Ten Commandments Hike-Manassas, VA

 

Ten Commandments Hike Background and History

 

Ten Commandments Hikes for scout youth and families is said to have originated in Miami, Florida around 1976. Since then they have spread throughout the United States and are held at various times of the year, depending on the locale. Here is Manassas, we have expanded participation in the hike to include not only scouting youth but all youth of the community. The goals and objectives for a Ten Commandments Hike are:

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• 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.

• For all youth and adults, it is a review of the Ten Commandments, what they mean, and how they are a fundamental component of most religions in America.

• For Scouts, this is a high visibility activity that will draw attention to the Scout Sunday/Scout Sabbath celebration in February.

• The hike is a community centered activity that displays all of our youth and youth groups to the community in a traditional, respected activity.

• It is an opportunity to introduce youth groups to leaders of the religious community that may not be familiar with their programs.

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

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

 

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). It is a very popular event. Here in Manassas, the first Ten Commandments Hike was held on February 4, 2012. This Hike was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus George Brent Council #5332. It was conducted by Boy Scout Crew and Troop 1188 of Bull Run District, National Capital Area Council, and members of George Brent Council through 2015. 

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