Who we are
What is the Earth Scouts?
What makes Earth Scouts unique?
What is the Earth Charter?
Why do we need the Earth Scouts?
Who is organizing the Earth Scouts?
How did Earth Charter U.S., Earth Scouts' sponsoring organization, get started?
How did the Earth Scouts get started?
How can I get involved?
Contact Us
What is the Earth Scouts?
Earth Scouts is an inclusive, co-educational scouting program, in which facilitators provide a cooperative learning environment for future community leaders and change agents seeking sustainability, equity and nonviolence. Earth Scouts are the parents, teachers, mentors and youth who come together to engage in a shared learning experience that teaches and supports understanding and action on community issues in ways that are congruent with the Earth Charter. Earth Scouts is a program of Earth Charter U.S.
What makes Earth Scouts unique?
To begin with, Earth Scouts is a scouting program that is not finished, yet, and hopefully never will be. Earth Scouts is not an organization that directs you, the facilitators and youth, in your learning and actions. Rather Earth Charter U.S. works to provide general guidelines, examples and a communication infrastructure to you, the Earth Scouts - as individuals, in families and/or in groups. The development of the Earth Scouts Facilitator's Guides is an on-going process that needs input from you and other interested parents, teachers, mentors, youth and community members around the globe in order to make our communication process work.
Secondly, Earth Scouts is based on a foundation of cooperation where adults or older youth act as facilitators for the groups and not as all-knowing leaders.
Thirdly, Earth Scouts is more than a scouting program. It is a group experience in which each child or youth:
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Finds his/her voice for leadership;
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Understands the complexity of sustainability—that it involves social and economic equity, environmental soundness, nonviolence and peace;
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Takes the responsibility to transform her/his concerns into action either as an individual or as a group.
Fourthly, Earth Scouts is a flexible program allowing different ways to belong including
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participation in Earth Scouts Groups sponsored by families in the general community, schools, homeschooling associations, faith communities, or others;
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integration of Earth Scout philosophy and practices into family activities to become an Earth Scouts Family;
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organization of an Earth Scouts Festival to bring Earth Scouts to your community; or
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any other meaningful activity that you wish to organize to achieve the mission of the Earth Scouts.
Lastly, Earth Scouts is a way of life and a way of perceiving the world that is connected to the Earth Charter, a larger shared global vision for a caring, sustainable and peaceful world.
What is the Earth Charter?
The Earth Charter, is a set of values and principles for a sustainable future written by thousands of people in 78 countries over the course of ten years. It was launched at The Hague Peace Palace in 2000.
The sixteen Earth Charter principles focus on respect for nature, economic justice, universal human rights, and a culture of peace. The Earth Charter has been used as a foundation for businesses, governments, and communities working towards building a just, sustainable, and peaceful society.
It is based on 50 UN Declarations, 200 agreements of non-governmental organizations, the perspectives of contemporary science and cosmology, the wisdom of world religions and ancient and current sustainble ways of living and working.
It has been endorsed by over 14,000 organizations including the US Conference of Mayors, the International Academy of Science, Cavert Funds Ltd, the Parliament of the World's Religions, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, the Social Ventures Network, the National Coalition of American Nuns and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, to name a few.
Why do we need the Earth Scouts?
Earth Scouts nurtures the development of children and youth in learning and participatory actions to improve their neighborhoods and communities. A large body of research validates the importance of community service activities in the positive psychological, social and intellectual growth of youthful participants. Short-term outcomes include improved grades and attendance at school, increased personal efficacy, recognition of the importance of participating in the political system, and socially responsible, community-oriented attitudes. Long-term outcomes include increased likelihood of voting in adulthood, commitment to future service, decreased likelihood of dropping out of school, improved transition from school to work, and a strong intrinsic work motivation. In short, research shows that giving children and youth opportunities to become engaged in civic activities increases the likelihood that they will become healthy, active citizens.
Who is organizing the Earth Scouts?
Earth Charter U.S. (ECUS) is a nonprofit organization that was recognized at the international launch of the Earth Charter in The Hague Peace Palace in 2000 as leading the major Earth Charter effort in the United States.
ECUS's mission is to mainstream the Earth Charter's vision and principles through inspiration, education and initiatives that include the Earth Charter Community Alliance, an informal network of Earth Charter organizers around the country; globabl annual Earth Charter Community Summits; and Earth Scouts. Other projects in development include the Sustainable Business Coalition, an Earth Charter Curricula for Education, the development of Earth Charter Community Indicators, an Earth Charter Leadership Academy and the League of Earth Charter Voters.
Jan Roberts, founder and president of Earth Charter U.S., obtained funding from the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, Florida to develop the Earth Scouts Facilitator Guide, available for download from this site. Louise Gammons is currently coordinating our efforts to further develop the Earth Scouts.
How did Earth Charter U.S., Earth Scouts' sponsoring organization, get started?
Jan Roberts, founder and president of Earth Charter U.S., is compiling her history of the birth and development of the effort to bring the Earth Charter to the United States from a grassroots perspectives. Read it here.
How did the Earth Scouts get started?
We have to credit Jan Roberts, founder and president of Earth Charter U.S., for helping the Earth Scouts get going. Read the history of getting the Earth Scouts started here.
How can I get involved?
Join us. There are many ways you can be involved in Earth Scouts.
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You can get an Earth Scouts Group or Family going - with your own family, with others in your community, in the schools, in your homeschooling group or in your faith community - even on your own. We have people doing Earth Scouts in all these settings and more. Mostly we have adults starting these groups, but youth can push for them too. Go to Become an Earth Scout to see how to get started.
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Write up your activities for our website, Yahoo Group and Facilitator Guide.
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Send us music, pictures or videos of your art that embodies the Earth Scouts philosophy and ideals - or send us links
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Tell your friends, fellow students, coworkers and colleagues about Earth Scouts - and the Earth Charter.
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Buy Earth Scouts t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, caps, canvas bags and other items from our Earth Scouts Stores to help support our communication infrastructure.
Contact us if you are interested in becoming an Earth Scout or contributing to our success in any way - and thank you for your interest!