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As an Eagle Scout, one of the things I’m most grateful for is the merit badge program. You really get a wide exposure to tons of different areas - most of which

As an Eagle Scout, one of the things I’m most grateful for is the merit badge program. You really get a wide exposure to tons of different areas - most of which come with a pamphlet similar to this one. The real value proposition of the BSA is to better serve your community and those around you by becoming well-rounded, and having contextual experience of teamwork dynamics.

nemo44x 4y ago
Yeah it’s amazing. So far ahead of it’s time too. I hope they survive.
- obviouslynotme 4y ago
  As long as you live in the right area and select a good troop, the BSA is still thriving. The real key is to participate in the troop with your son so you can monitor it and help it become better.
  - nemo44x 4y ago
    I agree, you can’t just hope it’s to your standard. I have a young boy too small for scouts still but I plan on taking a leadership role when he’s older. If it’s any good still!
  - _delirium 4y ago
    > select a good troop Also one that fits your preferences, since style and personality varies a lot. I didn't really realize as a kid that you had a choice of which one to join, and just joined the one that met at my school. I only realized when I moved to a new city that there was such a big difference in personality. The two I was in were both pretty friendly and good in a general sense, but totally different in style. One was very "official" and put a lot of emphasis on the various ceremonies, oaths, ranks, uniforms, etc., while the other mostly de-emphasized that and was primarily oriented around monthly camping trips. (In affluent areas there is also a style of troop I'd personally avoid that isn't quite "bad" in the sense of the really dysfunctional ones, but not super great for personal development: the one where everyone is there primarily because they want their kid to put Eagle Scout on their Ivy League college applications...)
    - aksss 4y ago
      I remember the badges and uniforms pretty fondly, also the Boy's Life magazine, particularly the "Scouts in Action" stories. You can read many (all) the archived issues online now if you want a trip down memory lane. https://books.google.com/books?id=xmYEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=xmYEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=fron...
  - cbm-vic-20 4y ago
    *or daughter. Girls can join the BSA, too, with the same program as the boys.
    - nemo44x 4y ago
      I’m still really unsure I agree with this policy. We have Girl Scouts for this purpose. There’s something to be said for boy time and boys hanging out with other boys and learning to socialize, lead, and fraternize.
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nemo44x 4y ago

Yeah it’s amazing. So far ahead of it’s time too. I hope they survive.

obviouslynotme 4y ago
As long as you live in the right area and select a good troop, the BSA is still thriving. The real key is to participate in the troop with your son so you can monitor it and help it become better.
- nemo44x 4y ago
  I agree, you can’t just hope it’s to your standard. I have a young boy too small for scouts still but I plan on taking a leadership role when he’s older. If it’s any good still!
- _delirium 4y ago
  > select a good troop Also one that fits your preferences, since style and personality varies a lot. I didn't really realize as a kid that you had a choice of which one to join, and just joined the one that met at my school. I only realized when I moved to a new city that there was such a big difference in personality. The two I was in were both pretty friendly and good in a general sense, but totally different in style. One was very "official" and put a lot of emphasis on the various ceremonies, oaths, ranks, uniforms, etc., while the other mostly de-emphasized that and was primarily oriented around monthly camping trips. (In affluent areas there is also a style of troop I'd personally avoid that isn't quite "bad" in the sense of the really dysfunctional ones, but not super great for personal development: the one where everyone is there primarily because they want their kid to put Eagle Scout on their Ivy League college applications...)
  - aksss 4y ago
    I remember the badges and uniforms pretty fondly, also the Boy's Life magazine, particularly the "Scouts in Action" stories. You can read many (all) the archived issues online now if you want a trip down memory lane. https://books.google.com/books?id=xmYEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=xmYEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=fron...
- cbm-vic-20 4y ago
  *or daughter. Girls can join the BSA, too, with the same program as the boys.
  - nemo44x 4y ago
    I’m still really unsure I agree with this policy. We have Girl Scouts for this purpose. There’s something to be said for boy time and boys hanging out with other boys and learning to socialize, lead, and fraternize.

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