What scouting looks like WITHOUT the religious fundamentalist influence

[depakid]

It's cool to wear a woggle again, Scouts' honour


Great outdoors ... Scouts from a Newcastle troop set up camp at the jamboree. They can try activities such as rock climbing and the flying fox as well as learn traditional Scout skills.
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A DECADE ago it might have seemed uncool and passe. But so immersed are today's children in video games, social networks and other digital habits that wearing a woggle and going outside suddenly has appeal. Scout leaders say they are seeing a resurgence in the Scout movement as children find themselves drawn to the ''novelty'' of being outdoors and solving problems.

''Years ago computers were a novelty, things like Gameboys were a novelty,'' said the Chief Commissioner of Scouts NSW, Grant De Fries, who conceded interest in Scouts had waned in the 1980s and 1990s. ''I've got godchildren now who have been around that technology since they can remember. It's not a novelty, whereas Scouting now gives them something they can't usually experience. That's the sense I get when I talk to kids . They say, 'Wow, that's different. I didn't know you could do that.' ''

The number of Scouts has grown by 6 per cent annually since 2006, and is now at 22,000, Mr De Fries said.

Members have been gearing up for their Australia Jamboree which officially opens today at Cataract Scout Park, at Appin, south of Campbelltown. More than 10,000 Scouts and about 3000 leaders are attending the event, which takes place once every three years. This year's theme is ''test your limits''.

''It's about allowing them to participate in responsible risk-taking, to push themselves and understand how to avoid danger,'' said the jamboree's chief director, Bob Baker. The risk-based theme represents another reason Scouting is growing in relevance, Mr De Fries said. ''Parents have said, 'We don't have the skills to teach kids to take risks responsibly.'

''For years young people were so protected by parents who wanted to make sure their treasured children weren't exposed to anything that might harm them, that they lost the capacity to identify risk themselves and teach that to their kids now. ''They want someone that can do that, and we are one of the few organisations that do.''

Activities include rock climbing, the flying fox and ''circus-type'' games as well as traditional Scout skills, such as tying knots, woodwork, welding and orienteering, Mr Baker said. 'The myth is that we sit around all day tying knots and saying dyb-dyb-dyb,'' Mr De Fries said. ...But that's not all Scouting is - we've got abseiling, canoeing, white-water rafting....

More: http://www.smh.com.au/national/its-cool-to-wear-a-woggle-again-scouts-honour-20100103-lndg.html

[ClassWarrior]

1. There are a lot of scout groups in the US that are thriving without any fundy influence.

I remember a segment on NPR (I think) a few years back about a troop that openly welcomes gay scouts, in defiance of BSA.

NGU.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Good for them!

Unfortunately, BSA troops here in AZ were knocking on doors in support of the 2008 anti-marriage amendment. :(

[immoderate]

2. Abseiling?

I loved my scouting experiences. I started in a troop that was sponsored by a synagogue. Good activities, but too much religion. The troop split and I went with the secular faction. We had good times and learned a lot.

--imm

[depakid]

6. Rappelling

The "Flying fox" is basically a traverse.

Luckily, I had my time in the scouts before the fundamentalist nutters began making such a stink of things. It was quite the diverse troop- ethnically, racially and religously- though no one gave a rats ass about religion or cultural war themes- we were all (including the parents) in it for the outdoor fun- for the craft & lore (along with a little discipline and these quaint, old fashioned notions about having a bit of honor and integrity along with the self confidence that goes along with doing these sorts of things.. and doing them well).

And you won't find any of us stuck on some back road because "the GPS said so."

[A Brand New World]

4. My son became an Eagle Scout in 1997 without a lot of religious

involvement even though our troop sponsor was a Presbyterian Church. It's possible.

[cayanne]

5. Are they still anti gay?

If so they still won't get my donations, just like the Salvation Army won't.

[depakid]

7. Not an issue down under

Australian scouting opposes the US ban on atheists and gays.

In fact, like so much of the culture war BS that's rampant in the states- it doesn't make any sense to people.

COMPERE: The US scouting movement says it is opposed to gay people being allowed to serve as scout leaders and it's asking the Supreme Court in Washington to give special dispensation to exclude gays from their ranks.

The Australian scouting movement, however, says that despite an affiliation with the American organisation they don't agree with the policy and are in fact surprised the US group has been able to maintain its position for so long.

Bronwyn Adcock asked Dion Ellis, Executive Director of the Scouting Association in Victoria to explain the Australian Scouting Movement's position on homosexuality.

DION ELLIS: Well there's no specific issue with gay people. We, perhaps I'll put it that we do not use sexual orientation as a barrier to being a scout leader or in fact involved as a youth member.

BRONWYN ADCOCK: So you have no problem with a gay person being a scout leader or even in the scouts.

DION ELLIS: Not per se, no. Our criteria is that good leaders are good leaders and we look at a person's character and their behaviour around children and assess them on that basis.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s121723.htm