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Scouting Basics Scouting is BIG! The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is the largest youth organization in the U.S. with nearly 3 million youth members and 1.1 million registered adult leaders. These members make up the 122,582 local Scout units that in 2005 logged more than 34 million hours of community service, also known as Good Turns. Since our founding in the U.S. in 1910, over 110 million Americans have been members of the Boy Scouts of America. Everybody knows a Scout! Scouting is growth-oriented! Scouting provides a path that grows with your child, beginning with Cub Scouts (ages 7-10), advancing to Boy Scouts (ages 11-17) and finally to Venturing/Varsity Scouting (ages 14-20). Cub Scouts advance through their ranks by age; Boy Scouts and Venture/Varsity Scouts advance by achievement in meeting specific requirements. Scouting is diverse! Scouting is truly a melting pot. Scouts come from all walks of life, all types of family units, faiths, and racial and ethnic groups. The BSA respects the rights of people and groups who hold values that differ from those encompassed in the Scout Oath and Law, and aims to allow youth to live and learn as children and enjoy Scouting without immersing them in the politics of the day. The Scout Oath and Law 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. The 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. The Scout Law A Scout is:
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,
Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty,
Brave, Clean, Reverent Scouting's Vision! The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. In the future, Scouting will continue to: -
Offer young people responsible fun and adventure; -
Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character -
as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law; -
Train young people in citizenship, service and leadership; and -
Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program. Scouting is serious fun! The safety of your child while involved in any Scouting activity is the unit leader?s number one priority. For this reason, the BSA has created safety policies and procedures published in the Guide to Safe Scouting, and established age-appropriate guidelines for all Scouting activities. Determining age-appropriate activities. Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed based on the mental, physical, emotional, and social maturity of Boy Scouts of America youth members. Download a two-page list of activities and age recommendations from The Guide to Safe Scouting. -
The group-based activity matches the training and experience of participants. -
The group has the ability to successfully complete the activity. -
The activity complies with the policies and procedures in The Guide to Safe Scouting. -
The activity supports or is in harmony with Scouting values. -
The activity adds to the life experiences, knowledge, or abilities of participants. -
The unit or group receives training appropriate to the activity. -
These guidelines apply to Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and Venturing crews. Scouting's vision and promise will continue to be to: -
Offer young people responsible fun and adventure; -
Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character -
as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law; -
Train young people in citizenship, service and leadership; and -
Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program. Cub Scouting -
The activity is parent/youth or family-oriented. -
The activity is conducted with adult supervision. -
Cub Scouts are asked to do their best. -
The activity is discovery-based. -
Typical activities: Day and family camping, fishing, day hiking, working -
with hand tools, swimming and snorkeling, most sports. Click here to find out more about Cub Scouting... Boy Scouting -
Activities are led by youth and approved and supervised by adults. -
Activities are patrol or troop-oriented. -
Activities meet standards and advancement requirements. -
Activities are experience-based. -
Activities in addition to Cub Scouts: Resident camping, fire building, multiple -
day hiking, orienteering, winter camping, all hand and power tools, -
bike trekking, ski touring, most aquatics, most climbing, all sports. Click to find out more about Boy Scouting... Venturing/Varsity Scouting -
Activities are led by youth and supported by adults. -
Youth participants develop and plan activities and set and meet their own challenges. -
Activities are socially based with coed participation. -
Activities in addition to Boy Scouts: mountaineering/scrambling/crosscountry -
travel, horse treks, search and rescue missions, driving derbies, -
snowmobiles, flight ground school and hands-on flying, scuba, caving, -
snow and ice climbing. Click to find out more about Venturing and Varsity Scouting... The Scout Uniform. The purpose of the Scout uniform is twofold: By dressing alike, Scouts show they are equals, and the uniform is also a sign to others that the Scout is a person who can be trusted. While the attire changes at each level of Scouting, a complete official uniform includes: The full uniform should be worn for all ceremonial and indoor activities, such as troop meetings and courts of honor, and during special outdoor occasions, such as Scout shows, flag ceremonies and special times at summer camp. For outdoor activities, Scouts may wear troop or camp T-shirts with the Scout pants or shorts. How to wear a neckerchief. -
Roll your neckerchief until it is about six inches from the tip. -
Place the neckerchief smoothly around your neck either over or under your collar, depending on the custom of your troop. -
Hold the ends of the neckerchief together and place through a slide up to the top shirt button.
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