A scouting group for pagan kids is spreading - Little wizards go on camping trips in druid cloaks

Pagan scouts!

A scouting group for pagan kids is spreading through North America, but Christians say the nature-worshipping youngsters are only earning a merit badge in Satanism.

Annoyed by the Christianity and conservatism of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, pagan parents in Seattle started the Spiral Scouts in 1999. Now the group has more than 125 chapters in the United States, Canada and even Switzerland.

There are now seven chapters -- called "circles" -- in Michigan alone, Detroit's Metro Times reported this month. [link to www.metrotimes.com]

Another new circle just began operations in Eugene, Oregon, according to the Register-Guard. [link to www.registerguard.com] That makes three active circles in Oregon.

The little wizards go on camping trips, learn "woodland lore" and wear khaki uniforms topped with a druid-style cloak.

They earn merit badges in the five categories of the Wiccan pentacle: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. [link to www.wiccanglade.com]

But instead of praying to the Christian god, reciting pledges of allegiance to flags or banishing atheists and homosexuals, at Spiral Scouts meetings the "kids gather around a coffee table and light candles in solemn tribute to earth, water, fire and air." [link to www.metafilter.com]


The younglings come from "minority faiths" such as Wicca, druidism and various New Age beliefs.