Chris, that post was just exceptional. I couldn't agree more about the direction our youth as a whole has been headed for years (as in, away from the outdoors and an active lifestyle), and what the broad range of scouting organizations do to try and stem this depressing tide. As I said earlier, if not scouting, then who? Far, far too many of today's parents just don't have the inclination to lead their kids into such a lifestyle - I shudder to think what the eventual outcome would be if the millions of kids in scouting today didn't have that experience and diversion available to them.

As others have pointed out, the outdoor adventures are just a fraction of the good work done by scout troops across this country, and I think that fact gets lost among the this-shouldn't-have-happened wilderness stories that grab the headlines. Before the BSA in particular is dismissed by some folks as a haven for bigotry and ineptness, the totality of it's efforts should be considered. Organizations the size of BSA - who are hugely dependent on un-paid volunteers to present the face and culture of said organization - are bound to have blemishes and pimples. It's unavoidable, regardless of the vetting, training and compliance standards that may be in place. Not to get political, but take a look at ACORN as a glaring example of the challenges of managing volunteerism and the trouble that can come from it.

When you consider the millions of kids involved in scouting in the US, and the tens of thousands of volunteer troop leaders, moms, dads, et al, it's a wonder that there aren't a lot more newsworthy incidents. I view that as a testament to the vitality and responsiveness of the scouting organizations. Are they perfect? Of course not, but it's folks like you and Doug who keep pushing toward that goal of perfection that Ken mentioned, and you both deserve our gratitude and respect.

The biggest challenge these organizations face is cultural, though. At some point in the early teen experience, scouting becomes un-cool to be involved in. Burchey called his troop a "dumping ground for the socially retarded", and he felt the need to get out. While that is an extreme characterization, there's no getting around the fact that negative peer pressure about scouting drives a lot of boys and girls out of their organizations during very critical formative years. I don't know how that gets improved, but I think it's a priority that we find a way. Maybe a super-popular Boy Scout Rap will come out of nowhere and turn the tide, but I doubt it.

Our 11 YO daughter is in her 3rd year of Girl Scouts and my wife is a troop volunteer. A couple of years ago she came home from a GSA training session and told me that the organization has a bundle of money dedicated to college scholarships that goes partly unused each year for lack of enough girls to endow. After I picked my jaw up off the floor I grabbed our daughter and explained to her in no uncertain terms that, cool or not, she would be a Girl Scout at least till the age of 22 . . .

Again, kudos to both you and Doug. We should all have that degree of commitment to the kids who will be running things 20 years from now.