Wow, I think this new plan is so silly sounding.
I was a Girl Scout through Brownies, but I had to quit simply because there wasn't an older troop in my area. I would have absolutely loved to continue, though, and even now envy people who got to go further in scouting.
I think this new plan sounds like they're pandering to the Britney generation. Really, the Boy Scouts still have plenty of membership, and they haven't had to come up with silly new names and abolish uniforms and badges.
My thoughts are this- they should emphasise opportunities for community service and leadership, since they can help with the whole college application process. They should also try to get rid of the whole "baking and sewing" image that I've always noticed people having. I really think the push for younger volunteers they're doing is GREAT...that is a step in the right direction. Maybe they should try to figure out what made Boy Scout's Eagle Scout rank so well known, and see if it might be possible to make the Gold Award more well known.
Well, that's my two cents. Of course, I don't really know much about scouting, but I think real, substantial changes in the way the program is run and public perception would be a bigger help than superficial changes like getting rid of badges and trying to sound "cool."
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