An Open Letter on Scouting America from Chief Scout Executive Roger Krone

Growing up in Cincinnati, faith was an integral part of my life. My family, church, school, and troop all provided a community that helped shape who I was and who I would become in life. Even today, the simple, quiet reverence of Scout Vespers moves me. I know many of you who have grown up in Scouting feel the same way.

As a parent, I believe that faith should be an integral part of childhood. In an increasingly complicated world, faith helps young people develop a broader perspective on life. Faith gives them a sense of hope and teaches them acceptance and selflessness in a society that sometimes tells them they aren’t enough. Ultimately, faith is an individual journey which can help define who we are and who we’ll become. The Scouting tradition says that youth are better served when they live lives of reverence and faith. And I believe that is true.

Recently, some have wondered if Scouting’s commitment to faith was still strong. They supposed that by changing our name we might somehow be moving away from our core ideals. I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. The Scout Oath and Law begin with Duty to God and conclude with Reverent. This is not an accident. Scouting’s founders knew that faith acts as a type of compass that guides and ultimately makes our families, communities, and our nation stronger.

We are committed to the unchanging ideals of the Scout Oath, Law and our duty to country and our faith. Like the points of a compass, they are constant. They unite us as a movement as we prepare young people for lives of purpose and impact.

I hope you’ll join me as we continue to live these ideals and invite more youth and families to join Scouting. An invitation to a classmate to visit a pack meeting or to come along on a campout could be the first step for someone who needs the fun, faith and adventure that awaits. Along the way, they may just find a new path through Scouting America.

But another obvious fact is that a lot fathers (particularly non-Scout fathers) aren't interested in spending nights with a bunch of little boys at Scout meetings and jamborees when there's the exciting world of gaming, phone staring, and social media to interact with.

I would submit to everyone on this thread that Boy Scouts (forget the new name) remain an alternative to a decaying culture. But you have to be local, and smart.

The National Office is a disaster. National is where all the stupid and destructive policies and decisions are made, and housed. They’re a bunch of jack wagons, just like the people of America are good (in general…) but the government sucks.

However, in practice the real management of the Troop is with...the Troop. Furthermore, Councils wield more power than National and in general Councils provide resources and advancement help without a heavy hand.

As I said, it is at the Troop adult/leadership level where the general tone is set. Despite what the MSM want you to believe (because they really, really like the goodness for which Scouting stands…), the century+ tradition and time-tested skills/spirit/education combo that developed the character of tomorrow's men remains alive and well with thousands of individuals who haven't bowed to the enemies of civilization.

To be fair, some Troops have drunk from the Kool Aid. Well, this isn’t Russia (yet) - if you find a Troop that isn't in synch with you, find another one. You aren't shackled to your town's Troop. Or start your own...you know...innovation and self-starting initiative.

And BE INVOLVED. Because even if you choose an alternative to BSA, nobody has your child's best interest at heart as much as you do. Become an Assistant Scoutmaster, go on trips, maybe even learn a few things.

I have been involved in Scouting for decades, always at the Troop level. I’ve seen plenty of Scouts grow up to become strong leaders. I’ve seen a few become losers, too. But I’ve seen some kids who society would have dumped rise to the occasion, and make it to Eagle. This is first-hand, empirical evidence….not an opinion formed by reading the posts of guys (not necessarily cc’d) typing bravely from their home responding by other guys typing bravely who couldn’t tie a square knot or treat for shock to save their life, and think a deadman anchor is a nautical apparatus. /rant

One clarifying point: if you don’t have a kid in Scouts, I would think long and hard about getting involved. You will likely be treated with suspicion (and, to be fair, I’d prolly do the same) and you COULD become a fall guy for Bad Stuff if it happens.

I get the desire to dump the BSA. I also understand how society wants conservatives to abandon tradition. Do what is best for your kids - be it BSA or something else. But don't let CNN or some dude who knew a guy who knew a guy who said Boy Scouts sucks, or a putz from National, think for you.

Reality here is there’s good folks everywhere, much like yourself. I remember being a tenderfoot working my way up in the early 60s. I stopped, did 4H for awhile then highschool came and then life.

The educational system is the same way as the scouts.. there’s some really good people there but these institutions have been infected but the lefts rot. Same with many religions and churches. Everything they touch they destroy.

The scouts like all these other infected institutions need to be eradicated and start over with strict vetting processes for normal people. You can’t fix something that broken... you need to start over.

Thank you. You reminded of the Churchill quote: “it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time”

I abandoned the public school system decades ago. It is beyond repair, at least until in loco parentis is removed.

I don’t believe it’s ready to abandon Scouting. It is a perfect program for young men and is time-tested. The rot at the top hasn’t fully infected the Troops.

I suspect that day will arrive. Earth is imperfect snd Heaven is paradise. Yet, every man and woman has a Line. It varies from individual to individual.

When Troops are filled with a cross-section of wokesters, leftist parents who want their sons to sleep in tents with girls, and gun and archery ranges are closed, I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon. We’re not there.

Yet.

Your mileage may vary.

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