No more Boy Scouts

What a shame. I was proud to be a Boy Scout in the 60s. Our troop consisted of almost every boy of scouting age in our little town.
Those of us whose parents couldn't pay the fees involved would deliver "hand bills" or advertisement for the local grocery store. Each boy had an account managed by the Scoutmaster and any excess could be used for uniforms, Boy's Life magazine or camping gear. We camped out at least once a month and each campout involved a "hike", time spent working on rank and merit badges, learning how to cook over an open fire and how to pitch a tent. We learned how to fish, what poison ivy looked like, how to paddle a canoe, use a compass and map, how to tie knots and what each knot was good for, learned how to swim and most importantly we were taught how to be good citizens.
For those of us who grew up without a father around, it was a critical part of growing up. To bad it's been ruined by our "woke" society.

Joe Chartreuse said:

I have a question. All of this gender stuff has me completely confused, and I haven't learned all the terms ( nor do I really plan to, truth be told). However, I respectfully ask how many genders foes the newly named ex BSA recognize now? Real question, because I don't know the answer,

Also, one more question: When I was in the BSA (and Cub Scouts too), we had "official" knives that we were taught to use as tools. A multi-blade folder for Cubs, and a Sheath knife for Boy Scouts. The "official in quotes because their were several regional BSA knives. In my area it was a Utica Sportsman ( I still have both). The question: Do they still teach knife usage in scouts, and are they still carried?

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As far as your first paragraph, I personally have no darn idea, nor do I care to even know. I am no longer affiliated with the BSA. I will continue to call them the BSA, as I do wish to recognize and or give acceptance for what it has become. I stopped in the low - mid teen years as simply, I could not find a guy who wanted to take over. Our original boys "Plus" had gone through the program and moved on, God Bless Them. Out of my original 3 assistants, one had passed away, he was a fine man. We made sure his son got his Eagle. Then a good Dad who was helping got ill and eventually passed. My 2 assts., God bless them two, did not want to take over and I couldn't find a Dad to take over, so our charter sadly lapsed and ended. Ironically we had 2 charter reps from the VFW, also passed away, as they were getting up in age. When the second passed, I felt it was time to end it and move on. Heck I stayed on for years after my son got his Eagle. Also changes were already happening that none of us in our group were happy with. Enough said about that.......as far as Knife safety, I started a Knife safety "Green card" that I gave each boy after they were safely educated about knives and how to use them. I taught them about the usual boy scout knife, and also multi-tools, and also straight bladed knifes for them to at least know about them. In our troop I had them carry the typical folding boy scout knife, and also a multi- tool like a Leatherman Tool or the Victorinox multi tool. BSA even had the Victorinox in in the catalog and the Boy Scout Store along with another BSA. Approved tool made by Cooper Tools. I/we never had the boys carry a straight edge sheath knife. I thought it too dangerous on a hike or whatever. The catalog had no sheath knives anyway as even they knew or were worried about Liability ....as Troops go, we used their program as a guide and used their safety manuals and made our Troop work and go. Our boys were very safety conscious with knives.

dchmule said:

What a shame. I was proud to be a Boy Scout in the 60s. Our troop consisted of almost every boy of scouting age in our little town.
Those of us whose parents couldn't pay the fees involved would deliver "hand bills" or advertisement for the local grocery store. Each boy had an account managed by the Scoutmaster and any excess could be used for uniforms, Boy's Life magazine or camping gear. We camped out at least once a month and each campout involved a "hike", time spent working on rank and merit badges, learning how to cook over an open fire and how to pitch a tent. We learned how to fish, what poison ivy looked like, how to paddle a canoe, use a compass and map, how to tie knots and what each knot was good for, learned how to swim and most importantly we were taught how to be good citizens.
For those of us who grew up without a father around, it was a critical part of growing up. To bad it's been ruined by our "woke" society.

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What you guys did sounds like our Troop.!!!

Absolutely still teach Knives axes etc. "official knives" are cheap junk made in china. I don't know any scout who has one of those. They carry real knives in most cases.

