I’m constantly amazed that scouts isn’t more popular with families. I’m a huge supporter of the whole worldwide program (particularly Scouting America and the Girl Scouts in the US).
Yes, let’s all acknowledge that there were past abuses that the Boy Scouts ignored and covered up. But, primarily due to the lawsuits associated with those abuses, Scouting America has instituted a lot of really strong child protection policies that arguably make it the safest youth program anywhere.
It’s a really great, comparatively cheap, program that offers amazing opportunities to kids and families.
If you find yourself having trouble making friends as an adult, I really recommend looking into it.
It’s a religious entity. I spent 10 years there as a child and just drowned out the world to get past the religious bits of it. Will never encourage my kids to join. I’ll give them the joy and knowledge of the great outdoors without the scouts.
This is true, but also heavily dependent on the leader. My girl scout expeirence was not religous at all. The boy scout (Scouts now) seems… … seems like I dont know enough, but the wording is definately more fasc and patriarical.
I really recommend you actually read some of the requirements.
The Scouts are very, I would say, “classically conservative”, meaning they lean very heavy on traditional conservative values, like helping others and being an active member of a community. Yes it’s very patriotic, but it’s patriotic from a position of service to your community and participation in you local democracy. I honestly can’t think of anything “fascist” at all. (The fact that MAGA hates the boy scouts should be evidence enough of this.)
Scouts are very much not religious. They do mention god in the oath, and value a moral guiding force. But it’s up to you if you want to pursue something for your beliefs with your religious community. I don’t recall there ever being anything religious or for a specific religion within scouts itself
Every major belief system dies have a merit badge but you choose to pursue them outside scouting. admittedly nothing specific to atheists, but there’s no reason you need to follow any and most scouts didnt
It’s not a religious org. I’ve got lots of non-religous families in my pack.
Part of the Scout Oath is that a “Scout is reverent” but it’s generally left up to families to define what “reverent” means in their families.
I’m sorry that you hate religious people so much that you will rob your own kids of some pretty great opportunities.
“Duty to God” is a principle of the Scout Movement, though it is applied differently in various countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting
I never said anything about religious people.
So here is all of the Scout is Reverent requirements for Cub Scouts.
What specific lesson can you identify here that you disagree with? (Please actually cite the specific activity you take issue with. Don’t just make something up.)
I was a girl scout for 10 years as a kid. Loved it. Wanted to put my son in scouts. The year I was to sign him up, the local leader got arrested for you know what. I just, can’t trust it.
I signed him up for Big Brothers/Big Sisters instead, and only after he was old enough to communicate well.
I love scouting. But, Like the catholic church, I just can’t. Good program if you know your leaders. My leaders as a kid were two of my Aunts. But, idk. Im glad to see they are addressing the issue though.
The child protection policies in Scouting America (previously Boy Scouts) are very rigorous today. If a troop or pack today is following the policies there really isn’t any opportunity for an adult to abuse a scout. If you are still interested in scouts you should take the scouts Youth Protection Training to learn for yourself the policies. (I’m a Cubmaster and I strongly recommend, practically beg, all my parents to complete the training.)
But the truth is, there is just no youth organization that doesn’t have a history with abuse. It’s amazing to me that parents that have every reasonable reservation against putting their kids in scouts seem to have no issues with, like, youth sports -which have way more opportunities for child abuse and instances of it.
(I don’t understand Lemmy people. Who down votes child protection policies?)
I didn’t. But, trust is broken. Sports dont generally have overnight trips, the comparison isnt really the same. Maybe that is why.
Appreciate you trying to inform and advocate for the reforms made within the organization. It is def going to be an uphill battle.
No overnight trips?
You haven’t had a kid in sports yet, huh? (Not that there is anything wrong with that.) Over night trips are generally pretty common for any kid in sports over 6th grade.
yes, not only was I in field hocky, my son does baseball. Never an overnight trip.
you just wanna fight. boooo
Does your son play Rec or Select baseball. My kid plays on a select team and I don’t know any team that does no travel at all.
(There just generally aren’t enough local tournaments to even make that possible and still fill out a season.)
Our kids are in scouts and they love it. They are learning wonderful skills and unlike what some of the commenters are saying at least in Canada the scouts groups are NOT religious.
I don’t do child abuse
You should watch the Scouts “Safe Guarding Youth Training” program.
The scouts very likely have stricter youth protection policies then your kid’s school does.
In Australia the AAFC is a better option in my opinion
Is that like ROTC in the US?
Nah it’s Australian Air Force Cadets.
A program for 13 and up, teaching discipline etc sponsored by the airforce.
I did it for 8 years and credit it with why I’m put together as an adult.
The only downside is many people end up joining the Australian Defence Force in some capacity, however it also showed me i wasn’t interested in that life full time.
But I got to see Australia fly planes all sorts of exciting activities. Learnt to survive in the bush etc
That sounds like an awesome experience!
Yeah it really was, once my son is old enough I would like him to join if he’s interested.
Although like any activity it comes down to the adult staff who volunteer to run the program.
The squadron i was in was commanded by an airforce squadron leader who really cared.
Other squadrons around the country were run by just volunteer civilians so their experiences varied.
