Boy Scouts of America

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Boy Scouts of America Organizational data Headquarters Irving, Texas Country United States Founded February 8, 1910 Founder William D. Boyce Ernest Thompson Seton Daniel Carter Beard Membership 4,619,730 youth 1,190,992 adults (2006)[1] Chief Scout Executive Robert J. Mazzuca President John Gottschalk Website Official Website Affiliation World Organization of the Scout Movement Scouting portal

The Boy Scouts of America Cub Scouting Boy Scouting · Varsity Scouting  · Order of the Arrow · National Eagle Scout Association Venturing · Sea Scouting Advancement & Recognition Eagle Scout · List of notable Eagle Scouts · Merit Badges History of the Boy Scouts of America William D. Boyce · James E. West · Ernest Thompson Seton · Daniel Carter Beard History of Merit Badges

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is the largest youth organization in the United States, having over five million members.^[1][2] It was founded in 1910 as part of the Scout Movement then developing internationally. It is believed that over one hundred million Americans have been members. Individual units of the BSA rely largely on volunteers; professionals are employed at higher levels of administration. The BSA is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

The BSA arose amidst concerns of the progressive movement in the United States from people who sought to promote the social welfare of young men. The BSA seeks to train youth in what it considers to be responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career–oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is used to inculcate typical Scouting versions of values such as self-esteem, personal honor, citizenship, and outdoors skills through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics and hiking.^[3][4]

The BSA recognizes the achievements of its members through advancements in rank and special awards. It includes several membership divisions, targeted at boys ages six through seventeen and young men and women ages fourteen through twenty-one. The BSA operates locally, through volunteer-led units sponsored by churches, clubs, civic associations, educational organizations, and the like. Depending on age level, the units are generally known as packs, troops, or crews.

Contents 1 Origins 2 Membership 2.1 Traditional membership 2.2 Membership controversies 2.3 Learning for Life 3 Aims, methods and ideals 4 Organization 4.1 National Council 4.2 Groups and divisions 4.3 Regions and areas 4.4 Local councils 4.5 Units and chartered organizations 5 Finance 6 Impact on American life 6.1 Good Turns 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Origins

Main articles: Scouting in the United States and History of the Boy Scouts of America

The progressive movement in the United States was at its height during the early twentieth century. With the migration of families from rural to urban centers, there were concerns among some people that young men were no longer learning patriotism and individualism. The YMCA was an early promoter of social welfare and other reforms involving young men. Robert Baden-Powell started Scouting in 1907 in the United Kingdom and the movement began to grow overseas.^[5]

In 1909, Chicago publisher W. D. Boyce was visiting London, England where he met the Unknown Scout and learned of the Scouting movement.^[6] Soon after his return to the U.S., Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.^[7] The YMCA became interested in the nascent BSA movement and provided support, enlisting Ernest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard who were both prominent leaders in the early youth movements. James E. West became the first Chief Scout Executive and the Scouting movement began to expand in the U.S.

[edit] Membership

[edit] Traditional membership

In the BSA, Scouting is considered to be one movement with three main membership divisions:

• Cub Scouting is the largest of the three divisions, available to boys from first–grade through fifth–grade or seven through ten years old and their families. It uses a challenging system to pursue the aims of character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.^[3] Cub Scouting is divided into age-based levels of Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cubs, Bear Cubs, and Webelos Scouts.
• Boy Scouting is the flagship division of the BSA for boys ages ten to eighteen. It uses a system of outdoor activities to achieve the aims of Scouting. Varsity Scouting is modified Boy Scouting available to boys from fourteen through seventeen that adds a system of high adventure and sporting activities to appeal to the older boy, with an emphasis on team competition. The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the Boy Scout national honor society for experienced campers, based on American Indian traditions, and dedicated to the ideal of cheerful service and brotherhood.
• Venturing is the division for young men and women ages fourteen through twenty-one.^[8] Its purpose is to provide positive experiences to help youth mature and to prepare them to become responsible adults.^[9] Sea Scouting is the nautical oriented part of this division.

There are about 100,000 physically or mentally disabled Scouts throughout the United States. Anyone certified as disabled "may enroll in Scouting and remain in its program beyond the regulation age limits. This provision allows all members to advance in Scouting as far as they wish."^[2] Advancement is measured by the achievement to the best of the Scout's abilities.

