Cub Scouts vs. Y Adventure Guides??

Any thoughts on one or the other? I enjoyed scouting and would like to get Jacob involved in something similar, but I have some serious issues with Boy Scouts of America. My concern with the Y Adventure Guides is that it seems to only be a dad-involved kind of thing, and my dh travels so much that I'm worried Jacob will be left high and dry.

[poky]

Is there a camp fire group locally? I was in camp fire before it included boys, and remember it fondly. And afaik, they don't have the...um...*issues* that BSA does.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Fire_USA
http://www.campfire.org/

[houseelf]

Yes, I hear you on the whole father/son angle. DS has requested to join boy scouts, but I don't want to involve him in an activity which his dad couldn't be there for him while watching other kids and their fathers engage in manly endeavors. Thus, we haven't signed on yet.

Kelly

[PrincessFiona]

Cub scouts are great...and....there are as many moms that participate as dads.

Kris

[Rapunzel]

Yeah, in the last place we lived I was a Webelos leader. The other leader was also a mom. In cubscouts there really are about as many moms participating as there are dads.

I was actually surprised that I grew to really enjoy the scouting program. At first a lot of it made me roll my eyes. And, I kept messing up and calling the uniform a "costume". Heh.

However, as I said, it grew on me. I really, really like the scouting program now and my son enjoys it a great deal. He takes the goals and accomplishments very seriously.

Now dh is doing scouting with ds. I really do think that, once they get to be older (say, over the age of 10) it does evolve into more of a "male" father/son thing. But, prior to that, there are tons of moms participating.

Is there a camp fire group locally? I was in camp fire before it included boys, and remember it fondly. And afaik, they don't have the...um...*issues* that BSA does.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Fire_USA
http://www.campfire.org/

thanks for the link Sandy! I called today and they're sending me a packet of info. There are several groups near me, and the age range is such that both boys could participate.

I don't doubt that the BSA has some fine qualities, it's just that I'd rather not be involved or indoctrinate my kid into a group with such non-apologetic discrimination. I thought the Y Adventure thing would be good, but they're pretty clear that it's for interaction with DAD, and dh's schedule is too nutty to commit to that.

[poky]

thanks for the link Sandy! I called today and they're sending me a packet of info. There are several groups near me, and the age range is such that both boys could participate.

Oh, cool. I figured there was a decent chance, since it looks like their big annual thing is right there in KC this year. I hope it works out for your kids and that they enjoy it - some of my best memories are of my summers at camp.

I don't doubt that the BSA has some fine qualities, it's just that I'd rather not be involved or indoctrinate my kid into a group with such non-apologetic discrimination. I thought the Y Adventure thing would be good, but they're pretty clear that it's for interaction with DAD, and dh's schedule is too nutty to commit to that.

Yup. DH was an eagle scout, and really enjoyed it, but...I think he actually sent it back to them in protest a while back. He's pretty thoroughly disgusted by the organization's official stance on a lot of issues.

It *is* possible to go through it as a kid and not be, as you say, indoctrinated; that really depends on the group and leaders at the very local level. However, I totally understand not wanting to support the organization in any way if you can avoid it.

It *is* possible to go through it as a kid and not be, as you say, indoctrinated; that really depends on the group and leaders at the very local level. However, I totally understand not wanting to support the organization in any way if you can avoid it.

I'm sure it is. But seeing as how we're located right in the heart of the Bible belt, I think it might be harder to avoid.

Our basketball program is through a Bible Church / Fitness Center place (yes, there are several facilities that are both things). The summer session was pretty laid back. They'd ask the kids to join in a prayer before a game, and I am fine with that. But at the evaluation session for the fall season, we were handed a list of '100 days of prayer', and a keychain that is supposed to help remind us to stay on track. Sample items to pray for: "that evaluation goes smoothly" "the health of our coaches" "the health of our players" "our non-Christian players" "that practices go smoothly".

I'm not a prayer person (obviously), but I like to think if there is a God and he/she listens to prayers, he/she would be more focused on addressing global terrorism and the like, rather than a "smooth practice".

That's the long explanation as to why (along with the political issues) I'd like to avoid it.

[poky]

It *is* possible to go through it as a kid and not be, as you say, indoctrinated; that really depends on the group and leaders at the very local level. However, I totally understand not wanting to support the organization in any way if you can avoid it.

I'm sure it is. But seeing as how we're located right in the heart of the Bible belt, I think it might be harder to avoid.

It *really* depends. DH grew up in Rolla, MO, after all. I think his group's leader was one of the engineering professors at the university, though, not a native local.

Camp Fire's attitude as an organization is definitely better than BSA's, though, IMHO.