Question about girl scouts and DADs?

[PooohBear]

I am a secretary for the YMCA Adventure Guides which is DAD and son, DAD and daughter programs, this program is NOT a "drop off" and every single meeting and outing is the Father with their son or daughter ! I guess it's not as popular as the girl/boy scouts, but my kids LOVED this program and did it from age 5-14, this is such a GREAT program and better (IMO) than the girl/boy scouts since the father is the one who does things with the kids !! so often it's the mom and kids and the father gets left out .... I know this was off topic but I just felt like letting people know that there are other programs out there like the boy and girl scouts !

 

[eeyore45]

Yeah GS DAD!!

I'll 2nd what Pam said about the Boy Scout policy, we also require any adults supervising/doing overnights with scouts to take Safe Scouting, YOUTH PROTECTION Training! As Pam stated, those are the rules. I also have 1 Eagle Scout, one almost Eagle Scout, and they are both counselors, dh is the BS Scoutmaster, and I am a Scouter (Woodbadge trained!! ) We try to make sure there are 3 adults, esp if its just dh and I, we make sure there is a 3rd adult, for the scouts and for our protection. (another troop in our area had a horrible incident where a boy accused another College Age scout of abuse, it was horrible, the accused scout was proven to be a drug addict, and was trying to get back at the other scout... horrible!)

Also, we have a dd 8, and I was a Girl Scout (earning the highest award!) for 15 years, that was thru college! I've tried to volunteer with the GS, but so far they havent taken me up (I offered to volunteer to load cookies in cars surely you need extra hands?!) DD's Brownie troop folded, I promised the moms I'd take on the troop when they hit 5th grade, and not before!!

ooops tmi.. sorry!

anyway, always have others around!

 

[georgina]

Yeah GS DAD!!

I'll 2nd what Pam said about the Boy Scout policy, we also require any adults supervising/doing overnights with scouts to take Safe Scouting, YOUTH PROTECTION Training! As Pam stated, those are the rules. I also have 1 Eagle Scout, one almost Eagle Scout, and they are both counselors, dh is the BS Scoutmaster, and I am a Scouter (Woodbadge trained!! ) We try to make sure there are 3 adults, esp if its just dh and I, we make sure there is a 3rd adult, for the scouts and for our protection. (another troop in our area had a horrible incident where a boy accused another College Age scout of abuse, it was horrible, the accused scout was proven to be a drug addict, and was trying to get back at the other scout... horrible!)

Also, we have a dd 8, and I was a Girl Scout (earning the highest award!) for 15 years, that was thru college! I've tried to volunteer with the GS, but so far they havent taken me up (I offered to volunteer to load cookies in cars surely you need extra hands?!) DD's Brownie troop folded, I promised the moms I'd take on the troop when they hit 5th grade, and not before!!

ooops tmi.. sorry!

anyway, always have others around!

Hey, want to move to PA? I could use you. I have 2 troops with no co-leader for either. I have to beg parents to come to meetings and on trips. I keep telling myself that I am doing this so my kids can have Girl Scouts, but I've about had it. I stay completely out of Boy Scouts, that's DH's job!

 

[LadyyRedd]

First off.... Let me say that I am a VERY proud parent and father of a Junior Girls Scout (troop #1764) in the Kentuckiana Council. I have actually been the one that has been very active in DD's Girl Scout activities. The other mothers in the troop and I have become really good friends and I take all the girls to all kinds of places all the time. We have the exact same thing in our council area. A sleepover at the Louisville Museum of History and Science. However, I would never stay overnight at this function because of the impression some parents may have concerning a male sleeping in the same unrestricted vicinity of their daughter. I really missed that part of the trip but I understood and left for the night. No one asked me to, I just did. Most of the other troop leaders from the other troops know me and were OK with it but I just wouldn't like making another parent feel uneasy. Heck, we took a troop trip to Indianapolis to go to the Indy Zoo and the Indy Children's museum and I stayed with the girls (just our troop) and other troop mothers in the same room one of the nights doing girl things for a sleepover. One of the mothers said that if I weren't married she would think I was homosexual. I like to cook, I can decorate, I don't drink beer or watch sports and I am VERY active in my daughters life. Most guys here are under the impression that if you don't do those things above, then you're not a real man. Maybe I am not their idea of a real man, but I love my daughter with all my heart and I will always be her idea of a real father.

Well, back to the question. I do think that it may be seen as inappropriate by other parents and just to keep things civil, just don't stay overnight.

My hats off to you! I only wish I'd had a father like you in my life!
Keep up the great work!
Kimya

 

[jrydberg]

Not directly related, but same concept:

Honestly, if my daughter wants one of her friends from school to come over to play, when I talk to the parent, I make sure to invite them over as well for a cup of coffee (not that I drink the stuff) or lunch or something. I shouldn't have to worry about it, but the fact is that it can be uncomfortable for a parent to leave their little girl with a man. And I don't want my daughter to not have friends come over her house because of that. Should I have to make accomodations? Probably not. But better that than no one wanting to bring their child over because of concerns for their safety.

 

[Spinning]

Wow thanks for all the great responses.
I do realize the safty issues not only for the girls but for the dad as well. Don't want any false acusations.
But the academy said he can sleep in a classroom away from the girls I called the mom told her and at first was a little upset over it but hey it is the rules of the girlscouts.
I have now learned about planning over night trips. This was my first one. Wish they would have put it on the paper work.
I am not a leader of the troop. We have a very strong parent group with our girls.

Goofydad I am very impressed! We have one dad who is very involved he is a stay at home dad. Makes a good role model for the kids!
Wow all those cookies...amazing!

 

[G00fyDad]

We have one dad who is very involved he is a stay at home dad.

