Alternative to Girl Scouts

[Wanderlust]

Perhaps this is an odd question to post on Bogley, but I thought if any group of people would know, it would be here.

I live in Salt Lake City and have a daughter that I want to get an outdoor education similar to high-functioning boy scout troop members. However, in some initial searching, the best I can find is the Girl Scouts. Are any of you aware of other programs available to children that function like the boy scouts, but are available to girls as well? Someone a couple years ago mentioned Campfire Kids or something like that, but I cannot locate them in Utah.


As a side note, I am not a member of the LDS church and would prefer the group not be affiliated with that organization (nothing personal, I just don't like their doctrine on the role of women).

Thank you!

[blueeyes]

Wanderust you are her best resource. There is nothing a group could teach her about the outdoors better than you. I take both my kids camping, mountain biking, canyoneering, and skiing all of the time as a single mom. I learned my great love of the outdoors from my parents not a group. You can take her and one or two of her friends and have a grand time showing them things they won't see on TV or video games.

[deagol]

I've always heard that Boy Scouts was way more linked to the LDS church in Utah than Girl Scouts ???
I was in Boy Scouts and can attest that religion is a big part of it. I've also been told that Girl Scouts is different and isn't really linked to religion ???

Edit: http://www.girlscouts.org/program/basics/faith/
I guess I don't know much about Girl Scouts.

[D.O.N.E.]

I second what blueeyes posted. My brother was in campfire kids in Salt Lake about 20 years ago. While I'm sad they are no longer in the valley as an alternative I'm sure my brother vastly preferred trips out with our dad. I never went into Girl Scouts but did try a summer camp. Mostly I remember being under-impressed. Camp didn't even scratch the surface of the fun I had spending a weekend in the mountains with my dad. To be fair they were dealing with a lot of city-kids that may have never even spotted a deer before let alone set their own hooks for fishing.

[D.O.N.E.]

And just to add I think it's wonderful you want to make sure your daughter gets involved in the great outdoors! I don't know but I wonder if maybe you don't feel prepared to give her a taste of the outdoors? Don't feel overwhelmed! There's tons of resources online and in books - I even stumbled on a how-to guide for new women backpackers recently. Plus don't discount any friends you know that camp, ask to tag along one weekend, have them walk you through what you need, how to pack and how to dress. And if you don't know any campers, well then welcome to bogley! There's plenty here :)