'Regular Boy Scouts are very restrictive. This is for everyone'
PORTLAND, Ore. – You only need to give Kael Wittwer one reason to ditch the Boy Scouts and join the new alternative Cascadia Scouts.
“The Boy Scouts don’t get good knives,” he said. “The Boy Scouts just get little knives.”
Kael Wittwer gets a Leatherman. That’s his favorite part of the new group that he and his dad helped create: The Cascadia Scouts.
“Regular Boy Scouts are very restrictive,” said Kael. “This is for everyone.”
In the Cascadia Scouts, boys and girls will go on camping trips together. Nobody cares whether you’re gay, straight or religious.
At least a few dozen families went to an informational meeting on Sunday.
Kael’s dad, Travis Wittwer, helped found the new group. He says it’s a Portland spin on a very old institution.
“Everything takes a little different spin when you try to Portlandize it,” he said. “I think the trick is not to be exclusive. Not to worry. Not to be concerned with what might keep somebody out.”
Writing to clear up some sloppy and misleading journalistic work by KATU. Â First, this organization was not created just for Portland or to compete with BSA. Â Some parents in Portland got together to form a troop of an existing scouting/service organization that has existed world-wide for 45 years. Â It is based on the scouting traditions set out by Baden Powell in 1907 (as was BSA). Â It is real scouting. Â Many of the people behind this group have had extensive relationships with the more common scouting groups in the US - BSA and GSUSA - some had great experiences, others not so good and some none at all. Â But they chose to seek out a non-bigoted group that allows their children to serve and scout without having a specific religious faith pushed on them. Â Period. Â So now there are two choices and parents can learn about and choose the one that is best for their family. Â Another item: Â they quoted Travis Wittwer as saying, âEverything takes a little different spin when you try to Portlandize it,â when it was clearly the KATU reporter that said it, which I noticed in the 3 minutes it took me to watch the clip and read the story. Â Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Â KATU, there's a lot of work to be done in improving your integrity.
This is VERY disturbing to me. Â That poor kid is being used as a poster child for tolerance. Â That is VERY wrong. Â I think it is a recipe for disaster to put girls and boys together in this type of situation. Â It will require constant supervision. Â What are they going to do when they start having, "Issues?" Â I think the liability here is going to be out of this world. Â What are they going to teach these kids? Â Knitting? Â Tolerance? Â That they are ALL special? Â That they all deserve a trophy? Â That they are all equals? Â
Wake up people.  All people ARE NOT Equal.  Everyone does NOT deserve a trophy.  People excel in different areas.  Once upon a time, we used to focus on that, and this country was great.  Now we're focused on tolerance and rewarding mediocrity or even less.  I am disgusted.
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@Reeldeal101Â Do you know what the boy scouts and catholic priests have in common? Lol.
@Morticae @Reeldeal101 "Do you know what the boy scouts and catholic priests have in common? Lol."
Yes, They both don't approve of gays, or a lot of other immoral behaviors?
I personally don't think much of the catholic church because I think they are hypocrites a lot of the time, but the BSA is a good organization.  I am an Eagle Scout, a veteran of the US military, and a physician, and I believe that a lot of the values that I learned in the BSA helped me to be what I am today. And I never had anyone tell me when I was growing up to tolerate Johnny being gay or that I couldn't play smear the queer with my buddies.......I am sick of this tolerance Bullstuff.  So stick that in your liberalistic agenda and smoke it.
@Morticae @Reeldeal101About 30% of perpetrators are family members, e.g., fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins. Â
http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/child-sexual-abuse.aspx
@Morticae @HappyMomAnna @Reeldeal101AND.... YES, the BSA is one of the greatest organizations in the world that has helped raise many fine, upstanding leaders over the years.  To say otherwise is ridiculous.
@Morticae @HappyMomAnna @Reeldeal101 No, I am on an anti-whining and moaning because everything is not what YOU want it to be rant.  I could give a crap about gay people, or ANY of their agendas. Leave my kids out of it is what I say. No prejudices?  Now THAT is hilarious.  That is a completely naive statement. You better think again missy. Â
@HappyMomAnna @Morticae @Reeldeal101 And would you call those people fine upstanding citizens? Apparently the Boy Scouts is one of the greatest organizations according to this person. Who cares! This person is on an anti-gay rant and you can jump in and join them if you want.
