Overview of Boy Scouts of America

Mission

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 Scout Law.

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, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Scouting Anniversary Celebrations

Cub Scout blue and gold banquets, troop red and white dinners, and community window displays are held throughout the month of February as a part of the yearly
observance of:

The BSA’s birthday, celebrating the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910
Scout Sabbath, observed the Saturday after February 8
Scout Sunday, observed the Sunday before February 8

Programs

Cub Scouts

Motto: Do Your Best
For boys in first grade through fifth grade (or seven through 10 years of age)
2010 membership, packs, and leaders:
226,211 Tiger Cubs (first grade)
707,868 Cub Scouts (second and third grades)
573,522 Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth grades)
1,507,601 total Cub Scouts
47,259 Cub Scout packs
421,405 Cub Scout leaders

Boy Scouts

Motto: Be Prepared
Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily
For boys who are 11 through 17 years of age, or have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light award and are at least 10 years old, or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old
Ninety-five percent of all Boy Scouts participated in Cub Scouting at some time.
2010 membership, troops, and leaders:
792,202 Boy Scouts
40,099 Boy Scout troops
493,852 Boy Scout leaders

Varsity Scouting

For young men 14 through 17 years of age
Built on five program fields of emphasis:
Advancement
High adventure
Personal development
Service
Special programs and events
2010 membership, teams, and leaders:
59,863 Varsity Scouts
8,539 Varsity Scout teams
22,806 Varsity Scout leaders

Venturing

For young men and women 14 years of age, or 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade through 20 years of age
2010 membership was 227,994 Venturers:
31.2 percent of membership was female.
18,856 Venturing crews
61,080 Venturing leaders

Order of the Arrow-Scouting's National Honor Society

The purpose of the Order of the Arrow is to recognize those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives and promote camping and responsible outdoor adventure, leadership development, and cheerful service to others.
Order of the Arrow includes more than 170,000 youth and adult members in nearly 300 local councils through the United States and its territories.

Outdoor Activities

Cub Scouting

Day camps: one- to five-day program with daylight and early evening activities, with no overnight activities
Resident camps: at least two nights of camping with a developed theme of adventure and excitement held at a council facility under the direction of trained leadership
Council-organized family camps: overnight camping involving more than one pack; held at a council-approved facility; with the council or district providing staffing, food service, housing, and program
Pack camping: overnight camping involving more than one family from a single pack, focused on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities, conducted at council-approved locations, and under the direction of BALOO-trained adults
Cub World: venues using make-believe themes, such as castles, frontier forts, pirate ships, and more; usually part of a Cub Scout resident or family camp

Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing

Camporees: camping with other troops, involving competition using Scouting skills and knowledge
Summer camps: weeklong camps with troops learning outdoor skills
Scouting shows: gala events demonstrating to the public how Scouting serves youth in the community
National and world jamborees: camping events held at four-year intervals where Scouts and leaders from the BSA or the World Scouting Association come together

National High-Adventure Bases

Located in northern New Mexico, this high-adventure base offers a variety of rugged activities, including backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs. Volunteer leaders may attend the Philmont Training Center each summer for a weeklong conference.

Northern Tier National High Adventure Program

This adventure base, located in Minnesota and Canada, offers wilderness canoe expeditions and cold-weather camping.

Florida National High Adventure Sea Base

Sea Base offers aquatics programs in the Florida Keys.

The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve (Opening 2013)

Located in New River Gorge, West Virginia, the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve is the newest high-adventure base in Scouting. It will be the permanent home of the national Scout jamboree and the site of the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. The Summit property is on 10,600 acres adjacent to the New River Gorge National River area. This area provides access to incredible outdoor terrain in the Appalachian Mountains, which includes some of the world’s best whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking.

Publications

Boys' Life Magazine

Produced monthly for 1.1 million subscribers in three demographic editions:

For all Tiger Cubs and Cub Scout subscribers through age 8
For Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts 9 years and older
For all Boy Scout-age subscribers and all other subscribers

Scouting Magazine

Produced six times a year for adults registered in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing.

Handbooks

The BSA publishes handbooks for all phases of the Scouting program for use by youth members, adult leaders, and parents.

Merit Badge Pamphlets

More than 123 merit badge pamphlets for Boy Scouts have been produced.

About the BSA