Boy
Scouts
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.
Boy Scouting, one of three
membership divisions of the BSA (the others are Cub Scouting and
Venturing), 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, and subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law.
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.
The national Boy Scout program
membership* is 1,005,592 Boy Scouts in 52,579 troops.
* As of
December 31, 2001. Includes Varsity Scouting.
AIMS AND METHODS OF THE
SCOUTING PROGRAM
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 they can easily
relate to each other. These small groups determine troop
activities through their 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. It is here that the skills and activities practiced
at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to
nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for God's
handiwork and humankind's place in it. The outdoors is the
laboratory for Boy Scouts to 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.
- 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 so 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's 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.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Local councils operate and
maintain Scout camps. The National Council operates
high-adventure programs at Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico;
Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs, Minnesota and
Canada; and Florida National High Adventure Sea Base.
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.
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