The BOY SCOUTS of AMERICA a brief history
TEXT and LAYOUT by
LIAM GREENAMYRE
Lord Baden-Powell, commonly credited as founder of the international Scouting Movement
On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country; To obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. These words lay the foundation for one of the most influential organizations that America has ever known, and one which millions of American men can cite as an integral part of their childhoods. The Boy Scouts of America states that its goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance, and to develop young men that are trustworthy, loyal, obedient, thrifty, brave, and reverent. But the organization has also endured its fair share of criticism, facing allegations of discrimination, militarism, and racism. Ultimately, the Boy Scouts of America is deeply rooted in this American culture, and there are few clearer expressions of this country’s values.
methods were inadequate for the men sent to him from England. Feeling that these men lacked fundamental character values like dependability, initiative, and resourcefulness, Baden-Powell wrote, “their attitude and outlook on life was such that figuratively, they expected to be tucked in at night.” “Aids to Scouting,” a manual of Baden-Powell’s newly-developed training methods, was published in 1899 and quickly became popular internationally. When he returned to England in 1903, he found that his methods, intended for grown men, were being adapted and used in schools for boys. Seizing the opportunity to further develop the program, Baden-Powell decided to try it for himself by holding a camp of Boy Scouts on Brownsea Island in August of 1907, and the following year he published his book “Scouting for Boys.”
Despite being such so ingrained in America’s history, the origins of the Scout movement can actually be traced to turn-of-the-century South Africa. Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell had been a field scout with the British Intelligence Service, and he felt that established training
The Scout Movement was brought to America by publisher W.D. Boyce, and by a chance encounter in the streets of London. While Boyce was visiting the city in 1909, he became lost in the fog. A boy came to his aid, cheerfully guiding him to his destination. When Boyce offered the boy a shilling, as was custom, the boy smiled and refused, explaining that he was a scout and was merely doing his good work. Boyce was deeply impressed, and met with Baden-Powell soon after. He returned to America and incorporated The Boy Scouts of
A group of scouts among redwoods in Alameda, California
America on February 8, 1910. At the time, the biggest boys’ association was the Young Men’s Christian Association, which had begun in 1867 and emphasized physical training, athletics, and the outdoor life. Groups with similar values had begun to appear in America, including Ernest Seton’s Woodcraft Indians and Daniel Beard’s Society of the Sons of Daniel Boone. Both groups emphasized outdoor recreation and conservation. Soon the groups had consolidated under the banner of The Boy Scouts of America. The YMCA had also become quite interested in the movement and expressed their desire to help. The group chose a full-time staff, printed literature, and tried to stay abreast of the explosion in numbers that occurred shortly thereafter. By the time the United States entered World War I, the Boy Scouts were the country’s largest uniformed body, with more than 300,000 members. In 1916 the group received a Federal Charter – an honor and set of protections that very few organizations enjoy. The chartering bill passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress and was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on June 15th. Once World War I had begun, the Boy Scouts vowed to do all they could to assist the government and military. During the war, the scouts helped to set up victory gardens across the country, assisted the Red Cross, established coast patrols in nearby cities, and sold more than $350 million in war bonds. The Boy Scouts also served as message-bearers and Top: Raising the flag in Jackson, Mississippi
conducted surveys of materials and supplies. After the war, President Wilson wrote, “The Boy Scouts of America have rendered notable service to the Nation during the World War… The Boy Scout Movement should not only be preserved, but strengthened.”
Venturer Scouts climbing Mt. Olympus glacier in Washington State
THE SCOUT’S OATH On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country; To obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. SCOUT’S MOTTO Be prepared. THE SCOUT LAW A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. OUTDOOR CODE As an American, I will do my best, to be clean in my outdoor manner, to be careful with fire, to be considerate in the outdoors, and to be conservation minded. SCOUT SLOGAN Do a good turn daily.
