2000: The Year in Review
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| In 2000, more than 4.9 million youth participated in
the program of the Boy Scouts of America. Though Scouting's program is rooted in the concept
of the "outdoor classroom," Scouting's methods have proven effective in both urban and rural
areas. |
In 2000, the Boy Scouts of America celebrated
its 90th anniversary and the addition of its 100 millionth youth member. Four
million nine hundred thousand youth had the opportunity to participate in the
program of the BSA during the past year, thanks to the efforts of more than
1.4 million committed adult volunteers. All of this is made possible through
support from tens of thousands of chartered organizations and community groups
throughout the nation.
For our youth members and participants, Scouting is about having fun with
friends. But Scouting is much more. Scouting is a values-based program designed
to instill self-discipline, self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-worth—qualities
that last a lifetime.
The Boy Scouts of America has long been recognized as the nation's foremost
leader in values-based youth development. Though we tend to view our movement
through statistics that highlight our strengths and accomplishments, the real
focus of Scouting is the powerful impact it has on a single youth and his or
her family. In a time of declining ethics and shifting morals, we remain
steadfast in our purpose: to instill positive values in young people that enable
them to mature into adults of strong character.
Our Programs
Cub Scouting. In 2000, Cub Scouting, for boys ages 7 to 10, served
2,114,420 youth members. Enhancement of age-appropriate programming has resulted
in greater opportunity for youth to participate in Cub Scouting's contemporary
family activities. Reflecting the increased emphasis on and expansion of day,
resident, pack, and family camping opportunities, more than 41 percent of Cub
Scouts participated in an outdoor activity.
Boy Scouting. Membership in Boy Scouting, for 11- to 17-year-olds,
reached 1,003,691 in 2000. Eagle Scout, the highest rank a Scout or Venturer
can achieve, was attained by 40,029 young men. The number of Scouts who
experienced a long-term camping expedition reached its greatest level ever
in 2000 with 58.2 percent of all Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts participating
in these educational outdoor adventures.
Venturing. This high-adventure program for young men and women ages
14 to 20 has enjoyed continuous growth since its introduction in 1998. Built
around an advancement program with the Venturing Bronze, Gold, and Silver awards,
Venturing grew to 233,858 members—a 15.7 percent increase. The number of
Venturing crews increased 12.1 percent in 2000 to 17,684.
Scoutreach
Scouting's coordinated effort to reach out to more urban and rural young people
focused on the Hispanic market in 2000. New Hispanic marketing materials and training
aids were developed along with a number of bilingual publications designed to make
the Scouting program more accessible to Hispanic youth and their families. The
esteemed Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award was bestowed upon 148 volunteers—the
largest number of recipients in the history of the award.
Awards
The National Court of Honor presents the prestigious Silver Buffalo Award to
distinguished citizens for exemplary national service to youth. In 2000, recipients
of Scouting's highest commendation included Charles L. Bowerman; M. Anthony Burns;
Robert M. Gates; Roger R. Hemminghaus; Louise Mandrell; C. Dudley Pratt Jr.; Thomas
E. Reddin; Frank G. Rubino, M.D.; Alfred S. Warren; Togo D. West Jr.; and Edward E.
Whitacre Jr.
The BSA's National Court of Honor awarded the Honor Medal With Crossed Palms to
six Scouts and Scouters who demonstrated unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or
resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a life at extreme risk to self. Other
awards for lifesaving and meritorious action were presented to 234 Scouts and
Scouters.
The Young American Awards recognize excellence in the achievements of young people
ages 15 to 25. The 2000 recipients were Julius D. Jackson, Carl F. Regelmann, Svati
Singla, Alison L. Smith, and Christopher K. Sokolov.
America's Promise—The Alliance for Youth
In 1997, the Boy Scouts of America pledged 200 million hours of service to America
by our youth membership by the end of 2000. We are pleased to announce that we have
surpassed that objective by completing more than 214 million hours. As part of this
effort, members of Scouting's national honor society, the Order of the Arrow,
performed more than 2,000 hours of service in Yosemite National Park. Scouts in New
Orleans participated in Good Turn fairs in which they performed services for the
community including removing graffiti and restoring playgrounds. The BSA's involvement
in this worthwhile effort represents its commitment of service to our nation as
expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.
Preparing for the Future: New Leadership and a New Plan
Strong leadership has always been a hallmark of Scouting. In this tradition, this
past year our National Executive Board selected Roy L. Williams as the Chief Scout
Executive. In May 2001, Williams will introduce a strategic plan for 2002-2005 that
targets five issues critical to the future of the Scouting movement. Those issues
are traditional membership and unit growth, financial development, marketing and
strategic positioning, leadership, and Scoutreach. By addressing these key issues,
the BSA will ensure that its values-driven program will be around for generations
to come, and will continue to reach out to share America's values with today's youth,
tomorrow's leaders.