Scout History

The History of Boy Scouts

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 that counts. What is important is the spirit with which a Scout does a Good Turn.

The Good Turn to America

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 lamp 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 for a tip. But the boy stopped him. "No thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won't take anything for helping." "A Scout? Now 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.

Lord Robert Baden-Powell; the founder of Boy Scouts

The Founder of Scouting

The man who started the Scouting movement. Robert Baden-Powell, spent much of his life serving in the British cavalry. He received his early military training in India, then served in Africa. At the turn of the century he was an officer in the war between Britain and the descendants of Dutch settlers. The Boers, in South Africa. He gained world during the war by defending the town of Mafeking against a force of Boer soldiers. He stood fast for 217 days until another British army broke through the enemy lines and lifted the siege. Baden-Powell came home to England as the best-known her of the Boer War. He decided to use use fame to help British boys become better men. He based his ideas for a boys' organization on his own experiences as a youngster in England and as a soldier in India and Africa In 1907 he invited a group of boys to attend the world's first Boy Scout camp on the English island of Brownsea. The success of the camp led him to write a book he called Scouting for Boys. It was an Instant bestseller. Boy by the thousands bought it and decided to become Scouts. Scouting spread like wildfire throughout England and, before long, around the world.

Early Days In America

Among the founders of the Boy Scout of America, Eeriest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard were skilled at living outdoors. Both had written books about camping and nature study, and both had developed their own outdoor programs for young people. Seton became the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scout of America. Beard served as the National Commissioner. James E. West, a young Washington laywer, became the first Chief Scout Executive of the young organization. His own childhood had been Difficult. His father had died before he was bore. His mother passed away when he 7 years old, and West was raised in an orphanage. He suffered from an illness that made it difficult for him to walk. Despite these hardships, he put all his ambition, ability, and energy into becoming a sawyer. He succeeded and then dedicated himself to helping all children - sick and healthy, sick, and disabled - to have a better life. James West gave the Boy Scout of America 32 years of strong, wise leadership. His efforts helped build Scouting into the largest organization for boys in the country.

The First Handbook

The boys joining the new Boy Scouts of America needed a manual of their own. Published in 1911, the BSA's Handbook for Boy's was an American version of Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boy's. It was packed with information about hiking and camping, forming patrols, and having fun in the outdoors. The book also described activities for Scout troops and listed the requirements for Scout ranks and merit badges. The Scout handbook has been revised 11 times to include the latest developments in Scouting and outdoor adventures. Since 1911, more than 33 million copies of the Boy Scout Handbook have been printed, That makes it one of the most popular American book of all time.

Boys' Life

When he became Chief Scout Executive, James West felt that the Boy Scouts of America needed a magazine. Scouts reading a good publication could share the best Scouting had to offer. In 1912, Mr. West and the BSA national office began printing a magazine they called Boys' Life. Today, more than 2,000,000 Scouts receive Boys' Life every month. Each issue is filled with terrific stories, camping hints, and Scout projects. James West's good idea has become a very importance part of Scouting.

Boy Scout Service

Service to others has been a vital part of Scouting since its beginning. Individual Scouts have done millions of Good Turns of all descriptions. Patrols and troops have organized to carry out worthwhile projects for their communities. They gave gathered food and clothing for needy neighbors, built playgrounds, and repaired parks and public building. In times of emergency, they have assisted fire and police departments, aided in the evacuation of flood victims, and cleaned up after storms. Service on a national scale started when the United States Became involved in World War I. Boy Scouts throughout the country sold bonds to raise money for the war effort. They collected recyclable paper and metal. Their efforts showed the public an important side of the Scouting program. The Congress of the United States signaled its support by granting a charter to the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts today carryon this tradition of service in their homes, communities, and nation. In recent years, Scout service has led to more active roles in caring for the land. Scouts not only enjoy going outdoors for adventures, they also see themselves as good stewards of the land, working with park and forest rangers to complete a wide variety of conservation and restoration projects.

