Description of Scouting

Adventure!
That's what Scouting is!
                                          (Official Boy Scout Handbook, Chapter 1, Page 1)

In short, Scouting is a youth organization that uses a fun program to promote character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness for every member.

The Boy Scouts of America makes Scouting available to our nation's youth by chartering community organizations to operate Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Varsity Scout Teams, and Explorer Posts. The chartered organization must provide an adequate and safe meeting place and capable adult leadership, and must adhere to the principles and policies of the BSA. The BSA local council provides unit leader training, program ideas, camping facilities, literature, and professional guidance for volunteer leaders. Scouting's adult volunteers provide leadership at the unit, district, council, and national levels. Many are parents of Scouts; many entered Scouting as youth members.

For details on how the Boy Scouts of America is organized refer to our BSA Organization page. Also of interest may be Excerpts from the Federal Charter.

The Story of a Good Turn, Boy Scout Handbook, Tenth Edition, Chapter 26, Boy Scouts of America

How good must a Good Turn be to be good? The answer is best given by telling you the story of how Scouting came to America. It shows that it isn't the size of a Good Turn that counts. What is important is the spirit with which a Scout does a Good Turn.

"Do a Good Turn Daily" is the Scout Slogan.

One Day in 1909 in London, England, an American visitor, William D. Boyce, lost his way in a dense fog. He Stopped under a street lanp and tried to figure out where he was. A boy approached him and asked if he could be of help.

"You certainly can," said Boyce. He told the boy that he wanted to find a certain business office in the center of the city.

"I'll take you there," said the boy.

When they got to the destination, Mr. Boyce reached into his pocket fora tip. But the boy stopped him.

"No thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won't take anything for helping."

"A Scout? And what might that be?" asked Boyce.

The boy told the American about himself and his brother Scouts. Boyce became very interested. After finishing his errand, he had the boy take him to the British Scouting office.

At the office, Boyce met Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the famous British general who had founded the Scouting movement in Great Britain. Boyce was so impressed with what he learned that he decided to bring Scouting home with him.

On February 8, 1910, Boyce and a group of outstanding leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America. From that day forth, Scouts have celebrated February 8 as the birthday of Scouting in the United States.

What happened to the boy who helped Mr. Boyce find his way in the fog? No one knows. He had neither asked for money nor given his name, but he will never be forgotten. His Good Turn helped bring the Scouting movement to our country.

In the British Scout Training Center at Gilwell Park, England, Scouts from the United States erected a statue of an American buffalo in honor of this unknown Scout. One Good Turn to one man became a Good Turn to millions of American boys. Such is the power of a Good Turn.

Organization of the Boy Scouts of America

Let's take a look at how Scouting is organized

Boy Scouting is actually owned by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. It was incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916 to provide an educational program for boys and young adults. Boy Scouting was modeled after the Scouting movement founded by Lord Robert S. S. Baden-Powell in England in 1908. The National Council is led by a volunteer board of directors, the National Executive Board. The administration is performed by a staff of professional Scouters. Among its major functions, the National Council develops program; sets and maintains quality standards in training, leadership selection, uniforms, registration records, literature development, and advancement requirements; and publishes Boys' Life and Scouting magazines.

 NATIONAL COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
               |
            REGION
               |
         LOCAL COUNCIL
               |
            District
               |  
     Chartered Organization
               | 
        Unit Committee
               |
              Unit

The National Council maintains national high-adventure bases for use by Scouts in Minnesota, Florida, and New Mexico. It also organizes a national Scout Jamboree every 4 years.

Of course, it would be nearly impossible to administer directly the more than 150,000 registered Boy Scout units (troops, packs, explorer posts, etc.) from a centrally located national office. To achieve this, the National Council issues a charter to each local council. The United States and its territories is divided into 385 local councils. Each council has a headquarters city from which it administers the Scouting program within its geographical boundaries. Like the National Council, the local council is led by volunteers, with administration performed by a staff of professional Scouters. The council president is the top volunteer; the Scout executive is the top professional.

     The local council's responsibilities include: 
     Promoting the Scouting program 
     Registration of units and council personnel 
     Providing facilities and leadership for a year-round outdoor program 

A Scouting district is a geographical area within the local council, as determined by the council executive board. District leaders mobilize resources to ensure the growth and success of Scouting units within the district's territory.

Members of the district committee are volunteers. The district trains adult volunteers, provides district programs for units such as camporees, and Scouting shows, assists in the formation of new units, and helps coordinate the annual giving campaign.

