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What is Boy Scouting?
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make
ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values
of the Scout Oath and Law.
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.
The Purposes of Boy Scouting
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community
organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness
training for youth.
Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically,
mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced
in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal
values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others;
understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental
systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and
understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic
rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to
American society.
Membership
Boy Scouting, one of the traditional membership divisions of the BSA, is
available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the
fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old. The program achieves the BSA's
objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities
among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.
Scouters-Volunteer Leadership
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Boy
Scouting program. They serve in a variety of jobs—everything from unit leaders
to chairmen of troop committees, committee members, merit badge counselors, and
chartered organization representatives.
Like other phases of the program, Boy Scouting is made available to community
organizations having similar interests and goals. Chartered organizations
include professional organizations; governmental bodies; and religious,
educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens' groups. Each
organization appoints one of its members as the chartered organization
representative. The organization is responsible for leadership, the meeting
place, and support for troop activities.
Who Pays For It?
Several groups are responsible for supporting Boy Scouting: the boy and his
parents, the troop, the chartered organization, and the community. Boys are encouraged to earn money
whenever possible to pay their own expenses, and they also contribute dues to
their troop treasuries to pay for budgeted items. Troops obtain additional
income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including
parents, supports Scouting through the United Way, Friends of Scouting
campaigns, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This
income provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers
and other facilities, and professional service for units.
Aims and Methods
The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the
"Aims of Scouting." They are character development, citizenship training, and
personal fitness.
The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to
emphasize the equal importance of each.
Ideals
The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the
Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself against these
ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches
for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.
Patrols
The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and
participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and
teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in
small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups
determine troop activities through elected representatives.
Outdoor Programs
Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting
that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. In the
outdoors the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with
purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for the
beauty of the world around us. The outdoors is the laboratory in which Boy
Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.
Advancement
Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming
them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and
progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded
for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the
advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to
help others.
Associations With Adults
Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders
can be positive role models for the members of the troop. In many cases a
Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere
interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.
Personal Growth
As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they
experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the
personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in
community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is
as successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn.
The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth
method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout
to determine his growth toward Scouting aims.
Leadership Development
The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills.
Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total
leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy
accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim
of Scouting.
Uniform
The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a
positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and
wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the
aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a
world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is
practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to
wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.
Advancement Ranks
Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle
Activities
Local councils operate and maintain Scout camps. The National Council operates
high-adventure areas at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the Northern Tier
National High Adventure Program in Minnesota and Canada, and the Florida
National High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys . About 70 councils also
operate high-adventure programs.
The BSA conducts a national Scout jamboree every four years and participates in
world Scout jamborees (also held at four-year intervals). Fort A.P. Hill,
Virginia, was the site of the 2001 National Scout Jamboree.
Publications
The BSA publishes the Boy Scout Handbook (more than 37 million copies of which
have been printed); the Patrol Leader Handbook, which offers information
relevant to boy leadership; the Scoutmaster Handbook; more than 100 merit badge
pamphlets dealing with hobbies, vocations, and advanced Scoutcraft; and program
features and various kinds of training, administrative, and organizational
manuals for adult volunteer leaders and Boy Scouts. In addition, the BSA
publishes Boys' Life magazine, the national magazine for all boys (magazine
circulation is more than 1.3 million). Scouting magazine
for volunteers, which has a circulation of 900,000 and is included with
registration.
High Adventure Opportunities!
If you are a Boy Scout interested in participating in outdoor activities such as camping, swimming, mountain biking, rafting, and more, click on the link below to download the High Adventure Survey form shown at the right. Click
here for High Adventure program
offerings.
High Adventure Survey
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