Services

I worked as a park ranger for 7 years and I would see a couple Boyscout/ Adventure scout groups every year. Boyscouts are still just boys I think but Adventure scouts also had girls in the troop. As far as what the kids learned I think it depends on the troop. Some were more outdoorsy where others were more computer/ modern technology oriented. The troops from urban/ cities seemed to be more geared toward the modern technology instead of wilderness skills. That being said they were all great kids and lots of fun except for one troop which I was glad to see leave. I was was in Cub scouts up to Boy scouts and I really enjoyed it.

Yep, Scouts was a big part of my life as well. It only takes a small fraction of a % of slime to completely ruin a great organization that has done so much good for over a century. They're still around, but it's not the Scouts we grew up with. Too much "woke" like many other once great organizations.

I loved scouts but they caved to the lgbtq bs and my boys and I will never be involved with them becuse of it.

it is just Scouts now

I went tiger to eagle , funny I was just talking about this

had a Den with my son and the boys in his grade. did a few years as a committee member for the local troop

but I went 4-H I have 3 kids and only one son I was splitting my time and I was just out of time

also I was getting vested in 4-H shooting sports and BSA severely cut back their shooting about that time and put a bunch of new limitations on it.

so my time went 4-H where I taught a bunch of boys and girls how to shoot.

scouts is still around , their miss management of issues basically mirrored that of the catholic church which I also used to be involved with. make bad decisions , then punish the membership to pay for those bad decisions

the organization isn't as strong as it was , even a decade ago when I got out getting volunteers was like pulling teeth.

I actually don't have an issue with having the girls in scouts , they were always there any way. if you have a son and a daughter either mom and dad are always divided or sister becomes a tag along at troop activities. the activities the boy scouts were doing were so much better than the activities the girl scouts were doing.

Just another example of how the left destroys everything pure and good. Not only do they ruin it, they openly target it.

Congrats on the Eagle GCP!

They took the word "Boy" out of it was the start.

You is what happened to them. Your liberal ideas infected the morals of this nation.

But you can't see it because it's always about you.

It faded about out of existence for the most part, because people didn't want to send their kids to an organization that might teach them to be gay, or molest them.

They still exist, yes, but now only single mother's send their boys there in hopes of providing a "father figure" in their children's life. That won't last long.

Angela, you hit the nail right on the head.

I am a Eagle Scout I really enjoyed it then I don’t think it’s all it used to be like everything else

Scandal and losing the moral core destroyed BSA.

"Controversies
On February 1, 2019, the Boy Scouts of America renamed its flagship program, Boy Scouts, to Scouts BSA to reflect its policy change allowing girls to join separate, gender-specific troops. Shortly thereafter, the largest charter organization supporting BSA, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decided to part ways substantially contributing to a net loss of nearly a million scouts/leaders. On February 18, 2020, the National BSA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is currently restructuring its financial situation. On November 16, 2020, the National BSA disclosed in their bankruptcy filings that over 92,000 former Scouts had reported sexual abuse by homosexual members of the organization. In December 2021, the insurer for the Boy Scouts of America agreed to pay $800M into the fund for survivors.[146] In 2022, the Boy Scouts of America agreed to pay an additional $2.4 Billion into the fund as part of a bankruptcy settlement with payments beginning in September 2023."

Keith

My son went from Tiger to Eagle.

When he crossed the bridge from Webelo to Scout the troop leader stated that my sons group would be his last troop he would see through.

He got sick my sons second year.

I and another kids mom stepped up to take over the troop.

She was much more organized than I and I had the skill set necessary to teach them all the things needed for advancement.

We did at least one "campout" a month. Some were in tents. Some were in cabins. In the summer months some were even bare minimum campouts. Meaning the boys couldn't bring a tent. Had to build their own structure. Etc etc.

We also incorporated a once a year family campout. We would pick out a state park and go there for a long weekend.

Every 3 years the trip was to Gettysburg. This was for both the special badges they could get there for doing 2 different hikes.

They opened the Bechtel reserve in WVA my sons next-to-last-year. I had a group of fathers that went with me and the boys to that.

The place is pretty impressive. If you ever have a chance to go, do so.

It's very state of the art. WiFi throughout the grounds. Watering stations everywhere. They get to do stuff that some boys will probably never get to do. Ziplining, BMX riding, etc. They have a giant treehouse type structure that is really cool.

We still taught the core values of the scouts, but also incorporated many of the modern "technologies" into it.

