THE AIMS OF SCOUTING

A goal of the Boy Scouts of America is to help boys develop into honorable men. 

Scouting’s values can be incorporated into a boy’s home, school, and releases filling in 
where family, school, or religious support is lacking.

Is Scouting educational? You bet it is. Scouts have many opportunities to learn skills of
leadership, of the outdoors, and of life. Each boy decides what he will learn and
how quickly he will do it. As he progresses, the value of his achievements will
be reinforced through recognition, advancement in Scouting’s ranks positions
of leadership in the troop, and accomplishments during outdoor adventures.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Character encompasses a boy’s personal qualities, values, and outlook. Scouting
strives to help a boy grow in the following ways:

• He becomes confident but not conceited
• He is honest with himself and others
• His personal appearance shows that he respects himself
• He develops special skills and interests
• He can take care of himself, especially in emergencies
• He can be counted upon to do his best, even in difficult situations
• He practices his religious beliefs
• He respects other people regardless of their differences
   

PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP
The Scouting program allows boys to practice good citizenship by living and working 
among others in a troop with rules based on the common good. Each Scout
is further encouraged to do the following:

• Learn about and take pride in his national heritage
• Develop an understanding of the social, economic, and governmental systems 
  of which he is a part
• Be of service to others
• Have knowledge of and respect for cultures and social groups other than his own
• Be aware of community organizations and their functions
• Appreciate the environment and seek to protect it

Character is what you do when no one is looking.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS
People get the most out of life when they are mentally and physically fit. Scouting motivates each Scout to work toward these goals:

• Improve general physical condition through exercise and participation in vigorous activities that might include outdoor adventures and sports
• Eat properly, get enough sleep, and follow other habits for good health
• Keep his weight within a healthy range
• Reject experimenting with tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, or with other activities that can be harmful to himself or others.
• Strive to be mentally alert
• Use good judgment and make sound decisions
• Train himself to be resourceful in solving problems

 

THE METHODS OF SCOUTING

The Boy Scouts of America uses eight fundamental methods to meet boys’ hope for fun and adventure, and to achieve Scouting’s aims of encouraging character development, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness. A Scout troop functions best when all eight methods are employed.

THE METHODS OF SCOUTING

• Ideals
• Patrol method
• Outdoors
• Advancement
• Association with adults
• Personal growth
• Leadership development
• Uniform

IDEALS
The ideals of the Boys Scouts of America are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto and Scout slogan. Boy Scouts and adult leaders incorporating these ideals into their daily lives are said to have Scout spirit. Scout meetings and Scouting activities reinforce the ideals of Scouting through the message of a Scoutmaster’s Minute and in the form of new understandings the Scouts discover for themselves.

PATROL METHOD
Within the larger community of the troop, the patrol is a Scout’s “family circle.” Often made up of boys who are close in age and experience level, each patrol helps its members develop a sense of pride and identity. The boys themselves elect their patrol leader, divide up the jobs to be done, and share in the satisfaction of accepting and fulfilling group responsibilities.

OUTDOORS
Boys join Scouting for the challenge, the excitement, and the fun. Much of Scouting is designed to take place outdoors in settings where boys can find real adventure. Outdoor activities put the sizzle into Scouting. They keep boys coming back for more. A troop with a strong outdoor program is well on its way to finding success in all areas.

ADVANCEMENT
The Boy Scouts of America believes that a boy should receive recognition for his achievements. The requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot through First Class prepare boys to take full advantage of all that Scouting has to offer. Earning merit badges allows them to explore many fields, helps them round out their skills, and perhaps introduces them to subjects that will become lifelong interests and rewarding careers. In addition, advancement sets a pattern of setting positive goals and reaching them throughout life. Star, Life, and Eagle requirements focus on service to others and developing leadership skills.

As one of the eight methods of Scouting, advancement is a natural outcome of the other seven. A boy whose Scouting experience is introducing him to the BSA ideals, the patrol method, the outdoors, association with adults, personal growth, leadership development, and the uniform will almost certainly find himself moving steadily along the BSA’s advancement trail.

ASSOCIATION WITH ADULTS
Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of their troops. 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
Scout-age boys are experiencing dramatic physical and emotional growth. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel much of that change into productive endeavors and to find the answers they are seeking for many of their questions. Through service projects and Good turns, Scouts can discover their place in their community. Many Scouting activities allow boys to associate with boys from different backgrounds. The religious emblems program offers pathways for Scouts to more deeply understand their place in the world. The troop itself provides each Scout with an arena in which to explore, to try out new ideas, and sometimes simply to embark on adventures with no design other than having a good time with good people.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Leadership is a skill that can be learned only by doing it. Every boy in a patrol and troop will find that he is filling leadership positions of increasing responsibility. Through leadership experiences, boys learn planning, organization, and decision making. For many boys, accepting the role of patrol leader is the first real leadership opportunity they have ever had. Discovering that they can do the job will go a long way toward giving them the confidence and ability to be leaders in the future.

In Scouting, boys learn to be effective leaders…and to be good followers

UNIFORM
Since 1910, the Boy Scout uniform has been a recognizable part of the American scene. Wearing the uniform helps boys develop a sense of belonging to their patrol and troop. It reinforces the fact that all members of the BSA are equal to one another. People seeing a boy in a Scout uniform expect someone of good character who is prepared to the best of his ability to help those around him. Likewise, Scoutmasters in full uniform set a good example for members of their troops and are also seen as community leaders fulfilling a very important role.

Scouting’s Bottom Line

What happens to a Scout? For every 100 boys who join Scouting, records indicate that:

• RARELY will one be brought before the juvenile court
• 4 will become Eagle Scouts
• 17 will become future Scout volunteers
• 12 will have their first contact with a church
• 1 will enter the clergy
• 5 will earn their church award
• 18 will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life
• 8 will enter a vocation that was learned through the merit badge system
• 1 will use his Scouting skills to save his own life
• 1 will use his Scouting skills to save the life of another person

“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 value of the Scout Oath and Law.”

TEACHING LIFE SKILLS IN A VALUES-BASED ENVIRONMENT

Scouting is a values-based program with its own code of conduct. The Scout Oath and Law help instill the values of good conduct and honesty. A boy who spends one year in a Scout troop will learn lifetime skills. He will learn basic outdoor skills, first aid, citizenship training, leadership skills, self-reliance, and how to get along with others. Scouting will prepare him to live a more productive and fulfilling life.