Author Topic: Alternative to Boy Scouts? (Read 3008 times)

Anthem · « **on:** October 31, 2012, 09:52:45 AM »

Hello all. I haven't posted here in a while, but I wanted some honest feedback from traditional Catholics. My son is currently involved in Cub Scouts, the preparatory club for boys too young for Boy Scouts. Now, our local pack is fairly conservative, attached to our NO parish. The program is a bit vapid, actually, but it seems harmless enough.

I have a few concerns about the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). For one, they seem to have become so commercialized that the original aims of the organization have disappeared. Secondly, I know the BSA has ties to Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ, which concerns me. While they speak about being reverent and don't shy from taking some "conservative" stances, I don't like the fact that they're a nondenominational group doing these things. I'd rather not hear about religion at all or that it be only Catholic, if you know what I mean. Finally, the activities planned for the boys are really dumbed down. I knew how to tie knots, go fishing, fire a rifle, whittle, etc. just by being with my dad while I was a child. Now they talk about making food pyramid charts or other little activities which really teach no useful skills. Of course, I do things (outdoors, woodworking, even cooking) with my son, but it's nice to have a program where he can associate with other boys his age as well.

So, do any of you have ideas for alternatives? I am looking for either a totally secular (but not liberal) group that can involve boys in hands-on activities, or a traditional Catholic group similar to the Scouting program. If my son is going to really get involved and stay in something like this for years, I'd like it to be a program that I can be proud of. Otherwise, it's just a waste of time.

What say you?

Capt McQuigg · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2012, 12:34:43 PM »

Staying home is a perfectly acceptable alternative to the Boy Scouts.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2012, 12:55:29 PM »

We had our boys in the Indian Guides for a while. It was totally laid-back, Dads along at all times. They would do clean-ups for the elderly, fix things, they had a really fun camping trip in cabins, and most fun for them were the shooting trips. They got to shoot really cool weapons. But I heard Indian Guides are a part of the YMCA? In our case it was just a neighborhood group doing sort of useful activities on Saturday mornings.

Boy Scouts have just gotten too weird, IMO. It depends on the individual group and its leader, but I don't know anyone who would leave their boys alone with a Boy Scout troop leader anymore.

However, it is still respected by future employers to have been an Eagle Scout, FWIW.

Anthem · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2012, 08:49:50 PM »

Quote from: Capt McQuigg

Staying home is a perfectly acceptable alternative to the Boy Scouts.

Thanks Cap'n, that was very helpful. I can certainly teach my children anything they would learn in a club. We could start a monastery too, and never leave the property. I don't run my children around every waking moment to keep them entertained, if that is to what you are alluding.

It's about the comaraderie, being a part of a group, that as the next poster mentioned, might be seen as a positive in the future. Personally, I don't think it is all that necessary in the big scheme of things. But, IF one wanted to get involved with some organized outdoorsy/camping/craftwork group for children/young people, what are your suggestions for a decent group?

Myself, I was in 4-H for this sort of thing. It was fun, and it was safe. We didn't have scouting in my hometown.

Jaynek · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2012, 10:12:58 AM »

I don't know of any alternatives. My impression is that Scouting varies quite a bit from troop to troop. Do you have time to get involved in your son's troop as a leader? That would put you in position to influence the activities he does. Or, if you belong to a trad parish, you could start a troop based there.

Any group activities for young people mean letting other adults have influence over your children, no matter what the group. Even trad leaders might have ideas you disagree with. The only way to avoid this is to get involved in the leadership yourself.