I was both a Brownie and a Girl Scout. Can't remember much, other than how odd it felt using a two-person outhouse when we went camping. Even when young, girls go to the bathroom together, I guess.
My son just became a Boy Scout after going through the entire Cub Scout program. The Scouts are very *big* in this part of Illinois (a wealthier group of suburbs), so the boys are very active.
My son had a great den mother & I was an asst. den mom. There were only 6 boys (an oddity, as the other grades had 3 and 4 times as many) and that made it kinda cool, because they became a very cohesive group.
Now that my son has gone through the Arrow of Light ceremony and moved on to Boy Scouts, things have changed. Firstly, it's a big group of boys varying in age from about 10 through 18 (I think. It's still pretty new to us). The older boys mentor the younger, and I really like that (so does my son). The troop is pretty autonomous too, with adults taking a back seat as much as possible. I like that as well, because the boys learn decision- making skills, yet have an adult for consultation/ supervision when needed.
I never encouraged or discouraged my son from joining. He wanted to, and has stated his desire to become an Eagle Scout. It wouldn't surprise me if he did. Sex was never discussed in Cub Scouts, other than a requirement that parents read and discuss a detailed insert in the handbook regarding preventing/avoiding sexual abuse.
Scouts are a Christian-based organization, but so is the US (*one nation, under God,*) and I accept, though don't endorse, Christianity. It's just there, and we do talk about it with our son. Badge requirements have included a discussion of our beliefs and they were good opportunities for my son to ask questions and begin to acquire his own belief system in regard to religion. I don't think Scouts pushes God on members any more than the US does in general, to it's citizens.