[edit] Membership controversies

For more details on this topic, see Boy Scouts of America membership controversies.

The Boy Scouts of America has been both criticized and supported for its membership policy, which prohibits participation by atheists or agnostics. "Known or avowed" homosexuals are not permitted to be Scout Leaders, and participation by girls is limited to the Venturing and Learning For Life programs (although women are permitted to be Scout leaders).^{[10][11][12][13]} The BSA contends that these policies are essential in its mission to instill in young people the values of the Scout Oath and Law.^[10][11] The organization's legal right to have these policies has been upheld repeatedly by both state and federal courts. In recent years, these membership policies have led to litigation over the terms under which the BSA can access governmental resources including public lands.^[14]

[edit] Learning for Life

Learning for Life is a school and work-site based program that is a subsidiary of the BSA. It utilizes programs designed for schools and community-based organizations that are designed to prepare youth to for the complexities of contemporary society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem.^[15] Exploring is the worksite-based program of Learning for Life with programs based on five areas of emphasis: career opportunities, life skills, citizenship, character education, and leadership experience.^[16]

Learning for Life is not considered a traditional Scouting program; it does not use the Scout Promise, Scout Law, uniforms or insignia of traditional Scouting. All Learning for Life programs are open to youth and adults without restriction based on gender, residence, sexual orientation, or other considerations other than age requirements.^[17][16]

[edit] Aims, methods and ideals

The stated objectives of the BSA are referred to as "Aims of Scouting": character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. The BSA pursues these aims through an informal education system called the Scout method, with variations that are designed to be appropriate for the age and maturity of each membership division:^[18][19]

• The methods of Cub Scouting are ideals, the den, advancement, family involvement, activities, home and neighborhood centered and the uniform.
• The methods of Boy Scouting are ideals, patrols, the outdoor program, advancement, association with adults, personal growth, leadership development and the uniform.
• The methods of Venturing are leadership, group activities, adult association, recognition, ideals, high adventure and teaching others.

Scouting ideals are codified for each membership division and include the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack, the Scout Oath and the Scout Law and the Venturing Oath and Venturing Code.

[edit] Organization

[edit] National Council

The National Council is the corporate membership of the Boy Scouts of America and is chartered by the United States Congress to operate the Scouting program. The National Council members include the elected National Executive Board, the regional executive committees, the local council representatives, members at large, and honorary members. The National program is directed by the National Executive Board and administered by the Chief Scout Executive using a staff of professional Scouters. The National Council is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization and is funded from private donations, membership dues, corporate sponsors, and special events.

The BSA was granted a federal charter in 1916, now codified as 36 U.S.C. Chapter 309,^[20] stating that their purpose is to:

"promote, through organization, and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods that were in common use by boy scouts on June 15, 1916."

The charter authorized and set standards for the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America. A provision in the federal charter gives the BSA the "exclusive right to use emblems, badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases" that they adopt.

The BSA is governed by the National Executive Board and directed by the national president, elected by representatives from the local councils.^[21] Board memberships include regular elected members, presidents, the Advisory Council chair and the chairman of the Board of Regents of the National Eagle Scout Association. The board may also include up to five appointed youth members. Professional Scouters of the National staff are nonvoting members.

The National Executive Board has five group standing committees: the Administration Group Committee, Program Group Committee, Human Resources Group Committee, Regional Presidents' Group Committee, and Relationships/Marketing Group Committee. Each of these committees is in turn directly responsible for a corresponding support group that provides administrative functions. Group committees may in turn be responsible for support standing committees and groups divided into divisions.

[edit] Groups and divisions

The Program Group is responsible for delivering the Scouting program and includes the Boy Scouting, Cub Scouting and Venturing Divisions. The Scoutreach Division emphasizes service to rural and urban areas and to minority populations; the name is a portmanteau combining Scout and outreach. The African American Focus works with African American populations in partnerships with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, the NAACP, African American Baptist churches and other groups. The Hispanic/Latino Focus includes the ¡Scouting – Vale La Pena! emphasis for Hispanic youth.^[22][23] This includes Spanish language resources such as handbooks, training material and videos. The Soccer and Scouting emphasis is a partnership with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to provide alternatives for Cub Scout age Hispanic youth.^[24] The Asian American Focus reaches out to Indo-Chinese American, Vietnamese American, Chinese American and Korean American communities. The Rural Scouting focus targets small communities and includes the American Indian Scouting Association, a partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA.

