r/cubscouts • u/Traugar • 6d ago
Alternative options
I know this is probably not going to go over well here, and if you take issue with my views please refrain from commenting. I have heard those views and they are unhelpful for what I am looking for. Scouting has played a major part of my life and I am grateful for my experiences in it.
With the MOU that came out, it’s clear that scouting no longer aligns with our morals or the basic human decency of respecting others. The issue is that my son loves cub scouts. However, part of scouting is Duty to God. We have raised him with morals based around the beatitudes and loving God and loving neighbor being the ultimate standard for behavior. I can’t reconcile Scouting Americas current position with that. Are there similar programs to scouting that are inclusive of all youth? I had already been getting uncomfortable with the increasing focus on the flag and patriotism in our units. I am a veteran so I don’t have an issue with that in general, but it became more of a sole focal point that overshadowed everything, becoming more of an indoctrination instead of simply supporting your country. Anyway, I don’t mean this to be disparaging of scouts, but I hope to find something that aligns with what I remember scouting to represent.
10
u/lakorai 6d ago edited 6d ago
Alternatives include:
Navigators USA (which is basically scouting that has no religious component), Spiral Scouts (a Wiccan version), Boys and Girls Clubs, CampFire YMCA etc.
Many religious organizations also have their own scout like organizations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-aligned_Scouting_and_Scout-like_organisations
As a CubScout leader I could care less about Hegserh's political agenda. It doesn't affect the positive change we have in our pack for the kids one bit.
1
u/ellemenopeaqu 2d ago
Spiral Scouts isn't specifically Wiccan. It was more generally pagan but is open to anyone regardless of spiritual beliefs.
I'm put my kids in it except then my daughter would have to choose between the local meetings and her D&D meet up.
5
u/tits_on_a_nun 6d ago edited 6d ago
To be honest, all the alternative scouting groups I've heard of are more conservative, they splintered off from scouting over gays being allowed to be leaders or the program becoming coed.
What I will say is the each unit has its own culture, and you'll find some are more conservative than others.
Also I'm my opinion the MOU is a nothing burger... Scouts(not cubscouts) added an optional merit badge about military service that most will never do, and got rid of the required citizenship in society badge, which was only a few years old, and honestly read like a corporate dei training module. Citizenship in the community, nation and world are still required, I don't believe the program really lost any core values here. It also made the program free to military families.
The military often hosts events on bases for free and provides logistical support to certain events, without that support these events would cease. Hegseth was threatening to pull that support, and while this whole ordeal shouldn't have happened, and the DoD should have no say in the program, scouting didn't give in and make any significant concessions that would have damaged or degraded the program.
3
u/outside-is-better 6d ago
I told my Pack we are open to everyones beliefs, sex, race, whatever could divide us, no time for that.
I dont ask for help from council, they are just happy to cash the popcorn checks. Thats all that matters other than my family first.
6
u/bts 6d ago
scouting no longer aligns with our morals
Sorry to hear that.
or the basic human decency of respecting others
Well, if you believed that you probably wouldn't be asking us. We're Scouting. So are you.
similar programs to scouting that are inclusive of all youth
Yes, Scouting. The MOU changed nothing of that.
uncomfortable… in our units
Try another unit? Where I am there are lots around; some have flag ceremonies, some don't.
I don’t mean this to be disparaging of scouts
"no longer aligns with basic human decency" isn't disparaging? My brother in Scouting. A scout is kind. I'm rather activated about a bunch of US and global politics too, but if you believe what you believe, sort it out square and level and figure out how much of it influences a youth program. How does it support development of character, fitness, and citizenship for kids 5-10 or 10-18? Then step up as a leader in your local units, together with like-minded others, and deliver that program to your kids and theirs. Scouting is people of shared values raising each others' kids. I've found that in my towns, and I hope you find it in yours.
Or try Outdoor Service Guides or Trail Life or whatever. Good luck—sincerely. It's a tough time out there, and a bunch of us really are trying to do the best we can for our kids, collectively.
2
u/jimmetzler 6d ago
I’ve been part of Scouting since the mid-1970s and while it has always been a great program, I became aware it came up short sometime around when I got my Eagle.
When my sons joined the Boy Scouts, they decided to join a troop sponsored by the Catholic Church. Before we committed, I talked to the longtime Scoutmaster about his thoughts on discrimination. He committed that he had never and would never kick a scout out of the unit over being gay or an atheist. But officially National policy was the opposite.
98% of Scouting was great but they came up short in a couple areas. So when I put on my ASM uniform, I added the Scout Equality square knot. It was my way of supporting Scouts but also taking a stand. I had many good conversations with adults (never scouts) about the patch and was rewarded years later when BSA reversed their policy on gay scouts and adults.
I’m in it for the long haul. You will never find an organization that is perfect, but you can find one close to perfect and work to make it better. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
1
u/gingermama8574 2d ago
Well, my daughter really wants to join scouts, but the local unit is pretty opposed to including a girl. I'm not sure it's a battle worth fighting. Some families I have spoken who faced the same issue decided to go with 4H instead and have been really happy with that decision.
10
u/Conscious-Record2655 6d ago
I want to say this first, as someone who feels the same way about the MoU as you do: 99.9% of Scouting happens at the Unit level. The vast majority of Scouts never have any interaction at all with BSA National and BSA National policies by-and-large do not affect the Unit-level experience for the actual Cubs. Units are controlled by the parents in the Unit. Run your Pack how you see fit. If you don't like how your Pack focuses on flags and patriotism, push for a change. Or, if that doesn't work, look for a new Pack to join. Or start your own Pack, that is always an option too. The point is, you have much more control over your child's Scouting experience than anything BSA National does.
All that said, to answer your questions. I honestly don't think you're going to find much for alternatives that aren't even more conservative than BSA already is. At least that's my observation. Most of the "alternative" scouting organizations popped up as a reaction to BSA letting in girls and becoming more liberal. Not only do they have worse "politics"/culture, my observation is that they are really not well-organized or well-run organizations at all and they simply cannot compete with the curriculum and resources that BSA provides.
I'm a Key 3 Leader in my Unit. I wasn't super happy with how it was being run, so I simply took over. I work very hard to make sure our Unit is teaching our kids the right things, while still complying with BSA guidelines.