Scouting 101

Scouting

What we want for your Scout is the same thing you want for them. Our aims for each scout are the same as they were when the BSA was founded almost 100 years ago:

• to build moral strength and character

• foster participating citizens.

• and to development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness

The best thing about Scouting is that you can be involved right along with your scout! Family involvement is very important to Scouting because family is important. The volunteers who run a Scout troop can be mentors to your scout, but they can't replace you. Scouting is a fun activity that manages to combine fun, the outdoors, and learning into one great adventure.

You're probably wondering how Scouting can do all that. Well, we have specific methods that define Scouting, but mostly it involves presenting your scout with fun things to learn and do and challenging them to do their best in whatever they do. Our methods are:

• Ideals

• Patrols

• Outdoors

• Advancement

• Personal Growth

• Adult Association

• Leadership Development

• Uniform

Ideals of Scouting

The Ideals of Scouting are described in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. These are the main building blocks of Scouting, and they describe our goal for each scout who joins. Without the Scout Oath and Law, Scouting would be just another fancy club.

Look at the words in the Scout Oath and Law, and you'll see what Scouting can do for your scout:

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
A Scout tells the truth. they keep their promises. Honesty is part of their code of conduct. People can depend on them.
LOYAL
A Scout is true to their family, Scout leaders, friends, school, and nation.
HELPFUL
A Scout is concerned about other people. They do things willingly for others without pay or reward.
FRIENDLY
A Scout is a friend to all. They are a friend to other scouts. They seek to understand others. They respect those with ideas and customs other than their own.
COURTEOUS
A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. They know good manners make it easier for people to get along together.
KIND
A Scout understands there is strength in being gentle. They treat others as they want to be treated. They do not hurt or kill harmless things without reason.
OBEDIENT
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. They obey the laws of their community and country. If they think these rules and laws are unfair, they try to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them.
CHEERFUL
A Scout looks for the bright side of things. They cheerfully do tasks that come their way. They try to make others happy.
THRIFTY
A Scout works to pay their way and to help others. They save for unforeseen needs. They protect and conserves natural resources. They carefully use time and property.
BRAVE
A Scout can face danger even if they are afraid. They have the courage to stand for what they think is right even if others laugh at or threaten them.
CLEAN
A Scout keeps their body and mind fit and clean. They go around with those who believe in living by these same ideals. They help keep their home and community clean.
REVERENT
A Scout is reverent toward God. They are faithful in their religious duties. They respect the beliefs of others.

Scout Motto

Be Prepared

Scout Slogan

Do a Good Turn Daily

Patrol Method

The Patrol is the basic unit of Scouting. When your scout joins Scouting, they become a member of a patrol. That's the group of Scouts they will be living with when they go camping; the group they will play with when they go to meetings and other activities; the group they will work with when there's work to be done. Their patrol will be a lot like their family because their patrol mates will support them when they needs help, comfort them when they are scared, laugh with them when they are happy, and be right there with them when they gets muddy.

Outdoors

The Outdoors is where Scouting happens. Sure, some things are done in a building. They can even be done in front of a computer, but the most important things happen outdoors. Let's face it, Scouting wouldn't be any fun if you didn't get to go outside. In Scouting, your scout will get to be outside a lot! They will learn to be comfortable sleeping in a tent in the winter. They will learn to swim, hike, camp, cook their own food, follow a wild animal, and lots of other things. Scouting happens outdoors because that's where God intended Scouts to be!

Advancement

Advancement is how Scouts learn things. Not only will your scout learn skills like camping and first aid, but they will have the chance to try out lots of hobbies and careers like dentistry, electronics, journalism, fishing, coin collecting, and pet care. Each badge will present your scouts with several requirements that are challenging. They make them think about the world around them, plan tasks, and motivate themselves to accomplish them. Advancement in Scouting isn't like School. It's self-directed, fun, and helps your scout to develop the confidence to do just about anything they put their mind to.

Personal Growth

Personal Growth is not just an outcome of Scouting. Scouting helps your scout learn about their strengths and weaknesses. It gives them a chance to try different things in a place where failure isn't punished. They may start out learning about themselves without knowing it, but it won't be long before they really start to look inward and see who they are. It's not just the end result of Scouting - it's an important method of Scouting as well.

Adult Association

You might think that Adult Association isn't that important to your scout, but it is. Everywhere kids go, they are looking for adult approval. Sadly, they rarely get it except at home. Scouting gives your scout a chance to get to know adults and learn to work with them. They will get a chance to see how adults act, and that will give them some good examples to go by when they become an adult. Scouting also gives you a chance to be directly involved in an activity with your scout. Parents aren't just spectators in Scouting, they're the Scoutmasters, committee members, and merit badge counselors that make Scouting possible.

Leadership Development

One of the most exciting things about Scouting is Leadership Development. Unlike other youth organizations, Scouting isn't adult oriented. Adults are there to be guides and mentors. It's the youth who make the decisions, develop the program, and make Scouting work. In Scouting, your scout will get a real chance to make decisions, learn to compromise, and actually lead other Scouts. They won't simply be doing what the adults tell them to do, they will be deciding what to do and how to do it.