The High Adventure Division administers Philmont Scout Ranch, Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases and Florida National High Adventure Sea Base. The Jamboree Division provides support for the world and national jamborees. The International Division is responsible for relations with other Scout and Guide organizations; it includes the Interamerican Scout Foundation and Direct Service.^[25] The Relationships Division is responsible for relations with supporting organizations outside the BSA, including the AFL-CIO, Elks, VFW and all religious associations and awards.

The National Supply Group is responsible for developing and selling uniforms, apparel, insignia, literature and equipment. It sells equipment and supplies through National Scout Shops, local council trading posts, authorized independent resellers and online at ScoutStuff.org.^[26] Supply Group also licenses trademarks for use by other commercial vendors.^[27]

The Administrative Group comprises several divisions, such as the Finance Support Division, Human Resources Administration Division, Professional Development Division, Compensation and Benefits Division and Information Services Division that provide internal administrative service and support. The Marketing and Communications Division is part of the Administrative Group and is responsible for marketing the BSA program, which includes responsibility for most national websites. It also publishes two magazines: Scouting for adult leaders and Boys' Life for youth.

The National Scouting Museum is located in Irving, Texas.^[28] Exhibits include Norman Rockwell paintings, high adventure sections, hands-on learning experiences, interactive exhibits, and a historical collection tracing uniforms, themes, and documents from the beginning of the Scouting movement in America. Among the museum's artifacts are the Eagle Scout medal of Arthur Rose Eldred, the first Eagle Scout.^[29]

[edit] Regions and areas

	Boy Scouts of America Regions as of 1992

For administrative purposes, the BSA is divided into four regions–Western, Central, Southern and Northeast.^[21][30] Each region is subdivided into areas, about six per region.

Each region has a volunteer president, assisted by volunteer officers and board members, and the day-to-day work of Scouting is managed by the regional director, assistant and associate regional directors, and area directors. Regions and areas are subdivisions of the National Council and do not have a corporate status separate from the BSA.

• Central Region covers all of Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia.
• Northeast Region covers all of Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Puerto Rico, Transatlantic Council, and the Virgin Islands, and parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.^[31]
• Southern Region covers all of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.^[32]
• Western Region covers all of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Far East Council and the Pacific Basin, and parts of Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Texas.^[33]

[edit] Local councils

Main category: Local councils of the Boy Scouts of America

The BSA program is administered through 308 local councils, with each council covering a geopolitical area that may vary from a single city to an entire state. Councils receive an annual charter from the National Council and are usually incorporated as a charitable organization.^[21]

The council level organization is similar to that of the National Council. The council executive board is headed by the council president and is made up of representatives from each chartered organization and annually elected members-at-large. The board establishes the council program and carries out the resolutions, policies, and activities of the council. Board members are registered volunteer Scouters and often work at the unit level. Youth members may be selected to the council executive board according to the council by-laws.

The Scout executive manages council operations—including finance, property management, advancement and awards, registrations and Scout Shop sales—with a staff of other professionals and para-professionals. Commissioners lead the unit service functions of the council, help maintain the standards of the BSA and assures a healthy unit program.

The BSA charters two councils for Scouts who live overseas, largely on military bases in Europe and Asia. The Transatlantic Council, headquartered in Germany, serves BSA units in much of Europe, and the Far East Council, headquartered in Japan, serves units in the western Pacific areas. The Direct Service branch makes the Scouting movement available to U.S. citizens and their dependents living in countries outside these jurisdictions or in isolated areas. The Aloha Council in Hawaii also serves BSA units in the American territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and in the sovereign countries of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.

The Greater New York Councils are unique in that they are divided into five boroughs with each led by a borough Scout executive.^[34] Each borough is then divided into districts. Boroughs and districts are subdivisions of the local council and do not have a separate corporate status.

Councils are divided into districts with leadership provided by the district executive, district chairman, and the district commissioner.^[21] Districts are directly responsible for the operation of Scouting units and, except for the district executive, are mostly staffed with volunteers. The voting members of each district consist of volunteer representatives from each chartered organization having at least one BSA unit, plus annually elected members-at-large who in turn elect the district chairman.