This is simply an organization that has no prejudices. Boy Scouts can't say the same, and that's a fact. If you don't want to support this organization, then don't do it. You guys need to get a grip, you're the ones pushing agendas here.
@Morticae @Reeldeal101 the same thing Uncles and Strangers do?
The colors of the beret and the necktie form the bottom 3 colors of the Gay Pride flag. Message Cascadia?
@PortlandEastside OK, you're completely crazy and full of it. I just Googled the gay pride flag and these colors are not represented on it. The green and red in this picture are a completely different shade.
@PortlandEastside Aren't they probably the 3 most popular colors? The rainbow has many colors, how many of them can you possibly hate?
@PortlandEastside Any organization that has neckties as part of their outfit is just none sense.
@TreeWizard @PortlandEastside US Navy?.?.
Meh, what the heck, they have special olympics for a reason too.Â
You just can't trust any organizations. I would keep my teenagers inside and play board games with them. There's just no point in letting them out, someone will molest them or corrupt them.
@Oregon7812Â Unfortunately, by keeping them isolated you only increase the chances of that happening. Â Kids need to learn how to live in the real world, even if it scares you.
@Oregon7812Â I don't have to trust an Organization, my Teenagers and children have a great deal of fun and learn a lot, I just go with them and often take a leadership position in the Organization that way We all have a Great Time!
Finally - instead of whining,  these people are making their own group and not trying to make the Boy Scouts change their standards. Gays don't want their "standards" changed and discriminated against but it's a whole different story for heterosexuals who, to be politically correct, must deal with the same crap the gays don't like. Such hypocrisy.Â
Thank you for trying to find a solution of your own rather than trying to get someone else to do it for you.
@djljejm I kind-of agree with what you are saying, with one caveat:  I think they have ulterior motives here, in that they hope to discourage people from joining the Boy Scouts with this crud.  Why not call it the Gay Scouts?  What, too blunt?Â
Our greatest destiny in life is to love and protect our children. They face so many decisions in life. Why does the world have to include sexual identity? The only difference between their generation and ours is society. I don't believe a person is born gay. Society promotes it, and a child is bombarded with it. Movies, TV etc. I wish society would chill and let kids be kids.
@Jeff Harrington"I don't believe a person is born gay. Society promotes it, and a child is bombarded with it."
If that's true then why, long ago when being gay "was bad", were there gay people back then? it wasn't talked about yet there were (*gasp*) gay people!
You're full of it, have a gay sibling, then it might make more sense to you.
@deejm2112 @Jeff Harrington You can get right up out of here with that stuff.  People ARE NOT born gay.  They have done studies on this, and NO correlations have been found to indicate ANY proof that a person has now, or will ever be, BORN gay.
@Jeff Harrington yep!!!  I have NEVER understood why "Who you make Love to" has anything to do with Anything.... Live your life and deal with the Idea that Not everyone is the same as you.... And, Thank goodness I was not asked to decide when I was 12 -- because a little moment of confusion May have Changed my whole life because I was just a little girl.... I am very happy that it was Not My responsibility to decide My sexual orientation when I was 12 it could have gone either way and I could have ended up a completely different person.... Instead, I grew up in a time where Sexual Orientation was a personal matter between adults who loved each other--And I did not have to think about options or any of this... I actually feel it is Abusive to even bring up sexual orientation to a Child in the First Place... If everyone REALLY wanted our children to think for themselves we would let them grow up to be who they are before we Start making them THINK about who they want to be sexually active with when they grow up. I love lots of people but, only have sex with my mate---as an adult. Why is this even a subject we need to have our kids think about!
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@Dr. Rawdog at risk of what learning good morals and values?
