All About Scouting

Origins of Scouting

The Boy Scout movement began in England with the publication of Scouting for Boys on January 25, 1908, a field manual by British army officer Robert Baden Powell. The year before, Baden Powell tested his ideas by camping on England’s southern coast for nearly two weeks with twenty adolescent boys. The boys played games, hiked, and learned how to cook outdoors. Scouting continued to grow in England and by its first census in 1910 there were 100,000 youth involved!

At about the same time, a Boy Scout in London came to the aid of American Chicago businessman William Boyce while lost in the fog. Boyce tried to tip the Scout, but the boy refused, saying he was a Scout and could not accept a tip for a good deed. Boyce was intrigued and after returning to America, organized the Boy Scouts of America, incorporating on February 8, 1910. Since then, BSA evolved to include Cub Scouts, Venturers, Explorers, Sea Scouts, STEM Scouts, and girl units.

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Mission of 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.

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Scout Motto
Be Prepared

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Scout Slogan
Do a good turn daily

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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.

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Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

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Outdoor Code
As an American, I will do my best to:
– Be clean in my outdoor manners.
– Be careful with fire.
– Be considerate in the outdoors.
– Be conservation minded.

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Principles of Leave No Trace
– Plan Ahead and Prepare
– Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
– Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out)
– Leave What You Find
– Minimize Campfire Impacts
– Respect Wildlife
– Be Considerate of Other Visitors

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Methods of Scouting
– Scouting Ideals
– Patrols & the Patrol Method
– Outdoor Programs
– Advancement
– Associations with Adults
– Personal Growth
– Leadership Development
– Uniforms
For more details on the methods, visit BSA’s Aims & Methods.