non military scouts?

[knittedbreast]

Hiya was wondering if anyone knew if there was a non military version of the scouts that exists at all for little boys of about 5/6?

Thanks

Shouldnt it be up to your son though, as to which he would like to join?

There is really nothing "military" about the scouts, and the only similarities are they wear a uniform, have a code of conduct, etc. No bad thing at all.

hes 5, hed join a herd of elephants given the chance.
im more than happy for him to join a group that does these sorts of things i would just rather it wasnt one associated with the military is all.

I'm just back from Family camping weekend with the scouts and there is nothing military about it. There was lots of outdoorsey stuff, building camps, hiking , bush cooking etc, singing around the camp fire. They only wore uniform for the trip to and from the scout hall. All the boys and girls loved it. I'm the original hand wringing atheist liberal, and I thought it was great. But Woodland folk might be more your thing.

But it ISNT associated with the military!!

But it isn't associated with the military! I think you're thinking of Army cadets.

sounds good glastocat, its the kind of thing he loves to do!

We are a pacifist atheist family - and both my children have are keen Scouts. There is nominal Christianity, which we have had to swallow - but there is in all state schools and we have to swallow that as well.There is nothing military about them at all. They do wear uniform and have to line up occasionally, and there are leaders. Oh, and a group of Scouts is a troop. But a group of Beavers (they are boys usually, althout girls can join) is called a Colony - so pretty non military!

Happy to talk more - I think the Scout movement has given a huge amount o my children in loads of ways.

There seems to be such a lot of misinformation here - starting with the OP!

Someone mentioned the Beavers as being for little girls - it isn't - that is RAINBOWS.

The scouting movement is not a military organisation - or connected with anything remotely military. What an odd idea! There is a uniform but schools have uniform. No fighting - nothing. Also it is not Christian and embraces all faiths. When you pledge your allegiance to God - it can be any God of course.

Where has this strange idea come from?

scouts/beavers pledge aliegence to the queen dont they?
im not thinking of army cadets, i went to guides a few times and rainbows and even i at that aged noticed how geared up or very similar it was to army procedures. anyway the point is that i wasnt looking for scouts but another version of it will less reginment. i found it and have left a message so fingers crossed hel be an elfin sometime this year.

sounds a like a really lovely thing to get involved in, children need more of this kind of stimulation

Glastocat that's my experience too... even Baden Powell doesn't get much of a mention these days... if I thought too much about it its everything I dislike in essence (formal parades, allegiance to a certain religion, tying knots) but the reality is that its fantastic for the kids, there are some 'old school' leanings, many of the leaders are full bodied Christians, but its pleasant, fun and in practice, perfectly suited to even an agnostic luxury lover who dislikes large groups and tin cups... especially the songs round the campfire.

The problem with "less regimentation" -( which actually means that they have to line up and shut up while the leader is telling them what they are going to do that evening then line up and shut up while they say goodnight and waith for the parents to arrive) is that there are lots of exciting adventurous things you can't do iof you don;t listen to instructions. Our Scouts sail boats, canoe, make rafts, cook 3 course meals on open fires and go on night hikes. You jsut can't do that sort of thing if all the little free spirits are doing their own thing all the time!

you dont need to stand children in a line to get them to be quiet. the woodfolk do the same things just without a touch of mini army. thats what is appealing about it to me. they still sail, canoe etc..

There are some really lovely selfless people who have given up lots of their spare time over the years as leaders looking after my children in Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides and Rangers. I'm also now involved at a Committee level. There is a link via some of the groups to the local church as they are church sponsored groups - the church provides the hall free of charge. Church parades are on Mother's Day, Harvest and Christmas and one or two others in the year - events to make the children think about other people and certainly no evangelising going on. Can't think of anything military going on, apart from some air rifle shooting at camp. On the whole, they are lovely community based groups.

DS is a cub in a pack of around 16 and my goodness they are useless at saluting and doing 'the grand howl' at the end of the meeting.

every week the leader has to tell them how to do it, which direction to turn etc!

agree seeker

now they have a new leader, who has a natural authority, and is able to get the little blighters to shut up and listen, they are getting much more done every week.

They are expected to turn out on parade for the Remembrance Sunday but it's VERY good for them to do so IMO

makes them think how lucky they are.

So is a school a "mini army" because they have assemblies? Honestly, I don;t know where you've got your impression of the Scouting movement, but it really isn;t like you imagine. Really.

And do check that the Woodcrafters do all the activities you want your child to do - ours may not be typical, but dd found them a bit "wet"

Aldiwhore, one advantage of a tin cup is that no-one knows exactly what is in it. I found this a great help at times. . Having just spent two days with the scouts I think God was mentioned once, at the campfire singalong (which I was dreading but was actually hilarious the wine helped ).

ok i dont know what the issue is here. I do not want my son to attend scouts but would prefer another slightly different approach, whats the problem?

ive attended rainbows and guides and i dont like the (what i call military aspect) of it and so want something else. thats all

Knitted, I dont think it does kids any harm at all to learn how to follow rules and procedures and behave in a slightly "military" fashion. If anything is is bloody good for them!!!

But there is no military aspect at all! I daresay its changed quite a bit since you attended. That's what is confusing everyone, you are accusing them of something which I certainly would not want any part of either.

ok. but i wanted a different approach. i dont agree with the military aspect of it hence why i was asking about something else. it was exactly this aspect i wanted to avoid, its great that you and your children enjoy it and thats fine but it wasnt what i was after.

Is this serious? OMG!

What is this world coming to!

I don't think the scouts/cubs/guides/brownies have anything whatsoever to do with the military. They used to have a religious element, and a patriotic one, but I don't know if that is still the case.

But there is NO military aspect whatsoever. None. Not a joy or an iota.

I get the feeling Knitted is opposed to any sort of movement that expects children to adhere to rules and be told how to behave.