Boys Scouts of America



The Mission of Boy Scouts
It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law.


Boy 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.


Boy Scout Law
A Scout is:
    Trustworthy
    Loyal
    Helpful
    Friendly
    Courteous
    Kind
    Obedient
    Cheerful
    Thrifty
    Brave
    Clean
    Reverent


The Three Aims of Boy Scouts
To build character
   To build self-reliance, self-discipline, self-confidence and self-respect
To foster citizenship
   To foster love of community, country and world, along with a commitment of
   service to others and an understanding of democratic principles.
To develop fitness
   To develop physical, mental, emotional, and moral fitness that will
   stay with a Scout for the rest of his life.


The Eight Methods of Boy Scouts
Ideals
 Each Scout commits himself to the personal behavior guides and standards in the Scout
 motto, the slogan, the Oath and the Law
Patrols
 Patrols give Scouts experience in teamwork, democracy and leadership.
Outdoors
 Scouting emphasizes outdoors activities which foster an appreciation of nature and our
 ecology. Along the way, Scouts practice and learn new skills and develop confidence in
 their own abilities to cope with obstacles. Scouting is outing!
Advancement
 The advancement program provides Scouts with a ladder of skills to climb at his own pace.
 On the way up, he has many opportunities to learn and to be recognized for his
 achievements.
Personal growth
 All of the other methods contribute to the personal growth of a Scout through experience.
 The quest for growth is a method, too.
Adult association
 Adult leaders, male and female, provide an example to Scouts of the high character they
 should strive for in their personal growth.
Leadership development
 Making boys get leadership experiences is one of the most valuable things Scouting does.
Uniform
 The uniform reminds a Scout of who he is and what is expected of him. It identifies him as
 part of a patrol, troop, council and worldwide youth movement. He can take pride in being
 a  Scout, and in the achievements shown on his uniform and sash. Even neighborhood
 gangs recognize the importance of wearing a uniform, their colors.


Famous Scouts
Since 1910, these principles have been taught in an atmosphere of recreation and fun which allows young people to develop self confidence, leadership and moral character.  More and more men, trained as Scouts, are taking their places in today's world as responsible adult leaders. Men who earned badges as Scouts, sit on the Supreme Court of the United States.  Others hold important offices in our government, business and industry.  Most of the members of the present U.S. Congress were Scouts. Of the 214 pilots and scientists selected as astronauts since 1959, more than 125 were Scouts or have been active in Scouting, as well as most of the astronauts who have walked on the moon.  The new Suns head coach, Danny Ainge, is an Eagle Scout.  The long list of famous Scouts includes:

President John F. Kennedy
Boy Scout

President Gerald Ford
Eagle Scout

J. Willard Marriott, Jr.
President of Marriott  Corporation
Eagle Scout

Sam M. Walton
Chairman/CEO, Wal-Mart
Eagle Scout

Neil A. Armstrong
First person to set foot on the Moon
Eagle Scout

Steven Spielberg
Director, Producer
Eagle Scout

William C. Devries, M.D.
Transplanted first artificial heart
Eagle Scout

Barber B. Conable, Jr.
President, World Bank
Eagle Scout