The 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 Scout Law.
Ask a Scout why to join, and she or he will likely tell you about exciting things like whitewater rafting, fun things like camping with friends, or silly things like they time they decided to have ramen for breakfast and totally got away with it. Ask an adult who used to be a scout, or a parent of an older scout, and they have deeper reasons. Scouting helps kids grow into the adults they are meant to be by providing authentic opportunities for growth and leadership, helping all areas of physical, mental, and moral development.
-Scouts is Scout Lead. Adults provide support and nix things that are dangerous or inappropriate, but Scouts lead themselves. Life is simpler on a campout, which makes it possible for young people to take charge in a way that they generally can't in modern life. It's amazing to see a 14 year old in charge of getting the whole troop to flags in time for breakfast, and they are sometimes late, but they learn how to lead (and often are astounded to discover that it's annoying when people you are in charge of don't listen the first time.) Making real choices now helps them make right choices later.
-Scouts is a Safe Place to Fail. We don't want our kids to make mistakes, to be upset, or make bad choices. The sad truth is they will. At Scouts, they have the opportunity to make those mistakes in a supportive, safe environment. Whether it's forgetting to set an alarm, being rude to a friend for forgetting to set an alarm, neglecting to consult a packing list and so arriving to camp without a plate, or making a wrong turn and hiking 5 miles instead of 2, Scouts will fail, learn, and grow. It's sometimes painful for adults to watch and Scouts to experience, but it's better to learn how to plan, how to apologize, and how to ask for help now in this environment. Consequences get serious when they leave home and have access to all of adult life.
-Scouts teaches valuable skills. We've all heard stories of Scouts who have saved lives by rendering first aid in an emergency or survived stranded in the woods, but it's often overlooked what else Scouts teaches. Scouts is simultaneously the least efficient and most efficient program out there. It's least efficient because generally a couple of adults could do in 15 minutes what it takes a dozen eleven and twelve year olds an hour or three to figure out. It's most efficient because those eleven and twelve year olds learn more about planning, communication, and evaluation during those hours than they could in any classroom course on leadership. Plus, they get a lot better at packing, cleaning, cooking, and making do. By the time they are fifteen and sixteen, they are not only able to teach those new Scouts, they can often complete the task more quickly than the adults.
-Scouts is fun. It's fun for the Scouts and the adults. Whether it's the fun planned stuff, like boating or hiking, or the spontaneous back up plans, like dancing under a pavilion during a thunderstorm, this is where friendships are forged and memories are made. Please visit us to learn more!