Tell me about Cub Scouts... - Page 3

[rhianna813]

Originally Posted by Autumn Breeze

Now he's interested again, but we're looking at Spiral Scouts which is supportive of anyone regardless of religion, or who their partner is.

I have not been in scouts myself and my DH was a cub scout and boy scout. We are a Pagan family and did not want to support BoyScouts due to the discrimination. We have a young son and think scouting is a great activity!

We have been involved with SpiralScouts and think it's a great organization! Our Circle had been active for almost 5 years but recently the leaders decided step down and the group disolved. Some of us are doing our thing now, especially to keep yearly campouts!

But who knows we might get a new group started sometime. Definitely worth checking out if you like scouting that has both outdoor skills, multicultural, multibelief, environmentalism, peace teaching, community service and co-gender.

Our group had Pagans, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Atheists, gays and straights in it. All waving the flag for Mother Earth LOL

Rhianna

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by swisscanmom

Wow, do they really discriminate in the US? I am only familiar with Scouts Canada, and not only are we co-ed, but anyone willing to subscribe to the scout promise is welcome. There is no discrimination. The Scout promise does include "duty to God", but God is not used in the sense of a Christian God, more as you do have to believe in a "higher power", we have members of all different kinds of religions here. Maybe if you are atheist you might have an issue with that, I can see that.
Our group does meet at a Church, mainly because they are considered "our sponsor", they don't make us pay for using the meeting space, some groups meet at schools or community halls, we are not "affiliated" with the church we meet at, though we do have a spiritual component to the program (but not a specifically Christian component).
I volunteer as a Cub Scouts leader this year, and was a beaver leader the past three years. I absolutely love the program.

Actually you don't have to even say "duty to god". My friend was a scout and they had no problem with her omitting it.

[abeliamama]

Wow! I guess I am out of the loop. I posted near the beginning of this thread about how much my DS loves scouts.

I had no idea about the possibility of him not being able to rise in the "ranks" if he is atheist or G,B or T. I had never heard about how discriminatory they were. My DH is atheist and just leaves out the god part in the pledge, as he does in public school. Several others do too. It does really bother him that they say it at all.

I don't want to support this group but I am sooo torn beacuse my son loves it and it has been so good for him. He was having severe behavioral and emotional issues a few years ago. I was wondering if he had oppositional defiance disorder. He started Scouts and Karate about the same time (first grade) and he has made a remarkable transformation and seems so much happier and confident (and easier to parent). It may or may not be the scouts, but I feel it is a big part of what helped him feel accomplishment and confidence and helped him.

I hate to tell him now, 1 1 /2 later, that he can't do scouts. I guess our family has a lot to think about.

[JudiAU]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

Actually you don't have to even say "duty to god". My friend was a scout and they had no problem with her omitting it.

Um, they do, according to scout regulations. It is required. Yes, some troops ignore the regulations but it is worth mentioning that things involving a larger group, like an Eagle scout meeting or camping it would be required and children *have been kicked out at the last minute* for not saying so.

Canadian scouts is totally different and has none of the same policies.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by JudiAU

Um, they do, according to scout regulations. It is required. Yes, some troops ignore the regulations but it is worth mentioning that things involving a larger group, like an Eagle scout meeting or camping it would be required and children *have been kicked out at the last minute* for not saying so.

Canadian scouts is totally different and has none of the same policies.

I was talking about Canadian scouts...

I've all ready mentioned my issues with US scouts in an earlier post, including their exclusion of Atheists and Agnostics.

[leighi123]

I filled out the request to get more info on Spiral Scouts - there isn't one close enough to us here, but one of ds's friends mommy's is going to help me organize a circle! So ds will get to do Spiral Scouts!

And its really nice that they start at 3yrs old and include everyone.