I wish I could be a stay at home dad. Unfortunately I have to work but I juggle work, time with daughter and her activities (Dance team, Girl Scouts, theater, etc.) spending time with my 20 month old son and home chores all the time. Sometimes I feel like I am gonna 'splode.

But oh, well, it's worth it.

 

[4nana]

I was a leader many moons ago when our 3 girls were involved GS's. My DH actually became a GS and chaperoned many of our meets, trips and over nighters also. He became quite the fun scout sport, w/the girls and parents loving him, even nicknaming him "John Wayne". The parents very much appreciated a man attending our road trips and over nighters. He and our son would sit up a seperate tent and we always felt so much more comfortable with a man on board. He also assisted w/our DS's Cub Scout Den.

Now we just sit back and listen to the adventures...
Our DSIL is a Boy Scout leader and DD assists on many scout functions and over night trips. She and DGD take an extra tent and make it a fun family adventure.

 

[goofy4tink]

GOOfydad....way to go!!! Your dd is going to have such wonderful memories. And those cookies...sheesh, we only sold 135 and I'm dreading delivering those.
Our Jr. troop is doing an overnight whitewater rafting trip in early June and anyone who wanted to go, could. We have a few dads who really wanted to be there, my dh included. I have to say there were some parents that felt better knowing there would be some dads on hand if the girls had a problem out on the water. I think those of us mom's going were a little insulted . But, the dad's will have seperate sleeping quarters or each family unit will bunk together if there are enough in the family.

 

[G00fyDad]

The only reason we sold as many cookies as we did is because my father works at a factory in the Informations Systems department and my DW works at a hospital as a nurse. DD knows alot of people at her mothers work and almost everyone at her grandfathers factory. I guess it does help to know people. We start booth sales tomorrrow. We have to be at a Dollar General Store tomorrow in a small town nearby. We worked the same booth last year and I thought that it was going to be a waste of time because of the location. Turned out to be the best booth DD had. She sold 78 boxes there. That may not sound like alot but for a two hour period with one other scout there, thats alot. They actually sold 156 boxes in that 2 hours but I only allow 2 girls to a booth to make it fair and they have to split the sales from the booth together. (btw, I am the Cookie Chair for the group )

I learned last year not to stereotype people. A young "punk" looking kid walked up and I took the cash box and held onto it in case he would run off with it. I never kept all the money in it. Just enough to make it look like the money we were getting was all in it. The rest I keep in my pocket. Anyway, this kid walks up and I was thinking that he was going to do something. Turns out he looked at DD and the otehr scout and said "Well. Let's hear it." When they asked what he meant he said "Let's hear your pitch." And after the girls were done he bought 24 boxes of cookies. 2 cases. I was floored, and ashamed for thinking he was up to no good.

 

[Spinning]

We're back!
It worked out great! They put him in a class room to sleep. Nice and quiet in there!
This was a fantastic over night trip! So well run! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun time!
Granted very little sleep! But worth it!

 

[Microcell]

I am a mom of a cubscout, and I know for a fact that we mom's can sleep over with the cubscouts ( I know, there is a bunk with my butt imprint on the USS Constitution) so why can't dad's sleepover with girlscouts?

More girl scouts than you would think have been sexually abused. In our council it is pushed that as a girl scout leader you keep a presence of caring and positive reinforcement to the girls, so that as they get older they have you to talk to about sensitive issues they may not feel they can go to their parents about. There has to be trust, and whether or not you like it, there is less of a possibility of women abusing than men.

As a Girl Scout leader, I would not allow a man on an overnight with us unless he is in a completely different area. I do not know how all the girls would dress, and they do not need to be around a man half naked at night.

With Cub scouting isn't it that alot of moms act as Den Mothers? I was talking to a woman who was and she said the trend is going toward women doing it, because not enough men volunteer.

 

[CarolA]

I met the rep from the agency that ensures most Girl Scout Councils once. I flat out asked him about abuse. He said we have an excellent claim rate since we have such strict rules. So I guess they work, but sometimes they drive me insane! LOL!

The other reason the rules may be a little different from Cub Scouts is that trends show that more child sexual abusers tend to be male. Sad but true.

I was the Assistant Director of a Girl Scout camp where we had a male Director. We never let him go anywhere unescorted, but the girls worshipped him and he did a great job for the camp.

For the dad who isn't being called, I wish you lived near me. I unload the truck every year and I always want dads to help with the cookie unload! We also have dads work with our camporees and Day Camps!

 

[JimB.]

BTW, I am also a Girl Scout myself.

Me too.

My wife has been a GS leader for about 9 years now. I go with the troop on some overnight excursions, but when I do, I'm always "separate" from the girls at night. Different hotal room, different tent, etc.

None of the other parents have ever indicated any difficulty with this.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Wow! Things must have really changed in the Girl Scouts since I was a Brownie (of course, that was the very early 1980's!) Not only was my Dad involved with the troop, but he was a card carrying Girl Scout Leader!

Editted to add that I read the rest of the thread, and of course my Father slept in separate places when we went on overnights! Actually, I think my Mom went on all those too.

 

[Shutterbug]

okay I feel like playing devils advocate.
I can understand about the father having to stay in a seperate room because him being of the opposite sex.
Now what if one of the mothers going was a known lesbian? Would the parents be okay with her sleeping in the same room as her daughters?

 

[CarolA]

Shutterbug "Safety Wise" does not address this. So it would be up to the parents.

However, If you read the documents you will see that really there should be two adults present which is your protection there.

As an adult working with kids for your own protection you need to work in pairs! That limits the opportunities other parents would have to claim you did something inappropriate. (And in this day and age making the claim is very easy and sometimes motivated by greed instead of fact!)

I have known lesbians who worked in Girl Scouting and let me tell you they went out of thier way to ensure they were NEVER in a position where anything could be said.