Can son join Scouts (we are vegan)?

[trudy99]

Hello, our son is 11 and wants to give Scouts a shot. Just looking for some insight on what it entailed. Is fishing something that happens on most camping trips? Learning to skin animals, etc. etc. I don't know how modern day scouting is and just would like an idea! Ty!

I don't think they do that sort of thing nowadays

My son’s in a longstanding scouts run by experienced leaders (I’d say lifelong in the scouting movement). Camped with them and no skinning of animals (though he’d actually be thrilled by that). Lots of fire lighting, games, hiking, outdoor pursuits stuff.

Might need to warn them re any cooking and barbecuing though. It’s all quite traditional and ‘hearty’.

I am a leader (though of beavers not scouts) and was a vegan for awhile. It’ll be fine - they should be accommodating and adapt things for him. That’s my experience anyway.

DS is in Cubs and the only thing so far that he's done with a campfire is toast marshmallows :)

Scouts is very inclusive these days and can accommodate veganism.

The only animal prepping that goes on in our group is on a ‘Survival skills’ camp every 2 years.

as others have said, total non issue, maybe the occasional meal that has to be adapted, or activity he would prefer to sit out, but maybe not even that

Our group has a survival skills camp every year.

My son ski nned, gutted cooked and ate a squirrel on Scout camp, so it does happen (he's 15).It will depend on the group/leaders available

Theyll do their best to accomodate but he's likely to feel like he's missing out. It's hard to imagine a vegan campfire, are marshmallows even vegan?

Our scout group does skin rabbits and gut fish at certain times, like camps. It's optional though, children are allowed to opt-out. Most choose to have a go!

I had a vegan Scout in my group. He came on camps, the whole family came to bbq fundraisers. We accommodated them no problems. Same as we cater for vegetarians, those who only eat Hallal meat and those with allergies.

Holland and Barrett sell vegan marshmallows, and I know of a few chocolate chip biscuit brands that are randomly vegan. So s'mores are even doable!

DS got to prepare pigeons & squirrels. I thought this was fantastic ( & tasty). I understood they had been culled for eco-reasons.
I'm sure you can explain your concerns to the leaders & your son can opt out of attending any such sessions. There weren't badges in butchery.

Depends on the leaders. Ours are into fishing, gutting rabbits (oh the fleas!) and pigeons. Others wouldn't dream of those sort of things.

Thanks so much for the replies. Seems it really does depend on the group! Nice to know most will accommodate :) will have a talk with a leader. Thank you

Woodcraft Folk may be a better fit OP, if you have a branch nearby. Almost certainly more vegans.

Yeah - I thought woodcraft folk might be more suitable but didn’t want to stereotype. Also the leadership of the WF often passes between parents who all take a turn.

So if like me you’d rather pay your subs and handover your kid, I’d be asking about accommodating your diet.

I note they are staffed by volunteers so some flexibility and offer of help if they need to get separate food might be welcomed.

I have x2 vegan children in our cub pack. I make sure that their parents are aware in advance of any activities we have planned that include any non-vegan foods and they either advise on what I can get as an alternative, or they bring substitute items with them. I also ensure that on 'treat days' like Christmas Party etc that there are suitable options for them.

Only veggie but we were told if we supplied suitable marshmallows they would refund us. I never did bother to get the money though!

Non-issue, definitely. We bought along all veggie stuff to the Beavers barbecue and they'd already got lots of Quorn stuff as several children were veggie, not just DD. I'm sure a vegan could be similarly accommodated. No idea about Scout activities as DD is still only a Beaver but I reckon it'll be fine, they seem pretty inclusive these days.

(DD has also been on a camp...also fine )

I'm a leader and would have no issues with your DS joining us. The only thing I would (kindly) say is that if it's at all possible, supply as much of his own food as possible for camp.
Camps are normally run to a tight budget and the catering is worked out in a cost per head basis. A diet such as vegan would work out significantly more expensive for your DS than for a Scout eating the regular diet (as a PP pointed out, burgers, sausages and bacon feature heavily on our camp menu and financial constraints mean they are not ethically sourced, organic, grass fed etc )
If it's a problem then we would of course accommodate him, but we would be extremely grateful for the offer of help with his food.

Your DS should be fine - tbf various members of the Scout group where I Guide have benefitted quite a lot from the fact the Scouting Leadership teams can ask the vegan Brownie Leaders for food suggestions, but Units all round the UK (assuming you're UK-based from what you've said...) are used to meeting a range of dietary needs; & survival-style activities are not, as PP have said, a compulsory part of Scouting.

Uniform-wise you might need to check with the Leaders about what woggle would be acceptable for your son to wear as most are leather, but that's getting a bit ahead of things...