A 1910 troop at Quincy, Massachusetts
The Boy Scouts of America was enjoying great success, and it seemed as if the movement was fast becoming an American institution. But not every scout was an equal member. In 1937, the group wrote, “in every Southern State and in every large Southern city, Scout Troops of Negro boys have been organized.” But unfortunately the Scouts adhered to the prevailing notion of ‘separate but equal.’ Black troops were often not allowed to wear uniforms, had much smaller budgets, and insufficient facilities. Racial minorities were often combined with rural, poor, and handicapped boys and categorized as ‘special troops.’ In 1954, there was only one integrated Boy Scout Troop in the South. Ultimately, “The Boy Scouts of America never drew the color line, but the movement stayed in step with the prevailing mores.” Yet racial minorities are not the only groups to allege discrimination. The Boy Scouts of America has always been a religiously oriented group, and its policies bar any avowed atheists or agnostics from joining. In support of this policy, Baden-Powell wrote, “No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws.” A majority of Boy Scout troops are hosted or sponsored by religious groups, but the organization expends significant effort to accommodate all faiths, including Zoroastrianism, Wicca, and those who define their own faiths. Yet one of the most controversial aspects of the Boy Scouts of America has been their policy of barring known homosexuals from participating as scouts, leaders, or parents. In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that, as a private organization, the Boy Scouts has the freedom to choose members based on the criteria they select. The suit, however, served to publicize the issue, and in its wake membership has
declined steeply, and many important corporate donors have cut off funding. Some schools have also denied the Boy Scouts the right to associate on their properties. Some local councils of the Boy Scouts have spoken out against this policy, have proposed national-level legislation to change it, and have attempted to change the rules of their own councils, only to experience pushback from the national organization.
“There are five essential elements in the Scout Program of Character-building and Citizenship-training: (1) THE BOY, as an individual, and in Patrol and Troop, with his uniform and associations; (2) under the LEADERSHIP, of a carefully selected and trained volunteer; (3) carrying on ACTIVITIES, which include achievement and recognition; (4) made possible through ORGANIZATION—institutional, local, regional, national, and world-wide,— under trained professional leadership; and (5) all this animated by THE SCOUT OATH OR PROMISE, THE SCOUT LAW, and THE SCOUT IDEALS OF SERVICE.” – The ByLaws of The Boy Scouts of America A young troop on the move in Westchester, New York
Over the years, the precise structure of the scouting program has been continuously adjusted, in particular to make it more inclusive for a broader range of ages. A child can now begin as a cub scout as early as first grade, and graduate to become a boy scout at age ten or having completed fifth grade. Boy scouts have several levels of ranks, and a scout will progress from Tenderfoot to Scout Second Class, to First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle Scout, with ranks based on skill awards, merit badges, leadership, and service requirements. Throughout this journey, Scouts learn skills such as camping, citizenship, communications, community living, conservation, cooking, environmental awareness, family living, first aid, hiking, physical fitness, and swimming. The highest rank a Scout can achieve is Eagle Scout, which is attained upon earning twentyone merit badges and fulfilling requirements for service and leadership. The uniform of the Boy Scouts has also evolved over time, but it has always been an essential part of the program. Baden-Powell himself had worn a uniform for most of his life, and it was his belief that not only would a uniform promote unity in the scout troops, but also that boys would enjoy wearing them. The earliest uniform was essentially a copy of the US Army uniform of 1910, including knickers and a button-down coat. Scouts wore their rank insignia on their hats. In 1922, the classic neckerchief A young Scout in uniform, circa 1920
was added, and knee socks and trousers replaced the knickers. And in 1981, the uniform was reinvented free of charge by designer Oscar de la Renta, who incorporated more rugged material and added shoulder loops to indicate rank by color. The uniform was now two colors, featuring a tan shirt and dark khaki-green trousers. While few would argue that The Boy Scouts of America is an organization above reproach, it is hard to imagine the landscape of our nation without it. It has shaped the lives of countless men, instilling in them a culture and set of values that America holds close to her heart. While some may argue that the Boy Scouts of America is no longer relevant to today’s society, it has made a deep and lasting impact on this country and will continue to do so for years to come.
Members of the Scouts’ national organization presenting the five millionth handbook to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1935