@liss003 @Dr. Rawdog @Jeff Harrington @Dr. Rawdog I am a licensed Insurance Agent-- A Risk is the Possibility of Loss or Injury....  Loss is tangible and usually includes a financial dollar amount.Â
I have ZERO clue what sort of meaning you are applying to the word Risk and how Good morals or Values is in any way a tangible.Â
Risk of Injury is simple to figure out---and frankly, All parents raise their children in the Moral and Value code they choose, the beauty is that All children Grow up and are able to decide if their parents abused them or not by the moral and value code they were raised with. One of my Adult children has my moral and value code, the Other Grew up to Adapt their Own and Both are passionate and Able to Logically Argue why they believe as they do...Â
When YOU write Risk and use it in the context of Church, School, Scouts or anything else it is implying there is Rick of Injury or Loss... then you are Saying a Child is at Risk from being exposed to a moral and values code they may not adopt for themselves and that is a problem??? Then so to is it Equally Risky to Expose any child to Any Moral or Value Code of any Kind---Fact, is that exposure Might Not be the Right One for that Child so it is All a Risk if you want to use that word for something that is not tangible.... I guess.
@Dr. Rawdog @HappyMomAnna @liss003 @Jeff Harrington ASK them! The Sleep in their own beds at night and so don't have sleep overs at our house either... They don't go to into the store alone either. They don't ride max alone. It's simple my kids are my responsibility to Protect and Teach them to leave the Nest... Two have and are doing Fantastic with no problems in life at all...  I don't  see why it is unbelievable to me it is what it is--I am the one who loves my kids and when they are Victimized it would be because, I did not do my job. Of course, as they grow up they do more on their own -- like going to a public bathroom... Those things happen in stages. It is More about educating my children and when they Know There ARE Risks EVERYWHERE and how to react and what to do then.... they will be able to protect themselves as well as I can myself. Why is that so difficult to understand? I had children and adopted children to Be a Mother and I don't see any reason to Risk. Good Grief is how I feel when I see other parents allowing their children to face a risk they do not understand. Kids take a little time to grow up, and we don't need to expect them to know all the risks as little children--we teach them. Teaching them May Include the fact a child Learns to be safe and how to go to the bathroom alone. Fact is, life is risk and bad things happen. I would rather take my kids to the bathroom and protect them, and be 100% responsible to be sure they are not victims while they are My Children. It is supposed to be Natural for Parents to Protect children no one said it was Easy and didn't require a million trips to the bathroom during a the deal. Escorting children who are possible victims to a public bathroom is Not that difficult especially considering it all started with diapers. I don't teach my kids that there are bad people Only in Certain places, I teach my kids Bad People can be Any Place including family and friends. The Reason Child Molesters get away with it is because they Know most kids are Not taught to understand Evil can be found anyplace and is not always so easy to spot. More children are abused by Family Members then in any other way so.... Kids need to know what abuse is, what to do when they face it and what to do after it happens. They need to Know Facts and not be mislead to believe that One place or the other is more risky...Â
@Dr. Rawdog @HappyMomAnna @liss003 @Jeff Harrington I never did and never will!!!!!  My children don't go to public bathrooms alone. They practice the "buddy system" or have a parent aware. Yes, things do happen we Just had a little boy Attacked at Wendy's by a sick molester who cut him with a Knife... You Better Believe I supervise my children when they are vulnerable. What AGE do you allow your child to go unsupervised??? The AGE is not the issue, the decision is made based on when I feel my child is able to handle the Worst possible Situation with the understanding of What to Do when and After the Worst possible thing might happen.... Every situation--every child is different. When I know my son can go potty, and Will Scream Bloody Murder and is able to Fight Back, Run and Get Me, The Cops or a Witness for help....then he can do it. There is a transition from child to adult and those Steps are part of it. I have had children who could handle more at younger ages then others. I have a child who may never be able to go to the bathroom alone even when she is an adult--because, she could be victimized. Rare, she has special needs and reasons for the fact that at age 15 she is a Line-Of-Sight child, attends special school where there are always two adults with her at all time, and lives in a home with 3 adults because she is to be watched at all times. That is how it is and it is still My Job as a mother to know my child and raise them Protected. My children do not go to the bathroom alone even at a church or in a building because I am there to take them to the bathroom and stand outside the door... I don't know why that seems odd or unacceptable...?? I grew up that way and raised 2 and adopted 2 more and do not have even the slightest issue escorting My kids to the Bathroom... When they can handle a situation as Well as I could myself then we start learning what to do if a situation comes up and what kinds of situations might and we talk about what to do if something comes up... The way I see it, when My kids are ready to Trust me enough that They Will Talk to Me about those situations then they can go potty alone.... I do not even understand Parenting any other way?
