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1. I think "Heritage" does appeal to youngsters, once it's defined in terms they understand. The success of the "American Girls" dolls (historical figures with books and other accessories) is an example. Children respond positively to traditional values and patriotism, at least in my experience (which includes seven children under 13, at the moment).

Boy Scouts seem to do best when they emphasis the founding principles of the organization - the outdoor skills, self-sufficiency, and patriotism - and explicitly emphasize the history. My husband teaches his Cub Scouts about Lord Baden-Powell and the Boer War, and has them play games based on military skills, and the boys love it. For their campout next month, they're doing an American Frontier program: gold mining, arrowhead making, blacksmithing, tracking, outdoor cooking ...

2. The original Girl Scout cookies were baked by Girl Scouts, back in Oklahoma in the 20's (don't hold me to the date, please). Now they are commercially baked under contract with the GS-USA; names and types are copyrighted so that nobody else can sell Thin Mints or Trefoils.

I'm a cub scout den leader who loves teaching the boys to be boys and men. We meet at my house, and from day one, the boys gravitated toward the toy guns and swords before and after the meetings. My company is starting to do some military work. A few weeks ago, I brought them a piece of ballistic glass from a Humvee. Last night, I brought them a bomblet grenade designed to crater airstrips. (clearly marked INERT) I'm not sure how I'm going to top that one.

My daughter is a Girl Scout, but we're very careful about what she attends. It's a home school troop, so locally, she's fine. But on the Council level, I'm very distrustful.

Cub Scouts encourage the boys to wear their uniform to church one Sunday. We're doing it this Sunday and will recognize them for their achievements. Since Girl Scouts are a totally secular organization, they do not have a similar activity. Tough. This Sunday is Scout Sunday. All Scouts, boys and girls.

Thanks for you replies :)

Boy Scouts seem to do best when they emphasis the founding principles of the organization - the outdoor skills, self-sufficiency, and patriotism

I think you might be right, I don't think we dwelt much on patriotism when I was in the scouts, although I do remember swearing to do my duty to God and the Queen and raising the flag every meeting so I guess it went in through the pores. We did spend most of our time doing outdoor things which seems to be the point of it. It was one thing that we did when there were no girls which was, looking back, a welcome break from school. We certainly didn't have any talk of parenthood, planned or otherwise from the scout leaders who were all Christians from the local United Reformed Church in whose buildings we met. We had one scout leader whom we suspected of being gay but that didn't really bother any of us kids and we never had it confirmed.

The thought that they now have contraception lessons in scouts bugs me a bit as it's supposed to be a haven from that sort of stuff. However, we had all sorts of visitors, from the chap who showed us how to strip down a Bren gun to the policeman who came in to talk to us about drugs so I guess as long as it doesn't become the focal point of the organisation I don't mind that much. The thing that bugs me more is the thought that a lot of the fun, and frankly dangerous stuff we used to do is now impractical because of health and safety legislation. I have a friend who is a scout leader and he says that half the time they just play sports now because all the activities we used to do need risk assessments etc or are flat out banned. I don't know if it is the same in the US?