To be honest if given context I don't think that's true. I taught a bunch of beavers (5-7 year olds) how to light fires with ferro rods and all there parents were very enthusiastic.
Hi MM,
I totally agree with you and probably should have worded my post a little better. Groups like the scouts, beavers etc... do a sterling job of teaching skills that, IMHO, children should have the chance to experience and i think that parents understand and encourage this by having their child join such groups in the first place.
When i say mainstream i mean the media and the general public who sadly no longer value the ideals of scouting and similar groups or any form of outdoor skills, an unfortunate side effet of this is that by having no interest themselves many cannot comprehend why someone else would want to learn.
I have often offered to teach friends kids, on the whole intelligent people, the basics of fire lighting or whittling in a controlled back garden setting to be met with polite yet horrified thanks but no thanks.
Fish, apologies for derailing Charlie's thread again and congratulations to him once again - keep up the good work.
Hamster