@Dr. Rawdog @HappyMomAnna @liss003 @Jeff Harrington The boy had parents... It is their Fault their child was Ever left for any time in any situation he was abused. Period. If parents would Stop seeing other adults as good choices to Leave their child in the Care of For Any reason maybe child abuse would not be so common.... My kids don't get molested because--My kids are not left in the situation EVER. Parents Are Responsible to Protect their children, Not the Churches, not the Clubs and not the babysitter... We are forced to send them to school where they are and can be Victims too.... If parents were Parents and did not let Other Adults do their job then the Only place our kids would be at risk is At School.... My kids are Not permitted to be in a situation where they Can be Abused so I do not understand what ONE More story has to do with the fact that One More Parent Failed.
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@Dr. Rawdog @liss003 there have been teachers who have sexually assaulted and abused children so do we not send our children to school because of that incident? If a driver makes the horrible choice to drive drunk and hits a child on a bicycle do we not let our children ride their bikes anymore because of that one person. Unfortunately There are horrible people in this world and its our job as parents no matter what you believe to protect our children. I personally believe church Is a good place for MY kids but I'm not saying that's for everyone, I don't think it's right to label a organization for one persons act, all churches because of that incident or all boyscouts troops because one kids felt left out. My son is encouraged to bring any and all friends to troops meetings and events there is no restriction on religion or anything else but that's his troop you can't label all the troops on the actions of one jerk.
@Dr. Rawdog Really. Which church? Not if their parents are involved.Â
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@Dr. Rawdog @Jeff Harrington Raised two babies one year apart... I was 21 and my Husband was 22. Neither of us finished college... We started in 1983 and worked min wage jobs in San Diego... I NEVER used a sitter or Day Care... Never.... My children were always in the care of Me or their father. We found Creative ways to Be the Parents we expected ourselves to be. We made sure our children were the most important and that WE were who they learned from. Today, they both have master's degrees and never been in any kind of trouble, no drugs, no babies, no problems at all ever---they will be turning 30 and 29 this year. They both left Home and started their own lives at age 18... they both were never molested or abused. They went to Church and my son is an Eagle Scout... Day Care does not provide what I do. I knew that when I chose to Become a mother and took that role seriously. I didn't have children to pay someone else to do my job. And, I had such an awesome time Being a mother that I did it again and adopted two more. Who, do not go to day care and have not since I have been their mother...Â
@Jeff Harrington @Dr. Rawdog Doesn't matter--I come from the opinion that I am 100% responsible for the Safety of the Children I Parent... Anything happens to my kids, it's ON ME.... So, it does not matter what church, what group or who my kids are friends with--It's My job to protect them and that is all there is too it... Only place I cannot is Public School other then that--I am there and my kids are Not left in Any situation that might make them a victim... It has not been that Hard for the 30 years I have been doing it and while my kids hate me for some of my controls I can proudly say I have two College Graduates, NO Grandchildren and None of my kids have been abused---except the Little Girl I adopted from Foster Care and I will make dang sure it does not ever happen to her again...  You can't hurt My kid when I am there.... For the Rest I am so sorry, I wish your parents Had Not Failed you and thought other adults and people should step in and do their JOB... My kids don't get Abused at Church because I am there with them... If they want to do something I do it with them.... and it has been NO Problem! If the Agenda was to Teach Parents it's their Responsibility To protect their own children then maybe we would not have so many abused children... And I will not debate How some people can't do it... I was a young mother, had little means and two babies and I did it... If I could anyone can It just meant I sacrificed and did what I had to in order to Be sure in My heart My kids were not victims and that to me is What a parent is anything less is a cop out.
@Dr. Rawdog Only if they don't have parents who bother to be involved....wow  My kids are only at risk where I let them be at risk.... In my world Public School has been the worst risks my kids have ever faced....because, I am not aloud to Be Involved.... Anytime and every moment they are not forced to go to School--I am in charge of where they are and who they associate... in other words, Kids don't face an Risk Mom and Dad don't alow.
Come camping with me little boy. I'm straight but it's ok if your not. I will help you through it. Oh and that picture of the other scout leader licking my face, well that's just our secret scout greeting.
