Author Topic: Non-religious alternative to Cub Scouts? (Read 1594 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** August 03, 2006, 08:06:52 PM »

Hi! Can anyone point me towards an organization similar to the Cub Scouts that doesn't have the same religious requirements? Googling it brings me page after page of folks complaining about the Boy/Cub scouts and their stance on the matter, but not a lot of matches for alternatives.

Figured it might be worth tapping the collective here, ifncase anyone here has stumbled across something...

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:13:44 PM »

Yea,

The Brownies

What religeous requirements are there for the boy scouts??

Or are you talking about the oath?

I was a boy scout and I dont remember any particular emphasis being placed on religeon other then in the oath. Or of you were going for the merit badge

They did however throw me out.

I got caught eating the Brownies

Toad · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:16:43 PM »

The Spiral Scouts

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:37:25 PM »

Two things, the Boy Scouts of America explicitly forbid atheists from being scouts, and second, even if they "didn't make an issue out of it", my son would be swearing an oath to god, and I don't want my kid thinking that oaths don't mean anything. If he swears to something he doesn't believe, it's a poor life lesson.

Tarmac · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:39:24 PM »

They're not entirely like the Cub Scouts, but programs like the Young Marines do many similar things (camp, etc). Your local fire or police department may also have an "explorer" program that, if it's an active one, do lots of those types of things too (of course with the relevant spin, either Marine, police, or firefighter).

Don't rule out the Cub Scouts if you haven't checked out your local pack/den though. They vary widely. There was no religious spin to my weekly den meetings because my dad ran them and concentrated on activities and learning, not the official scout teachings. We rarely cracked open our handbooks, since we were spending most of our time in the workshop building stuff or in the backyard doing something. Once a month we'd have pack meetings with all the dens from my elementary school, and I don't remember any spin to those, either. The only place where there were any religious references were in the handbook and at places run by the Scouts such as the scout summer camp. Even those were as minor as saying a group prayer before dinner, and we were usually screwing around through that anyhow.

Chairboy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:40:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad
The Spiral Scouts

Well:

Quote

Pagan beliefs, mythology and attitudes are a large part of the program.

That sounds pretty religious to me. I'm not looking to enroll him in some sort of hippy goddess group, just something that offers the same solid character and skill building that the scouts do, without the god stuff.

Chairboy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:43:19 PM »

Tarmac,
Thanks for the post! I'll check out those other groups you mentioned. I'm not really worried that they'll try to convert him or anything, but I don't want my son learning that it's ok to pledge falsely. If you pledge an oath to god but don't believe in god, that's not right.

Tarmac · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:49:25 PM »

I understand what you're thinking, and I've had similar thoughts about what I'll do when I have kids. Scouts was invaluable to me and I want my kids to get those types of experiences. I have no problem with the religious part as I plan to raise my kids as Christians, but I do have a problem with the exclusion of others because of different beliefs.

I'm not sure, but it seems like there are probably lots of atheists/agnostics/whatevers that have gone through this before and they must have some sort of advice on this. Even a bunch of like-minded parents that could form an "activity group" and plan scoutlike outings.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:50:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
Tarmac,
Thanks for the post! I'll check out those other groups you mentioned. I'm not really worried that they'll try to convert him or anything, but I don't want my son learning that it's ok to pledge falsely. If you pledge an oath to god but don't believe in god, that's not right.

camp fire kids? http://www.campfireusa.org/

Tarmac · « **Reply #9 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:54:12 PM »

Cool, gunslinger. Good find. Figured there had to be something.

Debonair · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2006, 09:02:52 PM »

Young Pioneers

Chairboy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2006, 09:11:19 PM »

Awesome find on the Camp Fire, checking it out now.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2006, 09:12:11 PM »

Check out their candy sampler. Yummeh!

nirvana · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2006, 09:38:38 PM »

I went through 4 years of Scouts missed the BB guns at the camp by 1 year though. Damn. Look how I turned out, perfectly fine....

Anyway, you could take him up to cabins with a few of his buddies every so often, go fishing, camping whatever, heck have a few of their dad's/mom's come along to help too (yes my den leader was a lady). The only really good thing i got out of scouts was time with my dad. I'm sure others got a lot more, but that was the big thing for me.

xrtoronto · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2006, 09:45:09 PM »

Outward Bound is a non-profit educational organization with five core programs that change lives, build teams, and transform schools. We deliver adventure in the wilderness, urban settings, workrooms, and classrooms to help students achieve their possibilities, and to inspire them to serve others and care for the world around them.

^^If that is of interest check out the link:

Outward Bound