NorthofDetroitGuy's Blog

Ever since I was a kid, people have been talking about Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts merging.  As a kid, I didn't really want girls involved.  However the idea of co-ed camping didn't really turn the ligh bulb on until I was around 14 or 15 as I was finishing up my scouting experiences.

In England the Girl Scouts went bust, and Boy Scouts went Co-Ed around that time.  From what I understand first hand from a female scout is that Girls Scouts here or in England only have a few things in common. Even then there are many differences.  Recently I hear people talk about when I was a, as it relates to the opposite.

For example:  When discussing Boy Scouts, I hear women say "When I was a Girl Scout".  My nieces were in Girl Scouts and I just don't see the similarity.  I see Girl Scouts more as a club where girls pick up tips and tricks for doing things and build female bonding.  I see Boy Scouts more as a training and hard core learning set with a building of hard core character based on TOUGH experiences.

The Girl Scout program is based on the needs and interests of girls.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

 Source(s):

http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cen...
http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/

 However, having never been a girl scout, I am curious about a few things.

 Do they have to make fire without the aid of technology such as matches and lighters?

 Do they hike 50 miles in a week while carrying a backpack?

 Why call it Girl Scouts, if they don’t really learn the art of “Scouting” as Sir Baden Powel originally intended and the definition is based off of?

Do they take a Wilderness survival course often taught by Navy Seals where you can only bring the clothes on your back and an emergency beacon?

I am literally asking these questions to point out the differences between organizations not sexes.  For the record, I do feel a girl or woman is perfectly capable of completing anything in this post.  I just personally don't think that experience in Girl Scouts means you can refer to experiences in Boy Scouts as though you honestly have had the same Scouting experience.

Should the organizations merge like they did in England, and if so, which one should be the parent organization?  I would hate not to be able to get my Girl Scout cookies every year....and I mean that, I am addicted.