@Jeff Harrington I always love it when an Agenda is hidden in the Good Deeds....Â
@HappyMomAnna @Jeff Harrington Yeah, I thought there was more to it than what was presented. Scary that kids are involved tho, which is why I'm so concerned. Kids are easily deceived by the "good deeds" of others.Â
Warning to those on both sides of this issue. Look at the video of the 2 adult leaders in the scout hats. Now scroll down to Matt Kane posting. Look closely at the profile pic of the 2 men with one licking the face of the other.Look familiar? Read Matt Kane post where he states he is straight and was kicked out of Scouts because of religion. 2 lies so far? Why the deception? Trust his intent now?
@Jeff Harrington
Is that him in the vid??
He also just joined today and this is the ONLY story he's commented on.. Humm conspiracy theory? lol
Side Note: The BSA has NO problem with people forming a new group to include that which they have deemed doesn't belong in Scouts.
BUT as you can see from the comments, THAT isn't enough. This is LESS about forming a new group for those not included in BSA and MORE about again trying to FORCE the BSA to include those that do NOT believe the same. In other words, it's about FORCING the BSA to CHANGE to accommodate EVERYONE and that was never their intent.Â
@cwpholder Exactly. And now they want to FORCE their ideas on children. Gay rights, gun control etc.Â
@brautigan @Jeff Harrington @cwpholderÂ
That is exactly the point.
The BSA has been a certain way & held certain beliefs & moral standards for a LONG time. Parents allowed their boys to join and participated themselves because of THOSE guidelines, exclusions & rules.Â
For the last several years the BSA has been pressured and I mean EXTREMELY pressured to change the very core of what they are. Change the very reason that influenced many parents to allow their boys to join in the first place.Â
WHY is that fair? Millions of boys belong & have belonged to the BSA and those parents chose the BSA based on what they stand for, what they accept and teach and also the things they exclude and don't teach. Is it fair & just to force the BSA to abandon all that makes them the group they are? NO. Is it fair to completely flip a group that consists of MILLIONS of Scouts and their leaders? So they would belong to a group that believes & teaches the polar opposite of the MAJORITY of it's members? NO!Â
It is fair to form a new group and I support this group. The BSA will have no problem with this group as long as they don't appropriate copyrighted materials etc...Â
As posted by HappyMomAnna & others now that they have such a group it's time to stop pressuring the BSA to change who they are and leave them alone.Â
@brautigan @Jeff Harrington @cwpholder Exactly! That's why it is GREAT there is a place for those kids who do not want to be Boy Scouts. We JOIN Groups because we Are PART of that Group... Otherwise what is a Group???  If everyone wanted to be Inclusive then why do they need a group.... Life is Inclusive Groups are for Like minded people to Set themselves Apart from those who are Not the Same.... That is What Grouping is... Same things together... Boy Scouts has just chosen the Things that Set there Group Apart.... The Groups has Set their Things that Make their Group a Group of Like Minded People--Right?
@Jeff Harrington @cwpholder hmmmm seems to me that parents who have there child join a group they find out what there views are before they join that group.  So how can a group forces there views on a child if the parents and child share those same views.  I mean who in there right mind joins a group when they don't share the same views.    So how can any ideas be forced.   And if a parent doesn't like what is being taut then leave the group.
@cwpholder My feelings exactly
I did not know that Chef Boyardee was in the Boy Scouts and those two on the other page are wanna bees. Lets get some real Boy Scout pictures KATU!!!!!
Wow.. Ok I was a Boy Scout! I don't see the problems/issues with the BSA. It is a group. I see many other groups with different views. Boy Scouts are normally highly viewed for a reason, we are taught to build character, we are train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develop personal fitness. Good values are a must and the BSA have much to go around. There's a reason eagle scouts are the best of the best. My son will be a Boy Scout. To this other group.. Hey good for you. Just don't go pretending your a real Scout.lol.  Â
@Justin Hook What make them not 'real scouts'?
I hate to say this but if my boy came home in a uniform like that I'd smack him upside the head and bring him to a hockey game.
Portland already lacks testosterone thanks to all the hipsters, this just feeds the flames.
@deejm2112Portland already lacks testosterone...
I'd have to agree with this part.
Portland's got a head start on the
mass feminization of the American male.
It's downright creepy.
The media may want to keep an eye on this group. Â I see lots of "interesting" stories on the way.