[Jackpackbaby]

A nice mom suggested them to me and I admit at first I was thinking
"Fantastic! they sound perfect, sign us up!" However, I then read that they were founded on a pagan/wiccan base through a pagan church. So my questions stand thus;
A. Is this indeed true?
B. (Please excuse my ignorance about these two religions for I literally know NOTHING of them) What does being pagan/wiccan-based mean for the scouts? How will this affect their teaching of the scouts?

I was raised UU so I am open to all religions obviously but I have honestly never been exposed to pagan/wiccan teaching, ideology, whatsoever. Can you tell me what to expect and if we do decide to join, how to not offend anyone lol? Thanks everyone!

 

[Marimami]

The Pagan aspects are mostly just being in tune with nature, celebrating natural cycles.

Friends of our started a local circle but I've heard that it's fairly strict in how they are run, etc. We had considered starting one but I think we're going to pass.

Holli

 

[sha_lyn]

At one point I was considering Spiral scouts, as 2 friends start a local circle. These 2 women had been friends for a really long time. Well the women got into a disagreement and the leader of the group had the other family banned from spiral scouts. The national organization has been useless in the matter.

 

[onyxravnos]

they were created by pagans and have a more crunchy/nature feel to them but they don't preach or mention god/dess/etc in fact if you look at the oaths they take for each level it recognizes a creator but is very open to however you choose to address that creator.

and of course each group will be run by people a little different so they 'influence' of any religion varies. A UU person should have no issues. as they were created by pagan parents but one of their goals was to open scouts to people of ALL religions. Unlike the boy/girl scouts.

I hope that helps.

 

[Spookygirl]

I am a SpiralScout circle leader

Yes, it was started by a Pagan church, but it is not Pagan Sunday school. Circles are open to ALL faiths, and my circle has Pagans, Atheists, Hindus and Buddhists

The best way to not offend anyone, is the same way you don't offend people in regular life, don't speak poorly about ANY religion

I am more then willing to answer any questions, as best as I can. My circle is only a year old, but I personally worked for 2 years prior to that to get it started.

 

[Jackpackbaby]

Thank you for responding! I emailed the circle leader closest to us but have not heard back yet from her. I guess my biggest question is really is there ANY mention of religion or teachings at all through these groups? I would very much like to have a completely devoid of religion scouting experience for my kids. I can't imagine it will be easy living as we do, in the "bible belt" (ie the South) lol. Is that possible with these scouts as it is not with the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts?

 

[lisarussell]

With Girl Scouts it depends on the leader. the program itself isn't religious, except that the oath says "serve God" but nowhere in the program does it seek to define God or state exactly HOW a kid should be "serving."

I am totally not religious, When I teach girls about the promise, I ask THEM to name ways they can serve God and we go around the circle, they say their ideas and we move on.

If a leader is bringing in religious teachings to Girl Scouts, she's got her own agenda because the group itself is NOT religious.

That said- I love how Spiral Scouts honors nature, I really think it's important for this generation of kids, they have so much to clean up and respecting nature's ways is IMHO the best foundation.

I wrote about alternative scouting programs last year, I always wanted to learn more about Spiral Scouts

 

[Spookygirl]

I think as with any scouting group, the amount of religion varies by the leaders and the needs of the circle. I know for my group, we have almost no discussion of religion of any kind during circle time. That being said, a good percentage of my scouts' parents are in my Coven, so we do talk about it before, and after often times, LOL! It is not a requirement for scouts to talk about, participate in or earn badges that have to do with any religion. There are badges for Pagan kids, but no one is required to do any specific badges.

And if for some reason we do discuss anything of a religious nature, I always ask ALL my parents for their input, so that all families can feel represented. So not as much an indoctrination type setting, but a let's learn what's out there kinda thing?