Thoughts? Pros and Cons? How are numbers in your council? What is the future? What is the impact of female membership?

I know Cub Scout membership on our council was up last year for the first time in a long time. Not sure if it's related, we didn't do the pilot program.

My thoughts, I would prefer it same Troop, separate patrols. Would be a natural progression then. Seems a weird progression. Cub Scouts - Same Pack (or separate) Different Dens. Scouts - Different Troop (but can be same...sorta). Venturing (full coed)

I do like girls being in the program in this way though. Many packs effectively had unofficial "Girl Cub Scouts", just not official, and it's a family program. Venturing was full coed. I think this is a good natural progression.

I have not decided if I'm in favor or not. I think for Cub age and Explorer/Venture age it's not as significant. But in the 11/12 to 15/16 range, I worry that coed will change the behavior and development. At least boys in that age range seem to act differently and with different restraints in the presence of girls.

I have not read much on the plan but sense that there remains the option of single gender troops so maybe I'm not alone. And maybe it's just something that has to change.

Does this change or require the addition of training on prevention of STDs? Maybe that is already a part of Explorer/ Venture program?

I would have preferred a different name for the flagship program than what they chose, but that's me... Something like Scouting USA or along those lines. I know the new name of Scouts BSA is similar and in any world who doesn't refer to the program or participants as Scouts?

I think separate units will be a burden trying to find volunteers to run them, even if they share leadership. I may be in the minority here, but I think they should have gone co-ed patrols and separate tenting for campouts.

I don't see what the big deal with co-ed program is since it works for the majority of the rest of the WOSM member countries. There are 169 member nations under the umbrella of WOSM, and we are one of 13 that until recently were boy-only for the flagship program - the rest of the 13 are Middle-Eastern or African.

Our council (Northeast Illinois) saw membership decline flatten and even tick slightly upwards in the last couple years. Hopefully that trend continues and reverses course completely.

Venturing YPT has date rape and sexual harassment as training points. I think any discussion about STIs is best left for the confines of health class at school where it's already covered. Also, why does going co-ed automatically mean this is a topic? As if sexual harassment or assault or whatever term you want to apply only happens when the opposite sex is introduced.

I know my end goal is to deliver the best quality program & experiences to whomever is genuinely interested in being there.

Girls have been a part of BSA Scouting in the USA for over 50 years. In Venturing, in Exploring, in Sea Scouts, and as unofficial Den sisters in Cub Scouts. The only thing changing now is making it official for younger ones and putting girls in their gender specific Dens and Troops.

As for Youth Protection, I'm not as happy about that. There is a new one which really doesn't discuss specifics and all the old trainings, including the Venturing that covered coed aren't to be used any more.

All in all, I think it will be a good thing. I agree about that middle Scouting age, with boys and girls doing activities separate. I lean towards what is being done now, as my older daughter has excelled in BSA and loves it. She began Venturing at 14 and is now turning 20...as of this winter she will have attended Philmont, Northern Tier, and Sea Base as a participant. She worked three years of summer camp, actually being unpaid staff for two of them. She has been through NYLT and staffed four courses, culminating in being SPL of the largest NYLT course in our council. She has completed her Silver award, and Ranger award...went to Wood Badge last fall and is working her ticket for making our NYLT courses even better.

So yeah...I guess I'm a little biased towards girls in the program, but I still like it segregated.

When you mention other countries, I'd just like to point out that in 1969-70 I was an exchange student for a year in Sweden. Kids in high school routinely had sexual relationships with full approval of their families. Very little thought about letting a child in the house have a sleep over or in with friend of opposite gender. Not judging but even now, that seems very alien in US society.

I'm not taking a side but face it that putting this age in the wilderness with the opposite gender will result in intimate relationships.

I worry that it also - because of the society mores - inhibit some boys from being as open and at ease to be themselves, concerned about what girls will think.

No stopping change, but be prepared (like that?) for some less desirable consequences. I am somewhat optimistic it will be a good change in the long run but glad I didn't have to live through it with my sons.

Seeing how my youngest is currently a Lion I hope to be around for a while to see how the changes take root.

Good points raised by all. Certainly food for thought.

At this point I'm in agreement with Billconnor in that the BSA needs to be prepared for less desirable consequences. I'm not sure they are. This will undoubtedly change the dynamic of the program. I'm not saying that would be a good thing or bad, just that it's inevitable. As SM I have more questions than answers right now.

Our troop committee has had many discussions and have thus far decided not to participate in the pilot program. The committee feels it's too early, and they don't have sufficient resources to make the comprehensive decisions necessary to implement.

Our Cub Pack approached the Charter Org about the implementing the pilot program. Their answer was flat out "No", and in fact, revoked their charter at the very same meeting. They cited that if the Pack chose to move forward they would not renew until there was more clear policy concerning the BSA's intended leadership structure. The Charter Org. seemed completely uneducated on the matter, and is very concerned with liability. Even so, the burden of education and training is on BSA to provide the necessary information to the chartered organizations so they understand how this will all pan out. In my opinion, the BSA, (National or Council) hasn't done due diligence in that regard.

We haven't witnessed a huge amount interest from girls wanting to join, but what we have seen has either been from local Girl Scout troops asking for information on integrating their entire troop, including leadership, or younger female siblings of youth already in the Cub program.

My personal feeling is I'd like the troop to wait until some of the bugs get ironed out and the structure has been proven from the troop level on up to National before we implement.