One-Sixteenth

OMG. Does that mean you've attained *whisper* The Status Quo??? *giggle* that's funny.

Enjoy scouting w/ the boys!
Dy

Good luck with Scouts. I've been a den leader for four years now.

I can't remember your ballpark religious ideals; are you able to find harmony with the Scouting religious aspects?

Welcome to the Scouting "Life Style!!" It was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time and money for us in spite of the fun and learning!! Good luck!

Heidi ... well sort of. The Scouts require that you believe in some god, or that you have some kind of religious/spiritual aspect to your life. We can manage within that framework. We're pagan.

There are things I disagree with in the BSA. However, those are things we can work with within our family, and it's the best organization for the kinds of experiences we want for our boys. I've checked out other scouting organizations, and they just don't have the same level of opportunities or organization.

holy smokes! I knew there were some pretty big differences in the organizations behind girl scouting and boy scouting, but gs avoids ANY discussion of religion. I can't imagine "requiring" it!

Scouting is great though, i imagine once you sort it all out you'll love it. The girls love it and I don't hate ie, which is a good thing ;-)

Just wait until they want to go on the January camping trip.

sigh...it saddens me to know that the BSA are the tops for oppurtunities and organization... Good luck with it all though, it sure can be loads of fun!

E, GS does not avoid religion. They have 3 pages of religious badges/emblems that can be earned in various religons. And the Pledge says, "I will do my best to serve God..." and the pledge is pretty darned mandatory - tho in the fine print, it is said that each girl can substitute the name God for whatever diety she wishs, or to just leave it out. But they are never told this, it's just assumed that each girl will just say it as it's formally written.

Chris ... January in Texas is better camping weather than July.

E ... it really depends on the individual packs. Some of them are overtly one religion or another. Some are strongly religious. Some are not. But the BSA does have the requirement of a spiritual aspect to your life. They have various religious awards you can work for. No neo-pagan ones ;-)

I knew it going into the organization, though. My eyes are very much open.

I'm in my 4th year of leading Gonzo's den and just became Cubmaster upon someone's resignation.

I like the structure. I like the den-pack arrangement of bringing multiple ages together. I don't like the homophobic aspect. Every rank requires some religious study, but all are open-ended. Eyes open sounds great. There's a homeschooling Scouting yahoogroup that's quiet and informative, if you have interest.

Heidi, I'd like that. We don't like the homophobic aspect either, but that's one of the attitudes that we can handle at home.

Tell your scout leaders to check out our troop. My son's leaders have a grant or funds to pay for patches, ribbons, even camp outs. Boys must EARN their 50 cent a week dues. And the leaders donate all the money back to the scout who sold popcorn to pay for his camp. It shouldn't be expensive to be a scout.