scouting was such a huge thing in our family. I had 5 kids one girl and four boys....all earned their eagle...some early and some later..i am very sad to learn that it is separating but I do understand. we want our young men to be taught by men who act like men and to look like men. I am glad now though that the program carries on in the church. I always pray about boy scouts...every nite in my prayers...I don't know why...my boys are in their 30's and 40's....and some of my grandsons have earned their eagle already...im so proud to have been a part of the scouting program.
PamMay 16, 2017
As a volunteer Assistant Council Commissioner serving in the Trapper Trails Council, Ogden Utah, what I see this doing is helping boys to earn the Eagle rank at the proper age of 14. The Varsity Scout program was implemented for the LDS Church by BSA to give boys longer to earn it. Boys will still be able to continue working toward the Eagle rank. Scout leaders will need to be more organized. The "replacement" program the Church is implementing is very similar to the current program, now that it is church run program, the leaders who pushed against running the program have no excuse.
KenMay 15, 2017
Michael's Comment: "Unlike some others, we didn't withhold things like driving from them as "motivation" to earn their Eagle, and the majority of our 5 sons didn't earn the Eagle award until they were 17."
Kudos to you for that policy. I am the father of three Eagle Scouts, and never had to resort to that threat (and would not have under any circumstances). It saddens me when I see parents who do that.
MichaelMay 15, 2017
The scouting program has paid our 5 sons now ages 30 to 23 huge dividends. All 5 of them got their eagle, and are most grateful now, maybe more so than when they were younger. Unlike some others, we didn't withhold things like driving from them as "motivation" to earn their Eagle, and the majority of our 5 sons didn't earn the Eagle award until they were 17. Both the award and more importantly, the experience and the process has helped all 5 of them in missionary service, schooling, employment, and other opportunities. And contrary to the article, the church isn't really departing the entire scouting program, YM ages 14 and up can continue to progress in the scouting ranks if they desire.
ScottHMay 15, 2017
There's no need to say farewell to the Scouting experience as you have known it just yet. None of the changes the Church is making to its young men program at this time would alter in any way the things described in this article. I don't see anything in the article that even references the Varsity Scouting and Venturing programs that the Church will no longer support.
Quite frankly, few North American Latter-day Saints will miss either of these programs, since few congregations have actually been implementing these programs in a meaningful way for a generation.
For now, LDS young men will still be able to pursue the Eagle rank and participate in Scouting pretty much the same way they have for years, just as described in the article.
ValerieMay 15, 2017
Scouting caused a lot of contention in our home. Although my husband himself never received his Eagle, he insisted our boys get their Eagle through threats. My husband wanted our home to appear perfect, but we were far from perfect. The scouting program did NOT do our home any favors!
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vickieMay 16, 2017
scouting was such a huge thing in our family. I had 5 kids one girl and four boys....all earned their eagle...some early and some later..i am very sad to learn that it is separating but I do understand. we want our young men to be taught by men who act like men and to look like men. I am glad now though that the program carries on in the church. I always pray about boy scouts...every nite in my prayers...I don't know why...my boys are in their 30's and 40's....and some of my grandsons have earned their eagle already...im so proud to have been a part of the scouting program.
PamMay 16, 2017
As a volunteer Assistant Council Commissioner serving in the Trapper Trails Council, Ogden Utah, what I see this doing is helping boys to earn the Eagle rank at the proper age of 14. The Varsity Scout program was implemented for the LDS Church by BSA to give boys longer to earn it. Boys will still be able to continue working toward the Eagle rank. Scout leaders will need to be more organized. The "replacement" program the Church is implementing is very similar to the current program, now that it is church run program, the leaders who pushed against running the program have no excuse.
KenMay 15, 2017
Michael's Comment: "Unlike some others, we didn't withhold things like driving from them as "motivation" to earn their Eagle, and the majority of our 5 sons didn't earn the Eagle award until they were 17." Kudos to you for that policy. I am the father of three Eagle Scouts, and never had to resort to that threat (and would not have under any circumstances). It saddens me when I see parents who do that.
MichaelMay 15, 2017
The scouting program has paid our 5 sons now ages 30 to 23 huge dividends. All 5 of them got their eagle, and are most grateful now, maybe more so than when they were younger. Unlike some others, we didn't withhold things like driving from them as "motivation" to earn their Eagle, and the majority of our 5 sons didn't earn the Eagle award until they were 17. Both the award and more importantly, the experience and the process has helped all 5 of them in missionary service, schooling, employment, and other opportunities. And contrary to the article, the church isn't really departing the entire scouting program, YM ages 14 and up can continue to progress in the scouting ranks if they desire.
ScottHMay 15, 2017
There's no need to say farewell to the Scouting experience as you have known it just yet. None of the changes the Church is making to its young men program at this time would alter in any way the things described in this article. I don't see anything in the article that even references the Varsity Scouting and Venturing programs that the Church will no longer support. Quite frankly, few North American Latter-day Saints will miss either of these programs, since few congregations have actually been implementing these programs in a meaningful way for a generation. For now, LDS young men will still be able to pursue the Eagle rank and participate in Scouting pretty much the same way they have for years, just as described in the article.
ValerieMay 15, 2017
Scouting caused a lot of contention in our home. Although my husband himself never received his Eagle, he insisted our boys get their Eagle through threats. My husband wanted our home to appear perfect, but we were far from perfect. The scouting program did NOT do our home any favors!
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