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You should consider putting your kid in Scouts (lemmy.today)
submitted 5 days ago by 1dalm@lemmy.today to c/parenting@lemmy.world
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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.

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[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today -2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

(I don't understand Lemmy people. Who down votes child protection policies?)

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

yes, not only was I in field hocky, my son does baseball. Never an overnight trip.

you just wanna fight. boooo

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today -3 points 5 days ago

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.)

[–] nadram@lemmy.world 11 points 5 days ago (3 children)

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.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today 2 points 4 days ago

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.)

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

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

[–] _spiffy@piefed.ca 3 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] Pfeffy@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Right after they capitulate to the fascists? No thanks. I'd want my children to learn some values worth respecting.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That was literally a nothing announcement. Virtually nothing actually changed about the program.

Literally one merit badge was removed and one elective merit badge was added. That's it. And all of the requirements in that one removed merit badge are repeated in multiple other merit badges, and those other merit badges didn't get charged at all.

I promise you. No one is checking kids birth certificates when they sign up and no child is being turned away from the program.

You are upset about literally nothing because an algorithm on the Internet told you this was something to be upset about.

[–] Pfeffy@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

You aren't upset because you're biased. When have the fascists ever gotten what they wanted and then stopped? You'll make an excuse for each new capitulation. More likely you support the fascists from what I can see.

Edit: which is probably why you're lying. Even Fox News lists five specific changes ... War Secretary Pete Hegseth announces Scouting America agreed to reforms | Fox News https://share.google/TsWoNpLnNUFoGruWM

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

2 of those five aren’t even a concern. As someone said, scouting was always classically conservative, in the sense of service to community and country, not in the MAGAt sense.

  • How is there an objection to waiving registration fees for families of service members? They already waive fees pretty much on request if you have a good argument that you can’t afford them
  • military merit badge? I don’t see any details but merit badges are always optional and priestess by the scout. That Elwood serve many scouts, and everyone else would ignore it.

Separation from f genders is exactly how I left scouts but I don’t know if anything changed. Cubs were together and more family oriented, scouts are generally expected to bring a parent to camp outs. But the troop was separate campsites for boys and girls. That part seems unchanged

The gender scare thing is mean spirited and despicable, very much against the ethos of scouting. I’d expect most scout leaders to ignore it, not that it helps individuals

Rejecting the dei merit badge is the other charge very much against the ethos of scouting. However I don’t remember that existing for my kids. If it’s any mitigation, at least it’s one without tradition.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today -4 points 5 days ago (2 children)

So let's back up.

What specific actual virtue of the Scouting America do you have a problem with?

Here's the scout law to get you started:

A scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Which one of these virtues do you want your kids to have? (And for gawd sakes, please read something about what "reverence" means before knee-jerking to that one."

[–] Pfeffy@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

They can state having any stupid values that they want. But they capitulated to fascists. I don't want to have stupid children that recite propaganda with no understanding of the world around them.

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Girl Scout Law:

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Idk but the Girl Scout Law is ..better.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

What's... better?

[–] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

morally straight.. mentally awake (lol "woke" idk why I find this hilarous), but specifically I like the girl scout part about being responsible for our own words and actions, and being a friend to others.

Girl scouts really emphisizes being of service to others in a non self serving way. Where as the boys (scouts, I know it's changed) are.. to do so to be patriotic? It's littered with nationalism and god. Those parts are in the girl scout promise (to serve god and my country) but it is less a focal point.

this is just an opinion though, im not trying to fight.

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today 2 points 5 days ago

Just to be clear, "morally straight" does not mean "sexually straight".

And yes, "mentally awake" literally means "woke". (Seriously. The scouts have been literally teaching "woke" for over 100 years. It's actually a very progressive organization.)

[–] Archer@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I don’t do child abuse

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today -1 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

In Australia the AAFC is a better option in my opinion

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Is that like ROTC in the US?

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] 1dalm@lemmy.today 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That sounds like an awesome experience!

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 2 points 4 days ago

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.