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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Non-religious alternatives to Beavers etc

30 replies

mixedmamameansbusiness · 12/01/2011 12:51

Am just looin into some possibe future ativities for DS1 (5) and later DS2 (3). I know he cannot start beavers until next year anyway, however it looks great - then I read the bit on the website about prayer and was wondring how much religion is actually involved and whether there are alternative roups out there without this element.

We are Muslim but not particularly practising although Idont think DH would embrace praying at Beavers.

Any info either on Beavers or anything else greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
weegiemum · 12/01/2011 12:54

There's pretty much no religion in our Beavers - sometimes a very generic "prayer" at the end, and we have Muslims, CHristians and those of no faith at our Beavers (I'm a regular parent helper).

The "religion" bit is, I think, to help children develop their own spirituality, not to teach them to pray to any particular God.

Original poster
mixedmamameansbusiness · 12/01/2011 13:06

Thanks for that. That sounds great then really. It looks like a great thing to do with so many opportunities for different things.

OP posts:
HeadsUp · 15/01/2011 21:05

Don't know if Beavers make a promise or anything but in Brownies, "our god" is now changed to "my god" and can be taken to be whatever is meaningful to each individual, all religions are welcome.

They even sell a Hijab on the guiding essentials website.

onimolap · 15/01/2011 21:13

Scouting and Guiding both have a faith aspect, but it is for any faith. If you are concerned about making the prayer component (such as it is) acceptable to your faith (and I'd be pretty surprised if wasn't already),then speak to the leader about adaptations - it's a well- trodden path.

HeadsUp · 15/01/2011 21:18

So far I have stuck to traditional Brownie bells prayer at the end of the night as we are all of Christian backgrounds or athiests so goinng with tradition for now, god for me is Mother Nature really

PaisleyLeaf · 17/01/2011 12:28

Do you have Woodcraft Folk near you?

Wordsmith · 17/01/2011 12:32

Most Beavers packs are based at a local church and participate in church parade, but the children don't have to go if they don't want to. I wouldn't think you would have a problem with most modern-day Beavers.

Unlike when I was a brownie/guide in the 1970's and church parade was pretty much a three-line whip affair.

madrush · 17/01/2011 12:32

I'd like a guides/scouts alternative too, without religion. No woodcraft folk near us (SE London) and they look great. Anyone know anything else that's similar?

bigTillyMint · 17/01/2011 12:34

Our Beavers/Cubs/Scouts are not at all religious. They meet in the Tennants Association Hall. Never any church parade. They obviously say the promise, but that's as far as it goes.

mackereltaitai · 17/01/2011 12:35

woodcraft folk is really good fun. hate to say it but have you considered training as a woodcraft folk leader and setting up a group??

MadreInglese · 17/01/2011 12:37

Woodcraft Folk are good

St John's Ambulance do a group called Badgers

PaisleyLeaf · 17/01/2011 12:42

none of these near you madrush?

madrush · 17/01/2011 12:52

Wow, I clicked on SE region and didn't even see London was separate. Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night!

Thanks Paisley, will definitely look into those.

Would be tempted to help out, but don't know if I could commit to setting up a new group from scratch just at the moment (just upped my hours at work).

Original poster
mixedmamameansbusiness · 24/01/2011 13:31

Setting up a group would work round here (NW London) our nearest is slighty too far, but am reassured by the comments about Beavers.... tbh I am unbothered really as even if it was a direct Christian prayer I doubt it would make an awful lot of difference to DS was just thinking along the Church Parade etc path.

Will look properly into Beavers and Woodcraft then - it might well just come down to distance really.

OP posts:
mummytime · 28/01/2011 10:16

Even going to church parade seems a lot less than in my day. For Beavers it was 2 a year (once for each associated church, C of E and URC), for Guides its about 1 a term, similar for Brownies. We usually miss it as DD sings at the Cathedral.

Just don't make a mistake and go for Boys Brigade.

strandednomore · 28/01/2011 14:38

Why oh why can't Woodcraft Folk change their name???? They sound like something from the 1950's involving skipping around the garden or something....but when I look on the website it looks really funky and up to date!

strandednomore · 28/01/2011 14:40

Actually have read a bit more and not sure I like the idea of children sharing chairs in musical chairs - all sounds a bit too woolly for me!

StuffingGoldBrass · 28/01/2011 14:41

I have been wondering about this as DS has just started expressing an interest because his friend up the road goes to Beavers. It's my understanding that they don't peddle the superstition too much these days in multicultural areas, but I will have to check what the local group's ethos is.

ShatnersBassoon · 28/01/2011 14:44

My children have been to Beavers, and only one asked about God and why he should love God. I said 'I am God' and that was the end of that Grin.

The religious bit really isn't important. They won't be converted, and they don't have to attend church functions if they don't want to. They're only there for the fun and games, and conveniently forget the important life lesson bits.

StuffingGoldBrass · 28/01/2011 14:46

I just went and looked up the Woodcraft folk and nearly spat my tea out. So DS is going to have a choice between right-wing imperialisting Christianity or hippy communism.
Pah! I think we will stick to afterschool club and the London Transport museum.

strandednomore · 28/01/2011 14:54

Stuffing - if you lived anywhere near me (which I assume you don't as we are a long way from any transport museums!) I would suggest we start our own club with full on competitiveness and not a hint of ANY religion! I am looking into Rainbows/Brownies but we have enough of God via our local primary....

falsemessageoflethargy · 28/01/2011 14:57

Our beavers is quite christian I think if you're not used to it - I was surprised just how much there was. And it is a multicultural group (though less so than the local school which I suppose you can draw your own conclusions from).

Ds is encouraged to go to parade twice a term.

Fennel · 03/02/2011 13:53

My children adore Woodcraft Folk. I guess we don't have a problem with hippy communism Grin.

They do talk about changing the name to something a bit less dated, our children voted on that last year (it's all consensual, even the youngest members have a Voice), but the kids voted for keeping the name.

Original poster
mixedmamameansbusiness · 04/02/2011 11:57

Stuffing - brilliant post made me laugh out loud.

OP posts:
Madsometimes · 07/02/2011 12:13

The Brownies Promise is:

I promise that I will do my best
To love my God,
To serve the Queen and my country,
To help other people
And
To keep the Brownie Guide Law

As it refers to "My God" it is inclusive for people of Christian and non-Christian faiths, but not so good for atheists.