[edit] Units and chartered organizations

The unit is the main operating group of the BSA.^[21] Units use different names for each membership level— Cub Scouts are organized as packs, Boy Scouts as troops, Varsity Scouts as teams, Venturers as crews, and Sea Scouts as ships.

Each unit is operated by a community-based organization such as a business, service organization, school organization, labor group, or religious institution that has applied for and received an annual charter from the BSA. This chartered organization is responsible for selecting leadership, providing a meeting place, and promoting a good program. The chartered organization representative is the manager of Scouting in a chartered organization and serves as a liaison between the unit, the chartered organization, and the BSA. Chartered organizations use the Scouting program to support the goals and objectives of the organization. As of December 31, 2007, the BSA's membership report by chartered organization indicated that approximately 62 percent of units are sponsored by religious institutions:^[35]

BSA membership as of December 2007

Organization	Packs	Cub youth	Troops	Scout youth	Crews	Vtr youth	Total units	Total youth
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints	9959	135115	18726	199141	8028	66473	36713	400729
United Methodist Church	5307	232758	5201	125989	1187	9673	11695	368420
Roman Catholic Church	4617	189985	3878	97185	905	10141	9400	297311
Parent-teacher groups other than PTA	3911	162534	874	21527	340	8671	5125	192732
Groups of citizens	2454	85060	1249	24297	1035	20159	4738	129516
Baptist churches	2114	69296	1969	33813	350	3467	4433	106576
Lutheran churches	1875	71680	1888	46834	436	3710	4199	122224
Presbyterian churches	1531	68556	1893	53031	408	3514	3832	125101
Business and industry	1432	42328	931	17298	1096	13712	3459	73338
Private schools	1568	46883	698	15171	804	30458	3070	92512
American Legion	1248	45762	1220	23023	311	4130	2779	72915
Lions Clubs International	1288	48539	1224	24174	190	1996	2702	74709
Other community organizations	922	30192	680	14671	814	16421	2416	61284
Parent-Teacher Associations	1779	73075	330	6336	41	971	2150	80382
Community centers	725	17521	509	9268	211	4444	1445	31233
Rotary International	625	27061	618	15570	179	3225	1422	45856
Fire departments	607	21636	583	11499	217	1889	1407	35024
United Church of Christ	565	24039	653	16224	119	966	1337	41229
Episcopal Church	551	24167	608	17261	161	1666	1320	43094
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)	571	21648	584	12038	131	1027	1286	34713
Source: Boy Scouts of America Membership Report [35]

The unit is administered by a unit committee, which is appointed by the chartered organization. The unit committee, led by the committee chairman, oversees the unit program and activities and manages record keeping, finance, leadership recruitment and registration. The unit is led by a registered and trained leader– a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, Advisor, or Skipper. These leaders, with one or more assistants, are appointed by the unit committee and must be approved by both the chartered organization and the local council.

[edit] Finance

In 2005, the BSA ranked as the twelfth-largest non-profit organization in the US, with total revenues of $665.9 million. As of January 2007, the American Institute of Philanthropy lists the Chief Scout Executive as having the fifth-highest compensation of any nonprofit chief in the United States, at $916,028.^[36] In 2005, the Chief Scout Executive's pay was 0.26% of total expenses, whereas the national average among charities stands at a higher 0.34%.^[37] The Chief Scout Executive was honored in August 2005 as one of the top fifty most effective non-profit leaders by the Non-Profit Times.

[edit] Impact on American life

Scouting and Boy Scouts are well known throughout American culture. Eleven of the twelve men to walk on the Moon were Scouts, with two of them being Eagle Scouts, Neil Armstrong and Charlie Duke.^[38][39] Over two-thirds of all astronauts have had some type of involvement in Scouting.^[40] The "pinewood derby," for half a century "a celebrated rite of spring," has been named part of "America's 100 Best" by Reader's Digest magazine.^[41] President Gerald Ford said, "I can say without hesitation, because of Scouting principles, I know I was a better athlete, I was a better naval officer, I was a better Congressman, and I was a better prepared President."^[42] For a more exhaustive list, see the List of Scouts and the List of Eagle Scouts.

