Scouting America

Boy Scouts of America, doing business as Scouting America, is the largest Scouting organization and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Since its founding in 1910, about 130 million Americans have participated in its programs, which are served by more than 400,000 adult volunteers. It is a founding member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The stated mission of Scouting America is to "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law". Youth are trained in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, personal fitness, servant leadership, good citizenship, and outdoors skills through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking. Scouting America owns four high adventure bases: Northern Tier (Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario), Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Florida Keys, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas), and Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia). Its local councils own hundreds of camps and reservations dedicated to scouts. The main Scouting programs are Cub Scouts for ages 5 to 10 years, Scouts BSA for ages 11 to 17, Venturing for ages 14 through 20, and Sea Scouts for ages 14 through 20. Scouting America units are operated by chartering local organizations, such as churches, clubs, civic associations, or educational organizations, to implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. Units are led by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using...