The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is the largest youth organization in the U.S. with nearly 3 million youth members and 1.1 million registered adult leaders. These members make up the 122,582 local Scout units that in 2005 logged more than 34 million hours of community service, also known as Good Turns.
Scouting is BIG!
Since our founding in the U.S. in 1910, over 110 million Americans have been members of the Boy Scouts of America. Everybody knows a Scout!
Scouting is GROWTH-Oriented!
Scouting provides a path that grows with your child, beginning with Cub Scouts (ages 7-10), advancing to Boy Scouts (ages 11-17) and finally to Venturing/Varsity Scouting (ages 14-20). Cub Scouts advance through their ranks by age; Boy Scouts and Venturers/Varsity Scouts advance by achievement in meeting specific requirements.
Scouting is diverse!
Scouting is truly a melting pot. Scouts come from all walks of life, all types of family units, faiths, and racial and ethnic groups. The BSA respects the rights of people and groups who hold values that differ from those encompassed in the Scout Oath and Law, and aims to allow youth to live and learn as children and enjoy Scouting without immersing them in the politics of the day.
Scouting's Vision
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. In the future, Scouting will continue to:
- Offer young people responsible fun and adventure
- Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law
- Train young people in citizenship, service and leadership
- Serve America’s communities and families with its quality, values-based
program.