I think the Chinese stuff started around '04 or so, but there was still some old stock USA stuff around too and that went on for a while, Then it was all of the Chinese stuff. Actually back before 2010 or 2012 those knives were not so bad in the beginning but as an everything they were not so hot ....Granted, as all troops are concerned and as you know, we are responsible to buy All of our gear anyways, so we got the best we could, and the best we could afford. We survived.

Jeepnik said:

I guess this means girls are allowed in now. No more skinny dipping on camp outs.

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Girls were already allowed in.

I got in at 10 1/2 and stayed until I was 18. Just 2 or 3 badges short of Eagle, the BSA added inner-city merit badges (skating, etc.) in addition policy changes. When I left I was a junior assistant scoutmaster. They changed, I left.

They continued to change, and although I thought of getting back involved in it again, their policies suck.

tazbigdog said:

Girls were already allowed in.

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No offense to girls.......but they should have joined the "Girl Scouts".....That was the beginning of the end. In my opinion, BSA did this as to what they thought would increase membership, meaning more money for the BSA. They knew there were rumblings going on with the Mormons. In CA, the Mormons were a Large amount of the total numbers. We were a Regular Troop. Right after I started I soon found out that in our area anyway, we never mixed at all. They had their events and we had ours. Never got together at all. There is a lot I would like to say about that, but I am will not do it here. It is what it is and it is done. It was always said in Scouts that we eventually would lose the boys to girls and gasoline. Well what the BSA do ?? Let's bring in the girls !!! And basically declare war on the Girl Scouts at the same time. You can see how it all turned out for them, and that is where we're at

If "inclusivity" includes gay Scoutmasters, the scouts would be well advised to secure their tents at night when camping lest they get an evening visit from their Scoutmaster.

I know you are probably talking about a possibility of "today", But please let us not go there out of respect for all of us good leaders over the years who cared for their boys and wanted only the best for them. Were there some real bad guys in the past, I guess so from what you hear in the media, But I never saw or heard of any of that Crap at all in our district at all. The old BSA and a very major majority of the guys back then were Good Guys. It really ticks me off to disrespect any of them and for that matter, the boys too.. The BSA is done. Let's leave it as is.

It should be reiterated that Boy Scouts at a National level and a local level are two totally different things in many cases. No matter that BSA lets gay scoutmasters exist in the organization, local troops and their Charter organizations may not. As stated, my troop is at a Southern Baptist Conservative Church. We would not have an openly gay scoutmaster. If it was pushed, they would resign the sponsorship of the troop. I'm sure some troops in town do allow that. Don't join that troop.

I know I speak for myself and the departed Charter Reps I worked with, would Never allow or condone that in our Troop......Today is a whole completely different ballgame and I feel sorry for the guys & the kids that they did not experience the Boy Scouts as it used to be.....but you are correct, an individual Charter and Troop can run their program as they see fit ....BSA only give us guidelines and a program to use but we run our program as we, the Charter and our parents support us to do this. It is a whole group effort of good people. That is what the media leaves out.

Trail Life USA is a Christian alternative
traillifeusa.com

Dos Vaqueros said:

Trail Life USA is a Christian alternative
traillifeusa.com

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They've had others in the past. Quote a few. I think I remember another Christian group called the "Royal Rangers" or something like that.

Royal Rangers is still around.
Trail Life was started about 10 years ago when several Scout Masters lieft after BSS allowed gay scout masters.

I am glad I was involved with the BSA when I was. It really was the end of a great thing. Very sad. This can be a sick world. Just thinking about all of this makes me so angry. This should never have happened. To me there is no common sense at all all here. They should have started their own Rainbow type club. That's another thing. The word Rainbow used to mean the beautiful colors in the sky after a rain storm. Now people say rainbow and it sure don't mean that now!!

BSA set themselves up as an easy target. Catholic Church did the same.

Scouts. Formerly known as Boys.

Jeepnik said:

I guess this means girls are allowed in now. No more skinny dipping on camp outs.

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WOW, are you behind the times. Girls have been in the Scouts for five years now! You went skinny dipping???