Is The Decline In "Scouting" Symptomatic?

2015-01-17T13:58:06-05:00

From the Deseret Morning News

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765666545/Boy-Scouts-membership-falls-7-percent-in-decade-long-decline.html?s_cid=Email-1

Boy Scouts membership falls 7 percent in decade-long decline

The Boy Scouts of America's youth membership fell 7.4 percent last year, continuing a decade-long decline for one of the nation's oldest youth organizations, a spokesman said Friday.

More than 2.4 million youth participated in its programs in 2014, along with just fewer than 1 million adults, spokesman Deron Smith said. Enrollment fell 6 percent the year before, and in previous years declined slightly or seen little to no change over the last decade.

Still one of America's most influential groups serving youth, The Boy Scouts has tried to boost participation with new technology-based programs and a "high adventure" base featuring mountain climbing, kayaking and skateboarding.

Last year was also the first full year the Texas-based organization was open to openly gay youth, a compromise approved by its national leadership in 2013. But the organization still excludes openly gay adult volunteers.

[EDITORIAL COMMENT:- Before placing both feet firmly in your mouth and leaping on the "It's all because they let the gays in." bandwagon, please re-read the last paragraph of the clip and then remember that the decline has been every year for the past 10 years.]

Boy Scouts membership falls 7 percent in decade-long decline

Scouts of America's youth membership fell 7.4 percent last year, continuing a decade-long decline for one of the nation's oldest youth organizations.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 2:08 PM

2015-01-17T14:08:39-05:00

Sir, I think it may be symptomatic of a generation (possibly generations) that don't care about civic duty, civic pride, service to our nation, voting, participating, giving something back, being part of the solution ... the list could go on and on.

I don't believe gay Boy Scouts have anything to do with the decline. Just my personal opinion.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-01-17T14:30:57-05:00

COL Ted Mc. I don't believe the decline is symptomatic of anything other than limited discretionary time and alternative activities with far more individualized schedules. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jan 19 at 2015 3:02 PM

2015-01-19T15:02:52-05:00

Yes, COL Ted Mc it is somewhat symptomatic of both society and the Boy Scouts. Society has changed enough so that many kids do not have the time or desire to be members of the BS. They have so many other things to do including things their parents want and school activities. I look at relatives kids and see them being drug to things their parents think the kids want, when it is the parents living their dreams thru the children. Other children are very happy with videogames and indoors, I might have been.

The Boy Scouts has changed drastically since I was a kid. Back then we used to go camping, learn knots, have fun. Now it is community projects, big emphasis on merit badges (and yes we did too, but not as much), and a big avoidance of homosexuals. That last has probably cost many members as well as leaders who would have never hurt children.