With the moral relativism that has engulfed both Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, discerning parents don’t have to compromise their biblical beliefs to find a good character-building scouting experience for their children. There are Christian alternatives available.
Recently, Warren Cole Smith wrote about the Boy Scouts mortgaging their “crown jewel,” Camp Philmont. This is the largest and most valuable property owned by BSA and covers more than 140,000 acres. Last year, the organization was looking into bankruptcy. From 2012 to 2017, membership deceased by 16 percent, and yearly membership dues were recently raised from $33 to $60.
In 2013, the BSA decided to allow homosexual boys to join, and in 2015 adult homosexuals were allowed to become leaders. They began accepting transgender youth in 2017 and began admitting girls into the Cub Scouts last year. Girls ages 11-17 are now eligible to join the Boy Scouts, the older group, and earn the rank of Eagle Scout. In February of this year, the name of the organization was changed to Scouts BSA.
Over time, more and more people came forward with accusations of sexual abuse. Attorney Timothy Kosnoff stated that the BSA “could potentially face upwards of 750,000 sexual abuse allegations.” So far, lawyers say they have identified 350 scoutmasters who are sexual predators and now represent 800 victims.
Both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are more liberal organizations today than they were for most of their existence. But there are good alternatives for Christian parents: American Heritage Girls (established in 1995) and Trail Life USA for boys (founded in 2013) are two excellent and godly alternatives. The girls’ organization had partnered with BSA, but when that organization moved away from biblical teachings, AHG helped in the organization of Trail Life USA. In 2018, AHG had 52,000 members and 1,200 troops. Today, both of these Christian organizations see their mission as complementing each other.
Both Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls are distinctively Christian, and almost all their troops are located in local churches. Both organizations believe that boys and girls are different in many ways and seek to help the kids grow and mature by embracing that uniqueness rather than denying it. National AHG Director Patti Garibay wrote that the biggest difference in her organization and Girl Scouts is that “AHG is Christ-centered.” The group’s national office is in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Trail Life USA is headquartered just south of Greenville, S.C., on property that was formerly Boys Home of The South. The property, known as Camp Aiken, contains 127 acres with several buildings, ponds, hiking trails, and recreational facilities.
Mark Hancock is the CEO, and the organization has more than 30,000 members and 800 troops in all 50 states. Their mission is to see boys become godly men. He stated, “We believe boys and girls are different. Society is running in the opposite direction.” He believes there is a “war on boyhood” today in this culture and has written a book, “Let Boys Be Boys,” which points to the “scientific evidence” of the differences in boys and girls. Most parents of boys and girls keenly understand there are real differences between the sexes.
Both organizations offer hope for Christian parents who want an outdoor experience for their children coupled with biblical instruction and Christian morality. Leadership development is a key emphasis of both Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls.
As our culture continues to grow in its hostility to biblical truth and godly values, organizations such as these are like a breath of fresh air. If you have children or grandchildren who can benefit from these Christian programs, please contact them at Americanheritagegirls.org or Traillifeusa.com. I am confident you will not be disappointed.