Baden-Powell on Brownsea Island at the first World Jamboree

The First World Jamboree

By 1920, Scouting had spread around the world. To strengthen this world brotherhood, Baden-Powell invited Scouts from all nations to a world jamboree in London. He wanted young people from many countries to camp together, share their skills, and develop friendships. The first jamboree was such a success that Scouting's leaders promoted the idea of more worldwide gatherings. With the exception of the World War II years, world jamborees have been held every 4 years. Since 1937, the Boy Scouts of America has held one national jamboree between every two world jamborees. As many as 50,000 Scouts have attended each gathering.
The Growth of Scouting
Through the years, the Boy Scouts of America has continued to grow. To serve the special needs and interests of Scouts, the BSA has developed a variety of programs. Sea Scouts began in 1912 as a branch of Scouting for older boys. Eventually it became Senior Scouting, which proved to be very popular. Today, Exploring is the program for young men and woman in the Boy Scouts of America. The Lone Scouts of America merged with the BSA in 1924. An organization for boys who lived in sparsely populated areas of the country, the Lone Scouts had been founded by William Boyce. In 1930, a younger-boy program, first called Cubbing but now known as Cub Scouting, began drawing boys form age 8 and up into the movement. Tiger Cubs, BSA, was added in 1982 to serve boys younger than 8 and their families. Varsity Scouting, added more recently, rounds out the program of the boy Scouts of America. From its beginning with a Good Turn by an unknown Scout, to the present with millions of Scouts across the nation, the Boy Scout, to the present with millions of Scouts across the nation, the Boy Scouts of America has had a colorful, exciting, and important history. Now that you are a Scout, what does the future hold for the organization? Well, that depends on you. Like that British Scout on a foggy London street, you never know when a simple act of kindness can have far-reaching effects on another person, an entire organization, or even the world.

The Scout Left Hand Handshake

Our Scout salute and handshake are ancient signs of bravery and respect. During the colonial period of our country, many men carried weapons for protection. Sometimes when they met one another, there was an uneasy moment as each man watched the others right hand. If it went to his sword or his gun, there might be a fight. but if it went to his hat, it was a salute of friendship and respect.
The left handshake comes to us from the Ashanti warriors whom Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, knew almost 100 years ago in West Africa. He saluted them with his right hand, but the Ashanti chiefs offered their left hands and said, "In our land only the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left hand, because to do so we must drop our shields and our protection."
The Ashantis knew of Baden-Powell's bravery because they had fought against him and with him, and they were proud to offer the left hand of bravery.
When you use the Scout salute and handshake, remember that they are signs of respect and courage.
The left hand is also closer to the heart...

Origin of the World Scouting Symbol
"Fleur-de-Lis"

In Scouting's early years, critics accused Baden-Powell of trying to turn boys into soldiers, holding up as evidence the Scout symbol, which they called "a spear-head, the emblem of battle and bloodshed". The Founder quickly replied, The crest is the "Fleur-de-Lis", a lily, the emblem of peace and purity.
In truth, he had chosen as Scouting's emblem the sign for the North Point, universally shown on maps, charts and compass cards, because "it points in the right direction (and upwards), turning neither to the right nor left, since these lead backward again..." Lady Baden-Powell added later, "It shows the true way to go."
Baden-Powell explained the origins of this sign. In the Middle Ages, mariner Flavio Gioja designed it to make the seaman's compass more reliable. In Italian, North was "Tramontana". Gioja used a capital "T" to mark it, and in deference to King Charles of Naples, whose crest was the Fleur-de-Lis, combined the letter with that emblem.
To explain the meaning of the Scout emblem, Baden-Powell said, "The two stars on the two side arms stand for the two eyes of the Wolf Cub having been opened before he became a Scout... The three points of the Fleur-de-Lis remind the Scout of the three points of the Scout's Promise..."
In the World Scout emblem, the Fleur-de-Lis is surrounded by a circle of rope tied with a reef knot to symbolize the strength and unity of the world brotherhood of Scouting: "Even as one cannot undo a reef knot, no matter how hard one pulls on it, so as it expands, the movement remains united."
The three tips of the Fleur-de-Lis represent the three main parts of the Scout promise: duty to God, obedience to the Scout Law, and service to others. The two five-point stars stand for truth and knowledge, and the 10 points on the stars remind us of the 10 points of the Scout law. The ring holding the emblem together represents the bond of brotherhood.
The symbol is white on a royal purple background, colors Baden-Powell chose because, in heraldry, white stands for purity and purple for leadership and helping others.
Since Scouting began, over 200 million Scouts have worn the Scout symbol, making it one of the more highly recognized emblems in the world. Today, over 150 World Scouting countries and territories, more than 16 million members continue to wear it with pride.

More Scout Statistics

Scouting's alumni record is equally impressive. A recent nation-wide survey of high schools revealed the following information:
85% of student council presidents were Scouts
89% of senior class presidents were Scouts
80% of junior class presidents were Scouts
75% of school publication editors were Scouts
71% of football captains were Scouts

Scouts also account for:

64% of Air Force Academy graduates
68% of West Point graduates
70% of Annapolis graduates
72% of Rhodes Scholars
85% of FBI agents
26 of the first 29 astronauts

Parts taken from, The Boy Scout Handbook, Tenth Edition.