So this is super cool and something I’m really excited about. A few months ago, in one of the Facebook groups I’m in for moms in my area, one of them posted an invitation to get involved with a scouting troop she is starting. A secular scouting group. An all-inclusive scouting group!
How very cool, right?
This is something I’ve been struggling with for a few years. I mean, we love the outdoors! I was brought up in an outdoors family, I write a weekly newspaper column all about families having fun outdoors, I was a manager for L.L.Bean for several years….but I knew that we couldn’t do, ahem, the very popular scouting program in this country. But I wanted something.
My new friend (obviously anyone who wants a program for kids that is outdoors and secular is my friend!) is starting a troop here and I couldn’t be more thrilled. We’re having our first organizational meeting in a few weeks. I know it will take a while to get off the ground, but I’m thrilled that this option is out there. I had no idea. If you click the photo that is in this post, it will take you to their website. You may have to start your own group and nationally and internationally it is still pretty small. If you are in or near Chester County, PA and want more information about our group, let me know. Our group for starters is going to be the Otters, the little guys, because that is what we have.
I hope this helps someone out there. I know I was happy to know that this option is out there.
I searched for a secular, inclusive scouting program a couple of years ago, too. We looked at a bunch of different organizations, including BPSA. We didn’t end up picking BPSA (Navigators USA was our selection, and BPSA was #2), but we thought that BPSA looked really good.
I wrote about our search and decision process a few months ago: http://groundedparents.com/2014/01/10/ethical-and-inclusive-scouting/