What is Scouts BSA?
Scouting America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.
Lord Robert Baden-Powell often said that “scouting is a game with a purpose!” Scouting activities are organized around activities that boys enjoy but structured in a such a way to achieve the aims of scouting:
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Scouts BSA Program Membership
Your son and/or daughter can be a Scout if he/she has completed the fifth grade and is at least 10 years old or is age 11 or has earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but has not reached age 18.
Volunteer Scouters
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Scouts BSA program. They serve in a variety of jobs — everything from unit leaders to chairmen of troop committees, committee members, merit badge counselors, and chartered organization representatives.
Aims and Methods of the Scouting Program
The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the “Aims of Scouting”: character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.
Ideals
The ideals of Scouts BSA are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Scout measures himself/herself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he/she reaches for them, he/she has some control over what and who he/she becomes.
Patrols
The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches and girls how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through elected representatives.
Outdoor Programs
Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. In the outdoors the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us.
Advancement
Scouts BSA provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Scout plans his/her advancement and progresses at his/her own pace as he/she meets each challenge. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him/her gain self-confidence.
Associations with Adults
Boys and girls learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to boys and girls, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.
Personal Growth
As Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Scouting. Boys and Girls grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is as successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn.
Leadership Development
The Scouts BSA program encourages boys and girls to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy and girl accept the leadership role of others and guides him/her toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
Uniform
The uniform makes the Scouts BSA troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting.
Summer Camp
“Summer Camp” is the highlight of the year for many Scout programs! Camp MK Brown Scouts BSA Camp is the summer resident camping program for Scouts BSA . Six-day sessions, Sunday to Saturday, are offered during June.
