Earth Scouts

[Viking12]

Ia anyone familiar with this organization? Sounds like the perfect antidote to the bigotry of the Boy Scouts & I'd like to get involved with my kids.


Earth Scouts, a new national program based on the Earth Charter. A Declaration of Interdependence, with badges centered on respect for nature, economic justice, universal human rights and a culture of peace, is inviting volunteers including parents, youth, educators, artists and other enthusiastic community members to help in its formation.

Program and badge templates are being developed by "Trailblazer" groups for children and youth from 3 years to 13 years. Historically, badges prescribe specific steps for youth to follow. Instead, the badge templates will give guidelines and examples for each of the 16 principles of the Earth Charter in order to build experiences that demonstrate the interdependence of life and inter-relatedness of all issues. Youth will be given age appropriate guidance and support in designing their own requirements for fulfilling the badge.

For example:

Principle: Eradicate poverty as economic, social and moral imperative.

To understand this principle and put it into action an Earth Scout may develop relationship with migrant farmer's child; learn the difference between organic and non-organic farming; understand the connection of migrant poverty to agribusiness; engage in experiences that illuminate the gender role difference between males and females in the migrant camp and discrimination of migrant farmers in their community; take action to buy locally produced food; advocate for changes that benefit migrant farmers.



http://www.earthscouts.org/index.htm

[tubbacheez]

1. Another option is Spiral Scouts... which is somewhat more...

... Pagan in motif.

http://www.spiralscouts.org/

[Viking12]

2. Cool, thanks.

That sounds more like my wife's cup of tea than mine but it is good to have some options. :) It doesn't look like there are any local chapters of either organization so in any case we'll probably have to do some organizing. Could be fun.:hippie:

[tubbacheez]

3. Yeah, I have a few years to wait before my kids are ready...

... but it occurred to me that I might need organize something along these lines if I want a local alternative scouting chapter.



I can think of worse burdens to bear. :)