Island families now have one more option for outdoor fun and education. The alternative scouting group the Vashon Rangers is currently finishing its first season, and the club will open to new first- through third-grade members at the end of September.

The Vashon Rangers offer a similar experience as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or Camp Fire clubs, said the group’s leader, Zabette Macomber. They even have uniforms and earn beads for completing activities.

However, unlike those clubs, Macomber said, the Vashon Rangers operate in the spirit of a co-op, with parents informally controlling the group’s activities and taking turns helping out.

“It turns out to be a lot of fun for everyone,” Macomber said, adding that the club has an inside joke that if an activity isn’t fun for the adults as well, they won’t do it.

The group meets twice monthly: once at Vashon Community Care to learn about nature and outdoor skills, and once to hike on the Island, putting their new knowledge and skills into practice.

The club is about to wrap up a successful first season, Macomber said, which will culminate with an off-Island campout. With 15 members, Macomber said the first year was a success and she hopes to see even more first- though third-grade boys and girls participate this fall.

For more information or to enroll a child, contact Macomber at 463-6392.