I also wanted my son to learn to do things without me. I had a good group of fathers that would take my son along on a fatherless (me) campouts. I didn't want him to get the idea that even though I was the scout leader, he was going to skate through.

I have since retired my uniform, and have taken on a less inclusive role. I'm good at fund raising, so the bulk of my time now is helping to boys figuring out ways to fund their Eagle projects, and camping trips. Generally speaking most boys who put in the effort don't have to spend much money on their projects, or pay much for camping trips. I had a boy not too long ago fund raise over $10,000 for his project. He spent a fraction of that and asked that it be put into camping trips and trips to the Bechtel reserve for future boys in the troop. His only stipulation was that it not be used to fund any Eagle projects, as he wanted the boys to learn how to organize and complete a project on their own. Each boy has their own account as does the troop as a whole. 1/3 of the money raised by the boy goes into the troop accoiunt for camping 2/3 goes towards their Eagle project.

Some people here will keep voting for it too.

Thats the boy scouts I was involved in James. Has not been like that in a long time. 3 day survival hike without food, 50 mile canoe trip were two of my favorites. That survival hike the summer I was 11 got me interested in trapping. On one of the preparation trips we were taught how to snare rabbits. I was hooked.

I dont remember ever sleeping in a cabin. We did camp a lot. Cant imagine very many parents today allowing a kid to camp in bad cold in a tent today. Not hot tents either. I believe we were a lot tougher than most of the kids today. We did have an advantage over a lot of kids. CO was still a great place to live. At least 50% fewer people and endless (to a kid) miles of BLM and National Forrest.

Firearm safety and marksmanship, archery, first aid, orienteering, axe, knife, edible plants, fire, citizenship, morals. Nope its gone forever.

Our troop followed the rule of no 1 on 1 when it came to boys and adults. It was always 2 adults and 1 child when an adult would have to do anything with a child. So we never had any problems others had with the leaders.

The BSA has had to evolve as time moves on. Especially with the new technology that is coming out every day.

For instance my boys learned compass reading and navigation. Along with map reading. Compass to map/map to compass skills. They also learned GPS skills.

So there are troops out there that stick as close as they can to the core values of the BSA.

I don't think we have any troops that are girl inclusive, or any girls only troops in our council. I haven't seen any at our summer camp at the local BSA camp. We do have a lot of females that teach badges at summer camp. One of our best rifle range instructors is female. She's very strict ( sometimes too strict) when it comes to the range.

Danny, our winter cabin camping trip was mainly a fun trip. Sled riding, snow boarding, and stuff like that. They also were learning skills without even really knowing it at the time it was happening. We would do a fire building competition. They would be given a flint and striker, 1 match, and a small piece of paper, it was about the size of a gum wrapper. Every kid got to keep the flit/striker. The fastest kid got to pick out the next days dinner.

This also gave them time to work on some of the more "boring" badges.

My goal was to have every scout Entering Life rank to have every required badge done and to really work on earning palms, and working on planning their Eagle projects.

I only had 1 scout make it to Life and not attain Eagle, and 2 Eagles not earn any palms.
The Lifer had everything he needed, but just didn't want to do a project. He stood there and watched his 3 best friends all get pinned. The Eagles who didn't get palms were brothers. Their mom told them to get most of the badge done and I would just sign off on it. They both learned real quick that wasn't happening.

Good to hear there are still a few good programs.

I made Eagle. Years later my son made Eagle.

Then Scouts went woke. We disassociated ourselves. Its sad. I was a terrific organization.

Pete

warrior is correct. if you want to see what happened to the Boy Scouts, look in the mirror, Jim...the answer is there.

Good question James.
My sons are Eagles with palms. I found out just this past fall one of the young ladies I coach on the high school trap team is a scout and in fact is just setting up her Eagle project. She may be 9th grade? Anyway I was not aware of any gals who could be scouts until now. Great young lady, respectful and obviously quite ambitious to be at this point of that process at her age.
She is hi on my list for receiving a western hunt.

Osky

I went from tiger to Eagle as well, and loved it. I went to Philmont scout ranch when I was 15 and it was a life changing experience for me. Wife and I volunteered for a short time with a troop before we had kids.

I would never send my kids to scouts now.

The funny thing is, Girl Scouts wont allow boys, they say girls need a safe space just for girls. There doesn't seem to be much leftist outrage over that though, for some reason.

I grew up in Boy Scouting.

IMO The beginning of the end was When they were targeted by an atheist family for the inclusion of God in the scout oath and the requirement for the boys to memorize and recite the Scout Oath.
Which the family was aware of when they joined the BSA.

