The Boy Scouts Aren’t Boys Anymore
Another iconic institution killed at the intersection of wokeness: diversity, inclusion and ‘equity’
By Katy Grimes, May 8, 2024 2:55 am
The Boy Scouts of America just announced it will rebrand itself with a new theme and new name: “Scouting America.” The Scouts once known as “Boys” says it is “reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting.”
What has happened to scouting in America? The adult leaders of the Girl Scouts now promote abortion and Planned Parenthood, and the Boy Scouts aren’t really about boys anymore.
I saw this coming a mile away. My now-mid-30s son was a Tiger Cub, Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webeblos, Star, and Life Scout, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. And he loved scouting. But along the way I remember being at a scout awards meeting (at about age 10 for him) and whispering to my husband, “I don’t see a single male role model in this room tonight.”
There were plenty of moms running the meeting, but moms really don’t belong in Boy scouting – other than as a supportive parent behind the scenes. And the few men at the meeting were nervous beta-males uncomfortable with the outdoors.
Let’s start with one fact: Moms ruin camp.
Moms did ruin camp. The final summer my son was at camp, a couple of moms complained about rock throwing – boys were skipping rocks on the lake – and maybe up the hill at each other. Someone got sent home. The previous summer a mom complained about the smell of the boys’ tents. She actually complained – to men – about this. I was used to de-lousing and sterilizing my son’s clothing, shoes, sleeping bag and tent after camp. It’s a right of passage.
I asked what a mom was even doing at Boy Scout camp. It seems the helicopter mom was already a thing. Sadly, her presence should have disqualified her son at camp.
Why did the male leaders allow moms to ruin camp?
What self-respecting male child wants mom at camp anyway?
My son changed Boy Scout troops to another where men ran the troop – although the pushy mothers tried.
Following the “Scouting America” announcement today, someone posted on Twitter/X:
“RIP Boy Scouts. The audience you are chasing for doesn’t want to be scouts. The audience you once had you alienated.”
Another on Twitter/X seems to agree with my assessment:
“Ahh yes, another great organization ruined by effeminate men who couldn’t tell their wives no.”
Another – this one a M.D.:
“So Boy Scouts will now have girls? You know there are Girl Scouts, right? The feminization of everything. Sissification.”
There were other, more nefarious comments, as well as those addressing the serious sexual abuse violations, and subsequent lawsuits. And there was a long list.
But looking at what happened over time, between the teachers, pushy feminist mothers, lawyers and Hollywood depicting men as idiots, men have been relegated to the dufus category and boys are cry babies. This has also hurt boy scouting.
On the playground, boys can’t play chase – someone might get hurt. Boys can’t fight – someone might get hurt. They can’t play on the monkey bars or jungle gyms, or play King of the Hill, or tackle soccer, or anything that might involve getting roughed up. And boys can’t burp, fart, scratch, or throw rocks at camp either.
In 1st grade, my son was asked not to return to the snooty private school he attended – the only answer I got from his teacher is that he was in dire trouble for being “squirrely” in the PE line – the PE they got once a week. Expulsion at age 6 – we never looked back.
Feminists are miserable women – they want to dominate men, and then when they succeed at that, they hate the men they dominate. It’s a problem, and a big one. A boy with a feminist mother does not have a chance; he’s been terrorized for years. When he realizes who he is, he’s already married to a demanding, pushy wife – and 10 to 1, she hates the Boy Scouts.
Another iconic institution killed at the intersection of wokeness – diversity, inclusion and “equity.”
This has been at the root of the Boy Scouts since it was created:
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is chartered by Congress to serve our nation’s youth by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The BSA aims to prepare young people for lives of impact and purpose. We welcome, at every level of our movement, youth and families who wish to live such a life of impact and purpose, guided by the Scout Oath and Law.
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Appreciate this Katy Grimes piece so much.
Killing off the extremely valuable institution of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts has been a real gut punch to American life and the strength of this country, and that is only ONE institution lost to us because we weren’t sufficiently on guard when the Marxists came to infiltrate it. Subsequent generations will not even be able to pinpoint what has been lost because its positive influence and effects will simply be GONE. Or so it seems. And never think the Destructive Left didn’t know exactly what it was doing. As you know.
It amazes me to this day to realize how much my involvement in the Girl Scouts shaped my life and life skills, patriotism and ethical sense, even though as my circle entered adolescence we disdained it somewhat as corny and uncool and many fell away before becoming “Senior scouts.” And of course the Boy Scouts were seen as much more serious and demanding in all ways than the Girl Scouts. Hard to know what will take its place, if anything —- but if we are able to return to semi-sanity, surely something as valuable will emerge. We hope.
A wonderful and charming old movie starring Cary Grant(!) and Betsy Drake, “Room for One More” (1952) has, among other fine scenes, a memorable Boy Scout segment and a rather moving Eagle Scout ceremony. A touching and amusing family film well worth seeking out for those who are interested in family films and Americana. Highly recommended.
I rather doubt their commitment to ethics and morality will extend to God given morality. Bring up the ten commandments and you will probalby find yourself booted out of camp for intolerance.
In 1992 Levi Strauss pulled its support from the San Francisco Chapter of the Boy Scouts because BSA refused to allow gays to be scout leaders. I stopped buying Levis. In 2015 BSA fully caved, announcing that it would allow gay scout leaders. Adult homosexuals taking young boys on camping trips. What could go wrong? Today lawsuits from hundreds of former scouts molested by pedophile scout leaders have bankrupted the BSA. The name change just confirms that the organization is already morally bankrupt. Scouting is no longer the place decent male leaders can teach boys the skills, values and discipline to become good men.
I was in the BSA and actually worked at a summer scout camp. Then it was for boys. It’s where I learned what is was to be a boy and then a man. That is all gone now. I have actually heard there are ‘scout’ troops of all girls that boys aren’t allowed because the girls need their space to be girls.
A church group built a girls summer camp across the lake from the Boy Scout camp. They then complained that the teenaged boys would swim across the lake to meet up with the teenaged girls. When you are 16, a mile+ swim isn’t all that far.
Wonder in the US Marines still turn boys into men?
Like Wes, we were in the same BOY Scout troop, I learn so much from the men that participated as leaders. I can only imagine what my focus would have been with girls as apart of our campouts.
Today I am privileged to work with boys in a Christ centered outdoor program called Trail Life USA. Really modeled largely after BSA in the 50’s and 60’s. Even today it hurts my heart to see what has happened to my life giving Boy Scouts. God bless you all.
Great article. I was a Boy Scout when young. Now a girl Dad, three of them, all Girl Scouts.
I’m from Minnesota, own property in Voyageurs National Park, grew up camping, and have worn out three pairs of boots backpacking. mostly multi-day trips.
I volunteered to help the GS leaders take the troop backpacking. Mine did their first overnight trip at 5, loved it. Few GS leaders in our area had even car camped, much less backpacked. I had plenty of extra gear.
I was told to do that I would have to take a plethora of training classes and certifications first. Nope.
instead I just took out groups of girls who happened to all be in the same troop on backpacking trips…!
There are some very fine alternatives: Trail Life USA, for boys. American Heritage Girls Inc. for girls.
The zeitgeist continues to wreak havoc on everything male. Women are the new men. “Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyranny.” –Aristotle
Wes,
Sounds like Camp Winton. I camped and worked there too in the 70’s, early 80’s. I agree with what you said.
LOVE the mentions by commenters here of the alternatives to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that are already in place. Takes some of the sting out of the purposeful killing by the Left of Boy and Girl Scouts.