I was a Brownie, then a Girl Scout as a child. Even then I was somewhat disenchanted, as I knew—thanks to my father's experience as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts—how much more interesting the program, the experiences, and the skills learned would have been if only I'd had that Y chromosome.
Nonetheless, we had a good time, thanks to my father, who took us mountain climbing and taught us to build fires and tie knots, just as he had his Boy Scouts, and to a renegade leader who battled the Girl Scout bureaucrats for the right to take our troop on a tour of Europe.
By the time our own girls were of age, however, the Girl Scout program had, in my opinion, degenerated much further, becoming more "relevant," more "modern"—and even less fun. What worked for us was the YMCA Indian Princess/Indian Guide program with its regular campouts and greater freedom to customize the local tribe's activities.
If we had young children now, I don't know what we'd do; the Y program has changed, whether for better or worse I know not. But I do know what we would NOT do: subject our girls to the new Girl Scouts.
Two years shy of their 100th birthday, the Girl Scouts are going through a midlife crisis of sorts, rethinking everything except their cookie recipes.
Struggling to maintain its relevance after years of declining membership, the organization is rolling out a rebranding campaign — for the first time in 30 years — throughout the country this month, trying to shed the quaint image of crafts and campfire songs and reposition itself as an agent of change for girls.
This fall, the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas ... plans to introduce a new initiative, called Gamma Sigma. ... “Gamma Sigma suggests a club with sororitylike traditions like pinning and candlelight ceremonies that appeal to girls,” said Ann Maria Chavez, the council’s chief executive.
Traditional badges are out. Gamma Sigma will have speakers, workshops and experiences intended to bolster girls’ self-esteem and decision-making, Ms. Chavez said.
Can you say, "B-O-R-I-N-G"?
At least they're not messing with my Thin Mints.
They are trying to make the Boy Scouts more relevant, too. They are introducing technology badges and changing the uniform to include a pocket for a smart phone. There was an article in today's paper, but I can't find it on-line (author: Scott K. Parks).
I don't mind adding technology badges (as long as they add, rather than replace), but I'm not so sure about the uniform pocket.
Much as I appreciate being able to reach D on the Island via his Blackberry, something is lost in that transition.
I wrote my comment in a hurry yesterday and didn't have time to find this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/28/boy-scouts-video-game-bad_n_555085.html
A video game badge. This is for the kids younger than boys scout age - Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos.
Here is the article I couldn't find yesterday.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/99206354.html
I wouldn't have a problem with a video game badge, even if it were for the older scouts, if it were difficult enough. You want a large variety of activities and areas of interest, and video gaming can fall in the same category as coin collecting, which has had a badge for as long as I was aware of it. My problem with the whole merit badge system (Girl and Boy Scouts) is that there's so little "merit" in them. I received plenty of badges that I hardly earned, they were made so easy—and I knew it at the time, though I didn't have the integrity to refuse them. Sure, earning badges seemed onerous, but that was only because I either had no interest in the subject or was too lazy to want to work at it. The object was to acquire badges rather than to acquire knowledge.
Then again, I had the same problem with school....
Changing "badges" to "grades"...thought you might find this valedictorian's speech interesting.
What kind of teenager reads John Taylor Gatto?
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/212383-Valedictorian-Speaks-Out-Against-Schooling-in-Graduation-Speech
Interesting, yes. Heather had to have her valedictory speech vetted by the administration -- kudos to this school if they (1) didn't require prior approval, or (2) allowed this speech anyway. Sure, it's a little polemic...but I have to plead guilty on that score, too. :(
I don't think our speeches were checked, although we might have done a preview of sorts during school, something about not all students coming to graduation or something? I can't remember.
I'd think that valedictorians would be the sort of people you wouldn't need to censor for a school speech. Though I'm now thinking of a high school friend who got straight A's one year, but missed 120 days of school, so the school said, we'll allow you to pass, but next year you need to stick to the attendance policy. He used up his days in the first month...
He didn't have much good to say about the school, and it was too bad that something couldn't have been worked out. He was aiming for the Berkeley school of music - best guitarist I've ever heard, but I don't think he ended up going.
As for the smart phone pocket - A dad noticed Noah holding my phone/GPS when in Old Saybrook and thought it was pretty good that he was leading our expedition.
That's my Noah! You should try him on a compass course. :)
The boys struggled a little to figure out how to get from the Maggie P to Fort Gardiner (near the Flounder), since the directions were telling them to go into the cove - they thought maybe they needed to walk on the beach, but couldn't figure out how to go a mile in that direction.
They walked to the road, and then thought maybe they needed to go to the Gay's.
Eventually, with a little guidance, they figured out they needed to go across the cove, and not into it, and then happily went off across the causeway.
