Ten Commandments Hike Background and History

 

Ten Commandments Hikes for scout youth and families is said to have originated in Miami, FL around 1976. Since then they have spread throughout the United States and are held at various times of the year, depending on the locale. The goals and objectives for a Ten Commandments Hike are:

 

For the Scouts/Participants/Leaders:

· For youth who do not regularly attend worship services, it is an opportunity to get them into a house of worship and to remove any fears they may have about simply going in and talking with a minister.

· For all youth and adults, it is an opportunity for them to be introduced to other faiths and to reduce any misconceptions or mistaken notions they may have about the religions of their friends and neighbors.

· Likewise, for all, it is a review of the Ten Commandments, what they mean, and how they are a fundamental component of most religions in America.

For the District/Service Area involved:

· This is a high visibility activity that will draw attention to the Scout Sunday/Scout Sabbath celebration.

· It is a wintertime activity in a traditionally “slow” period that will be relatively easy for units to plan and participate in.

· The hike is a community centered activity that displays Scouting and our youth to the community in a traditional, respected activity.

· It is an opportunity to introduce Scouts and the Scouting program to leaders of the religious community that may not be familiar with the program.

For the Churches/Religious Communities:

· The hike is an opportunity to stimulate youth to consider basic moral issues as well as differences and similarities between religions.

· They will be supporting an activity that will help correct misinformation and biases caused by a lack of knowledge about the religious beliefs of others.

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Locally, a Ten Commandments Hike has been conducted in Fredericksburg, VA every year since 1998 (except for 2010, when three feet on snow fell on that Fri/Sat in February).

Here in Manassas, the first Ten Commandments Hike was held on February 4, 2012. This Hike was sponsored be the Knights of Columbus, George Brent Council, and conducted by Crew 1188 of Bull Run District, National Capital Area Council, BSA.  Crew 1188 is chartered by George Brent Council #5332 of the Knights of Columbus. Two hikes were offered: one 4.5 miles, one 5 miles, the only difference being how you got to the second church on the hike. Five Churches participated in 2012: All Saints Catholic Church, Grace United Methodist Church, Victory Fellowship Church, Reformed Presbyterian Church and The Life Church.