The district committee also provides the unit with a unit commissioner. The unit commissioner gives direct coaching and consultation to the unit committee and other adult leaders.

The volunteers on the district committee can be a helpful resource to the unit committee. Call upon their guidance when needed.

The Scouting professional who provides district service is the district executive. He can be very helpful in showing the unit committee how to accomplish the unit's program goals.

The unit is "owned" by a chartered organization. It receives a national charter yearly to use the Scouting program as a part of its youth work. These groups, which have goals compatible with those of the Boy Scouts of America, include religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, governmental bodies, and professional associations.

Each chartered organization using the Scouting program provides a meeting place, selects a Scoutmaster, appoints a unit committee of at least three adults, and chooses a chartered organization representative.

The chartered organization representative: 

     Is a member of the charter organization 
     Serves as head of the "Scouting department" in the organization 
     Secures a unit committee chairman and encourages training 
     Maintains a close liaison with the unit committee chairman 
     Helps recruit other adult leaders 
     Serves as liaison between your unit and your organization 
     Assists with unit rechartering 
     Encourages service to the organization 
     Is an active member of the district committee and the local council

The unit committee's primary responsibilities are supporting the Unit Leader (Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, etc.) in delivering a quality unit program, and helping unit administration. As the unit committee works on behalf of the chartered organization, the unit must be operated within the organization's policies. The chartered organization must also approve all adult leaders. The chartered organization representative is the liaison with the unit's sponsor. As a member of the chartered organization, that person will know the most effective ways to get the organization's assistance and maintain a mutually satisfactory working relationship with the chartered organization.

In the chartered organization relationship, the Boy Scouts of America provides the program and support services, and the chartered organization provides the adult leadership and uses the program to accomplish its goals for youth. A review of the Chartered Organization Fast Start video and the viewer's guide will prove helpful in understanding this relationship.

Ref: Troop Committee Guidebook, BSA, 1995

The Scoutmaster

The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster and his assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. The importance of the Scoutmaster's job is reflected in the fact that the quality of his guidance will affect every youth and adult involved in the troop.

The Scoutmaster can be male or female, but must be at least 21 years old. The Scoutmaster is appointed by the head of the chartered organization.

The Scoutmaster's duties include: 

General

   Train and guide boy leaders. 
   Work with other responsible adults to bring Scouting to boys. 
   Use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting. 

Meetings

   Meet regularly with the patrol leaders' council for training
   and coordination in planning troop activities. 
   Attend all troop meetings or, when necessary, arrange for a qualified
   adult substitute. 
   Attend troop committee meetings. 
   Conduct periodic parents' sessions to share the program and encourage 
   parent participation and cooperation. 
   Take part in annual membership inventory and uniform inspection, charter
   review meeting, and charter presentation. 

Guidance

   Conduct Scoutmaster conferences for all rank advancements. 
   Provide a systematic recruiting plan for new members and see that they are
   promptly registered.
   Delegate responsibility to other adults and groups (assts, committee) 
   so that they have a real part in troop operations. 
   Supervise troop elections for the Order of the Arrow. 

Activities

Make it possible for each Scout to experience at least 10 days and nights of camping each year. Participate in council and district events. Build a strong program by using proven methods presented in Scouting literature. Conduct all activities under qualified leadership, safe conditions, and the policies of the chartered organization and the Boy Scouts of America. As you see, the Scoutmaster has many responsibilities.

Assistant Scoutmasters

To fulfill his obligation to the troop, the Scoutmaster, with the assistance of the troop committee, recruits assistant Scoutmasters to help operate the troop. Each assistant Scoutmaster is assigned specific program duties and reports to the Scoutmaster. They also provide the required two-deep leadership standards set by the Boy Scouts of America (there must be at least two adults present at any Boy Scout activity). An assistant Scoutmaster may be 18 years old, but at least one in each troop should be 21 or older, so he or she can serve in the Scoutmaster's absence.

Types of assistant Scoutmasters include:

Assistant Scoutmaster - New Scouts Assistant Scoutmaster - Venture Assistant Scoutmaster - Varsity

A troop should recruit as many assistant Scoutmasters as possible. It has been found that many successful troops have three or more.

Patrols

The Scout troop is made up of patrols. A patrol is a grouping of six to eight boys who work together. Each patrol elects its own boy leader, called a patrol leader. The new Scout patrol is composed of new members who have not entered the seventh grade. The experienced Scout patrol is for those boys who are age 12 and older.