The BSA settled with the family and thus opened themselves up to the LGBTwhatever inclusion issues that soon followed. Word got out that the BSA would cave and not fight for its stated Values.

The pedo thing I believe was much more isolated than was/is believed...Any is too much. I never heard about any in our area. We as boys were encouraged to report ect...

I would add this. As of 23 years ago or so the military was still impressed with lessons learned as a scout.
When my oldest son joined the Air Force a went to Texas for basic training the first thing that happened after being put in a line outside the bus was a question. Who’s was an Eagle Scout, and who had a college degree.
Those answering to the affirmative for either were taken away for good, advanced training and programs immediately.

Osky

I was Tiger through Eagle, at 15 years old in 1993. Then very active in OA. Some of my best childhood memories and lessons came from Boy Scouts. I was in during the beginning of the end. I will say that the adults of the Organization will make or break a Troop/Council. OA's original purpose has been gutted, the whole organization is an empty shell of what it used to be.

My son went from Tiger to Eagle, I was with him the whole way as a leader from a den leader to scout master. I know my sons troop did right by those young men teaching skills. We were very active backpacking the Appalachian Trail and even did a 100 miles over 10 days, they did the planning and the chose the trek. We had kids from other troops come with us on backpacking and canoe trips. My sons troop loved it when my inner Marine would come out and I would drill(march) them around the campsite at jamborees.
What I saw and didnt like was the changes coming down about the woke culture and the other thing was the good old boy network. There were too many leaders that were not capable of any physical activity and too many leaders sat around the campfire and did not give those young minds food for thought or know how to teach skills.
When my son was aging out, I asked those young men what they wanted to do as a final trip. I was thinking they would choose Philmont. They said, New York City. They said they have learned to read a map and can navigate the woods with a compass but they did not know how to navigate a train/subway system. So, thats what we did, they raised money and we stayed at a camp and took the train in to the City and to Statue of Liberty. I think their minds were blown by Times Square.

Another loving edifying coment from our christion rabbi.
Or is it just trolling for Another thread to be axed?
Fine example from our representative of the southern baptist.

1 Timothy 5:20 them that sin rebuke before all, that others may also fear.

elkaholic congratulations to you. Good man.....jk

Looks like you stumbled on to it. How naive would one have to be to believe he didn't already know the answer. That's not a question.

I went from cub scouts to boy scouts in the mid sixty's, They were still active then but my troops leaders couldn't find their behinds with both hands, it was basically a social club. The last straw was I was berated for wearing my gray dress hush puppies with my uniform, we couldn't afford a separate pair of glossy black dress shoes just for scout meetings. That was my first command decision as a kid to quit that bunch.

I'm sure there were good troops, mine wasn't one of them....

I was Bobcat (no Tiger) through Eagle as is oldest son. Other son started with Tiger and just started Boy Scouts last year. I am the Scoutmaster(started this year). We still do everything as in the past. One problem today is there are so many options that kids are involved in. Used to be Scouts and summer baseball was about it. Am not a fan of girls in Scouts but it doesn't affect us. There are no co-ed Troops. Have to be one or the other. Our summer camp has 1 or 2 weeks of girls and Troops. The rest are just boys. Determined son will get Eagle. If we ever have grandsons I am afraid the organization will be gone or close to.

This makes me sick, I started in Cub Scouts in the mid fifties and continued into the Boy Scouts in the sixties, I made it Star Scout and I soon discovered girls exist and quit, I learned most of my wood lore in scouts and I would say my biggest takeaway was to “ Be Prepared “ and it made me have better life….just saying!

the village responsibility you are talking about is a good thing. the govt wanted parents to have less say in raising their child

Yes a certain female really turned that concept 180 degrees.

Osky

What Osky said!

Was James ever a boy?

He was born a hairy chested man, smoking a cigar.

1

Guess I ain't dating him then

I think you're confusing Scouts with the Catholic Church.

The Left is what happened to the Boy Scouts

Go Woke Go Broke. Boy scouts went woke!!!

How dare you presume they/them gender.

Was a scout for 3 years. Learned a lot from the experience. When I graduated from college in 1971 with my Bachelors Degree, I had a job offer from the Scouts but turned it down for another job. If I had to do it all over again, I would have taken the job. Don’t know if I would today with all the Woke stuff supposedly going on in the organization.

