I don't know about nationwide or historically, but right now, in the area where I live, Girl Scouts is a truly wonderful organization. Badges are earned by community service and experiences that most girls would never get otherwise. Girls gain skills, confidence, and independence that will truly help them and society as they grow into women. I'm extremely grateful for R's participation in a great troop, coordinated by three troop leaders and with input and involvement of every mom of every Girl Scout. I plan the meeting for the end of May!
I'm surprised by this response. I thought you'd say, the best organization for Boys. But you really don't think Girl Scouts are that good for girls?? Oh my god, you have no idea what you're saying.
I've worked with a few girl scout leaders, and some of them hate trying to work within that organization. Some recognize some other faults. I overstated it when I said that "very few" would disagree, but I still think there's a big difference. I know the organization, and I know what effort goes into it. I know what the boys go through and are required to learn, and I know that the GS leaders I've heard from say it's a much more structured and in-depth program.
I could certainly say that Girl Scouting is better for girls than Boy Scouting is for girls, but there are branches of Scouting under the BSA that are coed.
Oh, ok, I just read this and now know the basis behind your comment. But now I'm wondering if you're talking about your local scout leaders' experiences. I think that there is great variation throughout the country. And I do know that locally, girl scout leaders think that the Girl Scouts seems to be a stronger, more effective organization - right here, right now.
Did you mean stronger and more effective than the Boy Scouts?
On the National level, I don't think you can beat the BSA. They're good on the council level. Our district leadership is not so hot. Some of our district members kick ass.
Some of the things I've heard complaints about the Girl Scouts seemed to be organization-wide. But maybe it was council level. I can't remember the specific examples, but I heard horrors stories about things the girls weren't allowed to do (some for safety reasons), that our boys learn as first year scouts. The leaders in question gave up Girl Scouting in absolute frustration.
Yes, a troop leader told me that locally the Girl Scouts is a far better organization, in her opinion.
From the little I know, it seems like Girl Scouts is very effective at giving girls leadership experience that they might never otherwise get. I think it truly fosters self-esteem, particularly for teenage girls at a time when they might otherwise start losing any self-confidence they may have had as younger girls. And this in itself is vital in contemporary American society.
I'm not sure if she was a member of both. But my question remains whether the opinions of those you spoke to were limited to your area or were expressed about scouting in general, nationwide.
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I could certainly say that Girl Scouting is better for girls than Boy Scouting is for girls, but there are branches of Scouting under the BSA that are coed.
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On the National level, I don't think you can beat the BSA. They're good on the council level. Our district leadership is not so hot. Some of our district members kick ass.
Some of the things I've heard complaints about the Girl Scouts seemed to be organization-wide. But maybe it was council level. I can't remember the specific examples, but I heard horrors stories about things the girls weren't allowed to do (some for safety reasons), that our boys learn as first year scouts. The leaders in question gave up Girl Scouting in absolute frustration.
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From the little I know, it seems like Girl Scouts is very effective at giving girls leadership experience that they might never otherwise get. I think it truly fosters self-esteem, particularly for teenage girls at a time when they might otherwise start losing any self-confidence they may have had as younger girls. And this in itself is vital in contemporary American society.
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