Venture crews are made up of boys who are age 13 and older who want more challenging high-adventure experiences.

Varsity teams are made up of boys who are age 13 and older who want team sport activities. Both Varsity and Venture Scouting activities may include the participation of girls, but the young women may not register as crew or team members. When girls participate in Venture and Varsity activities, a woman 21 years of age or older must be present along with the adult male leader.

The Troop's Youth Leaders

The troop is actually run by its boy leaders. With the guidance of the Scoutmaster and his assistants, they plan the program, conduct troop meetings, and provide leadership among their peers. Junior Leader Positions Senior patrol leader - top junior leader in the troop. He leads the patrol leaders' council and, in consultation with the Scoutmaster, appoints other junior leaders and assigns specific responsibilities as needed.

Assistant senior patrol leader - fills in for senior patrol leader in his absence. He is also responsible for training and giving direction to the quartermaster, scribe, troop historian, librarian, and instructors.

Troop Historian - collects and maintains troop memorabilia and information on former troop members.

Librarian - keeps troop books, pamphlets, magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor list available for use by troop members.

Instructor - teaches one or more advancement skills to troop members. Chaplain Aide - assists in troop religious services and promotes religious emblems program.

Junior assistant Scoutmaster - a Scout 16 or older who supervises and supports other boy leaders as assigned.

Patrol leader - gives leadership to members of his patrol and represents them on the patrol leaders' council. Assistant patrol leader - fills in for the patrol leader in his absence.

Venture crew chief - leader of a troop's Venture crew.

Varsity team captain - leader of a troop's Varsity team.

Troop guide - advisor and guide to the new Scout patrol.

Den chief - works with a Cub Scout den as a guide.

Quartermaster - responsible for troop supplies and equipment.

Scribe - the troop secretary.

The Patrol Leaders' Council

The patrol leaders' council, not the adult leaders, is responsible for planning and conducting the troop's activities. The patrol leaders' council is composed of the following voting members: senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leaders, troop guide, Venture crew chief, Varsity team captain.

The troop's activities are selected and planned at the annual program planning conference. The troop's yearly plan is then submitted to the troop committee for approval. The troop committee either approves the plan or makes alternative suggestions for the patrol leaders' council to consider.

At its monthly meetings, the patrol leaders' council organizes and assigns activity responsibilities for the weekly troop meetings. The troop committee interacts with the patrol leaders' council through the Scoutmaster.

Prepared by Jeff L. Glaze.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represenatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that (names of first corporate officers of the Boy Scouts of America), their associates and successors, are hereby created to a body corporate and politic of the District of Columbia, where its domicile shall be.

Section 2. That the name of this corporation shall be Boy Scouts of America, and by that name it shall have perpetual succession, with power to sue and be sued in courts of law and equity within the jurisdiction of the United States; to hold such real and personal estate as shall be neccessary for corporate purposes, and to receive real and personal property by gift, devise or bequest; to adopt a seal, and the same to alter and destroy at pleasure; to have offices and conduct its business and affairs within and without the District of Columbia, and in the several States and Territories of the United States; to make and adopt bylaws, rules and regulations not inconsistant with the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof, and generally do all such acts and things (including the establishment of regulations for the election of assocates and successors) as may be necessary to carry into effect the provision of this act and promote the purposes of said corporation.

Section 3. That the purpose of this corporation shall be 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 patrotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods which are now in common use by Boy Scouts.

Section 4. That said corporation may acquire by way of gift all the assets of the existing national organization of Boy Scouts, a corporation under the laws of the District of Columbia, and defray and provide for any debts or liabilities to the discharge of which said assets shall be applicable, but said corporation shall have no power to issue certificates of stock or to declare or pay dividends, its object and purposes being solely of a benelvolent character and not for pecuniary profit to its members.

Section 5. That the governing body of the said Boy Scouts of America shall consist of an executive board composed of citizens of the United States. The number, qualifications, and terms of office of members of this executive board shall be prescribed by the bylaws. The persons mentioned in the first section (the officers at the time of the Charter) of this act shall consitute the first executive board and shall serve until their succcessors are elected and have qualified. Vacancies in the executive board shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members thereof.

Section 7. That said corporation shall have the sole and exclusive right to have and use, in carrying out its purpose, all emblems and badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases now or heretofore used by the Boy Scouts of America, in carrying out its program , it being distinctly and definately understood, however, that nothing in this act shall interfere or conflict with established or vested rights.

Approved June 15, 1916