The VFW post I was a member in for 30 years chartered the local boy scouts and cub scouts in that community. Our small post closed and the Lions took the charter. The VFW post I now belong to charters the boy scouts and cub scouts in that community. Yes the scandals have caused a lot of issues. It has however brought in quite a few female den leaders etc. The other factor many don't realize is the big increased cost for the youth to join. The insurance and other costs have risen a lot the last few years. The cost to enroll the youth is now about 3 times what it was less then 10 years ago. Paying out millions in settlements costs money. Our post now covers 1/3rd that cost and we share that with two other non profits. The numbers in the troops in both communities have held very well the last decades.

Bryce

I thought it was wholesome also , I couldn't get away with nothin every old church lady in town knew my dad with a spy network like that there was no choice but to stay on the strait and narrow.

Did anyone else's troop go on weekend camp-outs? Mine did--all year.

Whatever weekend we picked, the weather would deteriorate. We camped in blizzards, downpours, and windstorms. Never in good weather, it seemed.

Jim

Benefit of the doubt

Remember Den Mothers? Cub scouts? BSA had a camp outside Omaha. Had some good trips there. I agree, woke left ruined them.

Yep, remember the weekend campouts. Also, remember cooking bacon for the first time on an open campfire. I burnt it but I was proud I made it and ate it and enjoyed it (I think).

Lol
Depending on your age, I my know you.

66

Yes once a month every month and a week summer camp in the summer . Coldest I rember camping was -7° woke up every time I moved inside my mummy bag from the cold. The only time that old down filled surpluses mummy bag didn't keep me warm. Had one trip cut short when ther was 6" of water in the tents after heavy rains at a jamboree.. hi river levels stoped us from launching our boats once. Another troop did in the swollen River. First 4 boxes didn't make it around the first bend. Packs and coolers wer floating down the river fast. We decided to just camp and leave th boats on the trailer

Often our monthly weekend campouts were used as training. Preparation for the big adventures. Sometimes it was just a free for all. Fishing story telling exploring. Yep we got cold and wet too. I didnt think very many parents today would let little johnny do such "dangerous" "child abuse" type stuff.

When my son was 7 I took him on a back packing camp mule deer hunt in CO. Told the school what we were doing and asked what I should be teaching him so he didnt fall behind. Told me they could not allow it. Were pretty upset when I said I wasn't there to get permission. That adventure is I believe still one of his fondest memories.

I was a Cub Scout then a Boy Scout. I made it to Star Scout before other interests led me in another direction.

Those were good years. We had an awesome Den Mother, later a great Scoutmaster, paper drives (we collected old newspapers and sold them for recycling) summer and winter camping at Camp Shikellamy, weekend camping trips all summer long to Glow Wood, the Order of the Arrow ceremonies, long games of nighttime Capture the Flag, jamborees...

We chartered a troop at a gun club I belong to near my camp until the liberal, woke crap hit the fan some years ago. It ended up being a liability issue the club couldn't afford and that ended the charter.

My newest camp member was an Eagle Scout. I wrote a letter of recommendation to the Eagle Scout Review Board explaining what a good kid he is.

It's a shame what has happened to the organization.

My oldest is an Eagle Scout. Also a Marine. We are both in Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

In Troop we belonged to, they had a saying........3/4 of scouting is "outing". We camped. Only time I can remember cancelling a campout was the time they got 19 inches of snow on a Friday, and couldn't physically get the equipment trailer to the campsite. We went following weekend. Coldest I camped was +5F. Below zero you got the rare and coveted clear bead. I don't have one of those.

But once they started allowing gays and girls, I walked away and no going back. I was a kid once.........and on two different occasions was exposed to what would now be labeled sexual assault. Both from trusted older boys. Being an adult in charge, I won't accept the liability for when some 15 year old girl gets knocked up on a campout.........or when any other kids.......boy or girl.......gets assaulted while on campouts. Same with adult leaders........men and women..........in the woods after dark. Stuff happens and I don't want to be anywhere near any of it.

I went camping one weekend a month with the Troop, and one weekend a month with Order of the Arrow. Also staffed a few leader training sessions and one summer at camp. The camping were the best times, even if the weather sucked.

we had a campout our activity every month.

My troop was big into canoeing went to Canada , Ontario white otter wilderness , boundary waters , and Michigan on canoe trips.
the off years we went to summer camp in WI at the council camp.
then our scout master had a cabin and some acreage in the UP so we often did a week there also.
we also did a lot of cooking which is probably part of why we weren't into back packing we wanted to haul in good food or catch and cook fish.