{"id":36374,"date":"2018-07-30T13:08:35","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T20:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=36374"},"modified":"2018-11-11T22:07:47","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T06:07:47","slug":"should-youth-programs-include-all-genders-outdoor-organizations-weigh-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/should-youth-programs-include-all-genders-outdoor-organizations-weigh-in","title":{"rendered":"Should Youth Programs Include All Genders? Outdoor Organizations Weigh In."},"content":{"rendered":"

Gender inclusion in outdoor youth programs has been a topic of discussion among organizations, communities and families for years. <\/span>The conversation bubbled up again in May when the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced plans to change the name of its Boy Scouts program to Scouts BSA in February 2019, following a decision by the board of directors last fall to expand programs to girls. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis decision is true to the BSA\u2019s mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting\u2014trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example\u2014are important for both young men and women,\u201d said Michael Surbaugh, the BSA\u2019s Chief Scout Executive, in a <\/span>press release<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ahead of the Scouts BSA launch, we were curious about the benefits and limitations of both all-gender and single-gender groups of young people exploring the outdoors. So, we talked with other outdoor organizations to find out more. Unsurprisingly, we got a variety of answers. <\/span><\/p>\n

The YMCA\u2019s BOLD & GOLD organization believes in the power of single-gender experiences. In the \u201990s, \u00a0a <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, commissioned <\/span>by the American Association of University Women<\/span>, showed a drop in confidence and corresponding academic achievement\u00a0for girls starting in middle school. Around the same time, GOLD (Girls Outdoor Leadership Development), then called Passages Northwest, began as a way to promote courage in young women. A few years later, BOLD (Boys Outdoor Leadership Development) began, based on the success of the young women\u2019s program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Courtney Aber, national BOLD & GOLD director, has seen the difference it makes to have young people gather in single-gender groups. She\u2019s observed that boys are more likely to show their vulnerability and talk about societal pressures, and girls are more likely to challenge themselves and beauty standards and discuss what it means to be a woman. Conversations around body image, confidence, masculinity and femininity tend to happen more freely and comfortably in single-gender settings, Aber explained. It\u2019s also a place to reflect on societal standards that put pressure on girls to always be feminine and boys to always be masculine. When placed in a setting outside of rigid gender roles, BOLD & GOLD believes it may be easier for young people to unpack those standards and see whether they want to subscribe to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jason Schmidt, associate program director of Outward Bound California, an organization that provides experience-based outdoor learning and leadership programs, has observed that without young men around to hang the bear bag each night, young women easily and assertively step up to do the job. He\u2019s also seen that without young women to take on the traditionally feminine role of cooking, young men learn making food together is fun. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I think that as we understand that this is not a binary world, it will create more space for conversations,\u201d Aber said. \u201cBut as far as I can tell, until the media isn\u2019t telling us that there isn\u2019t a difference [between genders], there is going to be a need for single-gender programs. And I don\u2019t see that stopping any time soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some LGBTQ people and allies worry single-gender programming isn\u2019t inclusive of those who fall outside of the binary gender scheme. However, organizations like GirlVentures are broadening the definition. The \u00a0group says girls refers to \u201cgender expansive youth (cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth and any girl-identified youth).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat it means to be single gender has changed. An environment where it\u2019s girls and gender expansive youth … is important because it provides a foundation of trust. It\u2019s a brave space for young people to try new things and feel more free from the gendered experience in their daily lives,\u201d said Emily Teitsworth, executive director of GirlVentures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other organizations advocate for all-gender programming, steering clear of single-gender trips. Simulating real-world interactions, all-gender programs can teach young people how to interact together in a collaborative setting. \u201cThey experience these really physical wilderness skills like making fires and carrying a lot of weight. It\u2019s important for coed groups to do those roles equally, to see that they\u2019re both equally competent,\u201d said Juliet Ramirez, assistant program director for Lasting Adventures, a Yosemite-based guiding service for young adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In these settings, there may be less room to discuss the intricacies of gender norms, but more opportunities to break down stereotypes in an organic fashion. \u201cThe outdoors is the ultimate equalizer, in my opinion. People don\u2019t know what their ability [is] in the outdoors most of the time. It\u2019s great for that macho guy [to] see this girl run a rapid or climb a hard route,\u201d said Adam Yarnes, director and owner of Backcountry Unlimited, an Arizona-based adventure travel organization. \u201cIt\u2019s reinforced that girls can do what guys can do and guys can do what girls can do. There are no gender roles in the outdoors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There are even some organizations, like Outward Bound, that understand the importance of both single- and all-gender programs. Schmidt believes both types of programming have their benefits and downsides. In single-gender courses, he said, girls have more chances to be courageous and boys have more chances to be vulnerable. However, these courses don\u2019t mimic real-world scenarios, where genders are mixed. <\/span><\/p>\n

In all-gender courses, Schmidt said, there is a greater chance to see the strength across genders and translate that to the real world. Yet, \u201cI might see young men and women falling into these societal traps\u2014for example young men wanting to help the young women with a hard section of off-trail scrambling. \u2026 When it appears to take on a gender bias of who you help and who does the helping, I wonder about the hidden messages that are being reinforced if it is not used as a learning opportunity,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

So should you choose a single-gender or all-gender trip? Ultimately, the choice is up to young people and their families. \u201cIt will depend on your child and where you think they will flourish the best. That\u2019s so individual,\u201d Schmidt said.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Editor’s note:\u00a0YMCA\u2019s BOLD & GOLD<\/span> has been a nonprofit partner of REI since 2012. An REI contribution totaling $525,000 has helped support BOLD & GOLD’s efforts over the years. Outward Bound has been a nonprofit partner of REI since 2002. An REI contribution totaling over $56,500 has helped support Outward Bound’s efforts over the years.<\/span><\/i><\/em><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gender inclusion in outdoor youth programs has been a topic of discussion among organizations, communities and families for years. The conversation bubbled up again in May when the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced plans to change the name of its Boy Scouts program to Scouts BSA in February 2019, following a decision by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":36376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,387],"tags":[588,707,1044,727],"internal-tag":[1677,1678],"class_list":["post-36374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","category-hike","tag-camping","tag-hiking","tag-kids","tag-latest-posts","internal-tag-pre-redirect-camping","internal-tag-pre-redirect-hiking"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/camp\/should-youth-programs-include-all-genders-outdoor-organizations-weigh-in","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Should Youth Programs Include All Genders? Outdoor Organizations Weigh In.","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/should-youth-programs-include-all-genders-outdoor-organizations-weigh-in","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/should-youth-programs-include-all-genders-outdoor-organizations-weigh-in"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/FSC_051316_58630.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/FSC_051316_58630.jpg?fit=1500%2C900"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Aer Parris-Hoshour"}],"creator":["Aer Parris-Hoshour"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["camping","hiking","kids","latest posts"],"dateCreated":"2018-07-30T20:08:35Z","datePublished":"2018-07-30T20:08:35Z","dateModified":"2018-11-12T06:07:47Z"},"rendered":"