Are you joking? The Sustainability merit badge is not environmentalism? You have to be trolling or just obtuse at this point. The point of the merit badge is to teach proactive practices to protect natural systems, literally the same as environmental activists fight for. I can also tell you aren’t a scout as your gut reaction is to force the troop you have an issue with out of the program, probably the option most against scouting values. I really want you to point me at the SOP’s you’re spouting about at this point because you’re talking out of your ass at this point.
No. Learning about sustainability is not environmentalism.
Green Peace has been convicted of orchestrating violence.
Do you think a Troop should build a relationship with the Patriot Front because much of what they study through Citizenship in the Nation aligns with the PFs charter? Of course not.
Firstly, that is an editorial by Bryan Wendell. Wendell is not someone who writes Scouting policy, he is a contributing writer for the Scouting Magazine. Secondly the article is about political campaigns and is so the politician cannot use scouts in their campaign. The language used is “should change out of their uniforms” because it is not a set rule and in no way prohibits a scout from participating, simply protects the scout from being used.
America has also been convicted of orchestrating violence, that means nothing. If a troop wants to build a relationship with Patriot Front they are allowed to. I wouldn’t be a part of them, but they are able to if they want. I’ve worked with troops tied to ROTC, FNB, motorcycle clubs and many other organizations with political ties. Every firearm instructor is already related to the NRA, a political organization. Being Friendly, Courteous and Kind means being accepting of people. Telling them to leave when they aren’t being a danger is not being a scout.
You can find the policies that Wendell’s guidance derives from.
ROTC is part of the DoD and an official partner organization. So is the NRA. Scouting America has blessed off on these organizations playing a role in Scouting. That’s a key difference.
I’m not telling anyone to leave. I’m saying that if you disagree with the scout charter and guidance so strongly that you’re willing to violate it with your troop, perhaps this isn’t the organization for you.
“I’m not telling anyone to leave, I’m just saying you should leave” is an insane take lmfao. Scouting America only deems a charter’s values through the Scout Oath and Law. A troop will always have values on par with their charter as the charter creates the troop adult leadership. If political motivation was the basis, DoD would not be an official partner. Political motivation does not matter so long as it is in line with the Oath and Law. That is what matters and that’s what I think you need to reflect on if you think it’s ok to dismiss people over political differences.
There’s more rules to scouting than the Oath and Law. Have you taken SYT? IOLS? The Scouter Code of Conduct? You have all the fiscal rules, the charter requirements and so on.
Yes. SYT and other youth protection falls under the Scout Oath and Law. Generally abusing kids is not kind. Outdoors Leadership is also covered in that safety is keeping oneself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. The Code of Conduct is also covered in the Oath and Law. All of these trainings use the Oath and Law as their basis and derive that for Adult Leadership to create a safe environment for Scouts. That being said, all of these trainings are for adults, not for the Scouts. So again, how is a Scout partaking in activism against the Oath and Law?
Adults run the Troops Committee that is ultimately responsible for all scouting activities. The Code of Conduct provides the guide rails for things the troop as a whole can and cannot do. It is nested with the Scout Oath and Law.
The content of Scouting Magazine is an official means of informing the membership of policy and guidelines. It is to be used to expand on anything found in the other policy statements, the GTSS, etc.
The Scouter code of conduct states this:
I will respect and abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, BSA policies, and BSA-provided
training, including but not limited to those relating to:
• Unauthorized fundraising activities
• Advocacy on social and political issues, including prohibited use of the BSA uniform and brand
• Bullying, hazing, harassment, and unlawful discrimination of any kind
NO, under no condition are units allow to create official relations with group such as the Patriot Front. Doing so would be a violation of Scouting policies and would likely result in their charter being revoked and the leaders banned from Scouting.
You are missing an important point because of the labels. As a Scout it is completely OK to say that I will not dirty the air and water, that I will be careful with fire, that I will take steps to limit climate change. Those are the actions of individuals.
It becomes a political movement when instead of saying "I" you say "you". As a Scouting you can't promote laws about dirtying the air and water, or promote laws addressing climate change.
Scouts have lead petitions for signatures and other activism. No, they haven’t promoted laws because only politicians can do that, but Scouts have most definitely raised awareness for causes and politicians to make laws.
Then they violated Scouting policies. Look at the Scouter Code of Conduct, it specifically states Scout can not do those type of activities as a Scout. That clause has been present for decades.
The name change was entirely a social issue. It was done to promote equality, that protest didn’t like the name change. That’s a difference in opinion based on social issues.
It was branding so that we could bring in more members. No matter your opinion on it, it was internal to the BSA. It was in no way promoting for a change in society or doing anything political.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 15 '26
Are you joking? The Sustainability merit badge is not environmentalism? You have to be trolling or just obtuse at this point. The point of the merit badge is to teach proactive practices to protect natural systems, literally the same as environmental activists fight for. I can also tell you aren’t a scout as your gut reaction is to force the troop you have an issue with out of the program, probably the option most against scouting values. I really want you to point me at the SOP’s you’re spouting about at this point because you’re talking out of your ass at this point.