February 8 of each year marks the anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). For nearly 100 years, young American men and boys have been doing good deeds, learning survival skills and developing moral foundations through this impressive national organization. The BSA did not start in America, but was rather originally a British organization that dates back to the early 1900s. A British Army officer, Robert Baden-Powell was stationed in India. He learned that the men in his ranks did not know basic first aid or simplistic outdoor survival skills. In an effort to teach these skills, he wrote a small handbook called Aids to Scouting. Upon his return to England, he found that his little handbook had some appeal to the young men of the country. So, in 1908 he published his book Scouting for Boys. The book was a hit and contributed to the growth of the Scouting movement. The same year more than 10,000 Boy Scouts attended a rally and only two years later the membership had tripled.
At about the same time, an American businessman and publisher, William D. Boyce, was literally lost in a London fog. A boy appeared and offered to take him to his destination. When Boyce attempted to tip the young man, he refused saying “I am a Scout and cannot accept payment for a Good Turn.” Boyce was so impressed he visited with Baden-Powell and gained a suitcase full of information to take back to the U.S. On February 8, 1910, Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Scouting in the U.S. has grown from its fledgling start of 2,000 members to 2.3 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21. President John F. Kennedy was the first President to be a Boy Scout.
Although Scouting has changed much over its decades of existence, the ideals remain the same with a focus on character growth, citizenship training and personal fitness. After the death of Baden-Powell, a letter was found that he had written to ALL Scouts. One of the sentences read, “Try to leave this world a little better than you found it.” This is the Scout way.
So, if you know a BSA member, give him a high five on February 8 and celebrate the legacy of this fine organization. If you are interested in having your son get involved in Scouting, you can visit www.scouting.org.
