My goodness, the media are full of scathing editorials about the demise of the Boy Scouts.

They were doomed when they allowed gay Scouts. And even more doomed when they allowed gay adult leaders. And they’re super-duper doomed now that their ranks will be fully opened to girls. (Venture Scouting and Sea Scouting were already co-ed. One result is that our summer residence camps have always included a good number of girl counselors, all very capable young ladies and top-notch Scouts.)

I’m just finishing up six years as an adult Scout leader. On those first two items, I really haven’t seen any change. That’s not really the stuff we talk about at our meetings and campouts, quite frankly.

That last one will be a change, one that I think can be very positive but that also has me rather concerned. More on that later.

But as for the Boy Scouts being doomed, I don’t think so. I have my two sons in Scouts so they can act like boys with other boys, while learning valuable life skills, spending lots of time outside, and having it all wrapped up in a patriotic, faith-centered bow. Along the way I’ve added that both they and I also get to do fun and useful things we otherwise would never do.

I can tell you this: They’re getting all that and more.

We do lots of talking about proper behavior, about ethics, about prayer. We pray at every meeting. We enforce the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. We salute the flag and honor our fallen service members.

My boys know safe use of knives, saws, and axes. They know how to build and tend a fire. They know how to pitch a tent, what to pack on a campout, and how to cook and clean for themselves. They know basic first aid and lifesaving. And they’re learning more every day, what with the 138 Merit Badges on offer. At age 13, my older son has spent more nights camping than I had at age 40.

They do regular service for the community, asking nothing in return.

And they have a ball and do awesome stuff. Last weekend it was the Aviation Merit Badge, learning all about flight and aircraft and including a ride in a single-engine plane. A couple months ago it was shooting rifles and riding horses on a winter campout. Last summer it was learning to sail. This summer it will learning to weld. And I fervently hope it all leads to them both being Eagle Scouts, because I know of no other youth accomplishment that so demonstrates true leadership development.

Why not open all that to girls too?

I’m not saying Girl Scout Troops can’t do most of this too – but from what I hear, most don’t. (The one that was at Eagle Cave in Wisconsin the same time as us in January looked like one of the good ones. At the cave, the Scouts take off on their own and crawl around a muddy cavern full of nooks and crannies, all weekend long. Our boys were filthy. The girls, who sat at the table next to us at mealtimes, were dirtier still, and having a ball.)

And the Girl Scouts can’t be Eagles.

In the new program, the girls will have their own Dens in Cub Scouts and Webelos (kindergarten to Grade 5), so the boys’ Dens are still all boys. We’ll all come together in a single Pack to facilitate family time.

Existing Troops (ages 11 to 17) will remain all boys. The girls will have their own separate Troops.

So my boys will still act like boys with other boys.

I have no girls myself, but I’m happy to see other people’s daughters have a chance to do everything we’re doing, learn everything we’re learning, and have the opportunity to earn the Eagle Scout rank, all wrapped up in a patriotic, faith-centered bow.

My concern? In my experience, Scouting is the one organization where the focus has been on the boys’ well-being and development. Should the new Scouting BSA follow the zeitgeist and prioritize the needs of the girls at the expense of the boys, as has happened in so much of the rest of American society, then that will be a grievous loss indeed.