Church ends scouting for boys 14 and older
 

Who the heck did Varsity scouting anyway? I got the shirt, and that's it.

This means that YM and Boy Scouts are essentially severed if you are older than a deacon.

You can remain on the books if you want to be an Eagle Scout and haven't earned it while 13 (!!!). But other than that, it is done.

The church showed very tepid support for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in its statement.

It's just a matter of time before the divorce is complete.

I'm selling stock in Boy Scouts. I'm buying stock in Jungle Ball. I'm selling stock in Eagle Scouts, I'm buying stock in HS graduate less-actives.

Really what this boils down to is that there is currently a crisis in the church. This is my guess, I don't have any inside knowledge. But I'm betting that the numbers are pointing way south for activity past 18 and going on missions. This crisis has driven this decision.

But changing the activity program is going to do zilch to change this IMO. Because all the same problems will exist, you just now have a different training packet you are handing out that no one will read anyway.

Most 14-18 year olds have a hard time understanding how Scouts is relevant to them. I felt that way 30 years ago.

Jana Reiss's column articulates what I suspect is behind the decision. The idea that the youth program is not accomplishing what it needs to do, and is thus being revamped.

http://religionnews.com/2017/05/11/m...ats-behind-it/

The leaders have a long way to go to recapture the disaffected youth.

I suspect part of the problem is just the nature of wards these days. I only have my own experience to go on, but it seems to me that my home ward growing up was more cohesive, more fun, more familial.

We did more stuff. Our ward activities were well attended and fun. And memorable. Like the annual ward canoe trip. Father and son campouts. 4th of July picnics in the afternoon, one year with a roasted pig.

As youth we did more fun stuff. Like annual trip to Schlitterbaun.

Ward members had us over for dinner and vice versa.

Now in my experience as an adult and parent, none of this is happening. A lot of this had to do with budget cuts and budget rules. It's not like I grew up in a wealthy ward. It was a college town ward. This stuff cost *some* money.

In my current ward, over 7 years in. Let me think how many ward members have invited us over for dinner. Two come to mind. Not like we've done very much hosting either, but we have done some.

Our ward is small. And shrinking. The number of kids and youth in the is small. It's not a bad ward or anything. But it's just not the same experience as my youth.

And yes, I have tried to change things, I could provide numerous examples.

Wards from the seventies were communities. Now they are places for business transactions, such went to sacrament meeting, check, PH, check and stayed in hall during SS, check. There is no fun going on any more.

No ward basketball.

The community is no longer tight nit or together.

BYU games were activities that often bound wards together. Not so much any more.

I don't know what the answer is either.

The sociality of the wards have likely decreased.

While at the same time religiosity in the USA has decreased.

The wards are pulling less, the world is pulling more. You do the math.

Once upon a time, a community could draw upon considerable expertise through the ward. Now you can draw upon much greater expertise through the Internet.

If you don't have sociality through the ward, you have nothing to offer as opposed to outside sources.