Famed American illustrator Norman Rockwell's works were closely associated with the Boy Scouts of America for much of the 20th century.^[43] Beginning in 1913, Rockwell began illustrating covers of Boys' Life magazine. He also drew the organization's annual calendar illustrations between 1925 and 1976.^[43] In 1969, as a tribute to Norman Rockwell's 75th birthday, officials of Brown & Bigelow and the Boy Scouts of America asked Rockwell to pose in Beyond the Easel for a calendar illustration. As part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations in 1976, Rockwell's Scouting paintings toured the nation and were viewed by 280,000 people.^[43] In 2008, a twelve-city U.S. tour of Rockwell's works is scheduled.^[44]

Alvin Townley wrote in Legacy of Honor about the large positive impact of Eagle Scouts in America. Townley cited such examples as how Scouts, especially Eagle Scouts, were disproportionately represented among Hurricane Katrina's volunteer relief workers; just as they are disproportionately represented among members of the United States Senate.^[45]

[edit] Good Turns

From the inception of the Scouting movement, Scouts have been urged to "Do a Good Turn Daily". The first national Good Turn was the promotion of a safe and sane Fourth of July in 1913. Scouting for Food is an on-going annual program begun in 1986 that collects food for local food banks.

In 1997, the BSA developed Service to America with a commitment to provide 200 million hours of service by youth members by the end of the year 2000. As part of Service to America, the BSA provided service projects in conjunction with the National Park Service (NPS). In October 2003, the Department of the Interior expanded the program with the creation of Take Pride in America, opening service to all Americans.^[46]

The BSA developed Good Turn for America in 2004 to address the problems of hunger, homelessness and inadequate housing and poor health in conjunction with the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and other organizations.^[47]

[edit] See also

• Religious emblems programs (Boy Scouts of America)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Boy Scouts of America at the Open Directory Project
• Scouting resources at the Open Directory Project

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v • d • e Scouting Topics   The Scouting Movement Scouting · Scouting for Boys · Scout method · Scout Law · Scout Promise · Scout Motto · Wood Badge · Age groups in Scouting and Guiding · Cub Scout · Boy Scout · Rover Scout · Brownie · Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting · Ranger (Girl Guide) · Jamboree · Scout Leader · WOSM · WAGGGS · Non-aligned organisations · Scouting controversy and conflict · Scouting in popular culture · List of Scouts · List of highest awards in Scouting   Scouting in the United States Scouting in the United States · Girl Scouts of the USA · GSUSA Local Councils · Girl Scout levels (USA) · Boy Scouts of America · Cub Scouting · Boy Scouting · Varsity Scouting · Venturing BSA · Sea Scouting · Order of the Arrow · BSA Advancement & recognition · Eagle Scout · Notable Eagle Scouts · History of merit badges · History of the BSA · BSA Uniform & insignia · Boy Scout Handbook · BSA Local Councils · BSA membership controversies   Scouting in the United Kingdom The Scout Association · Girlguiding UK · Beaver Scouts · Cub Section (UK) · Venture Scout · Explorer Scouts · Brownie (Girl Guides) · Ranger (Girl Guide) · Rainbow (Girl Guides) · Scout Network · Chief Scout (United Kingdom) · Scout Counties · Scout District · Scout Section (UK) · Scout Activity Centre · Young Leaders   Founders, pioneers, and notable leaders Robert Baden-Powell · Olave Baden-Powell · Agnes Baden-Powell · Daniel Carter Beard · William D. Boyce · Frederick Russell Burnham · George Thomas Coker · David Cossgrove · Olga Drahonowska-Małkowska · Charles Eastman · Arthur Rose Eldred · William Hillcourt · Andrzej Małkowski  · Ernest Thompson Seton · William A. Smith · James E. West · J. S. Wilson   Prominent places Baden-Powell House · Brownsea Island · Edith Macy Conference Center · Foxlease · Gilwell Park · Kandersteg · Our Cabaña · Our Chalet · Pax Hill · Pax Lodge · Philmont · Sangam   Other Scouting articles Scouting organizations and associations · Mafeking Cadet Corps · The Scout Association of Hong Kong · South African Scout Association · Scouts Canada