22-001American Legion2008 Printing
Organizing a Unit• PostleadershipisinformedaboutScouting.
• PostexecutivecommitteeadoptsScoutingandPostScoutingchairmanisappointed.
• PostScoutingchairmanappointsorganizingcommitteeofparentsandinterestedPostmembers.
• OrientationsessionisheldwithPostmembersandparentsofyouth.
• Organizingcommitteeselectsunitleadersandcommitteemembers.
• Leadersaretrainedinprogramplanning(FastStart).
• Programisplannedforatleastsixmonths.
• Youtharerecruited.
• Unitmeetingsbegin.
• UnitisinstalledandcharterispresentedatregularPostmeeting.
Forfurtherinformation,contact:(Uselocalcouncilstamp.)
Boy ScoutS of AmericA1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079Irving, Texas 75015 -2079http://www.scouting.org
Duty to Godand Country
The American
Legionand the
Boy Scouts of America
Resolution No. 334 in Support of the
Boy Scouts of AmericaWHEREAS,theBoyScoutsofAmericaisanorganizationthatwasincorporatedin1910andrecognizedbyfederalcharterin1916toprovideaneducationalprogramforboysandyoungmentobuildcharacter,trainintheresponsibilitiesofparticipatorycitizenship,anddeveloppersonalfitness;and
WHEREAS,theAmericanLegionvoiceditssupportoftheBoyScoutsofAmericaatitsfirstnationalconventionin1919,makingitthefirstrecognizednationalyouthactivityoftheAmericanLegion;and
WHEREAS,theBoyScoutsofAmericateachesthecorevaluesofdutytoGodandcountry,personalhonor,respectforthebeliefsofothers,volunteerism,andinterdependencewiththeenvironment,principleswhichareconducivetogoodcharacter,citizenship,andhealth;and
WHEREAS,theAmericanLegionencouragesitsPoststocontinuetheirsupportforScoutingasaprimarypartoftheirservicetoGodandcountry,theircommunity,theirstateandtheirnation;and
WHEREAS,theSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStateshasruledthattheBoyScoutsofAmerica,asaprivate,voluntary,nonbusinessorganization,hastherighttosetitsownstandardsformembershipandleadership;now,therefore,beit
RESOLVED, by the American Legion in National Convention assembled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 5, 6, 7, 2000, that the American Legion does hereby support the Boy Scouts of America in its efforts to maintain and practice traditional family values with regard to their membership and their leadership standards.
Scouting Builds CharacterBasedontheprincipleofduty
toGodandcountry,theScoutingprogramisforallyouth,ages6through21,regardlessofethnicbackground,creed,orphysicalormentalability.IncooperationwithorganizationsliketheAmericanLegion,Scouting
offersawayforyouandotherdedicatedvolunteersofyourPostandcommunitytobringfun,adventure,andleadershipskillstoyoungpeople.Scoutingprovideseffectivecharacterbuilding,citizenshiptraining,andpersonalfitnessopportunitiesforyouth.AtthefirstNationalConventionofthe
AmericanLegion,heldinMinneapolis,Minnesota,in1919,theLegionvotedapprovalandsupporttotheScoutingmovement.PostsbegantosponsorScoutunitsimmediatelyfollowingthatconvention.Organizedguidanceandcooperationdidnottakeplace,however,until1922,whenScoutingwasincludedintheactivitiesoftheAmericanismCommission.Approximately2,500AmericanLegionPosts,AuxiliaryUnits,andSALSquadronscharterScoutunitsthatservemorethan77,000youngmenandwomen.BoyScoutingencouragesboystodevelopphysical,
mental,andemotionalfitnessandtoadoptandlivebymeaningfulpersonalstandardsasacornerstoneforsuccessinlife.ThesevaluesincludethebasicprinciplesintheScoutOathandLaw.
TheAmericanLegionScoutingSquareKnotAwardisdesignedtorecognizeAmericanLegion,AmericanLegionAuxiliary,orSons
ofTheAmericanLegionmemberswhoareactivelyinvolvedintheScoutingprogram.ItspurposeistorecognizededicationandworkbythemembertoassistinfurtheringtheScoutingprograminTheAmericanLegion.Formoreinformation,contactTheAmericanLegion,A/C&YDivision,P.O.Box1055,Indianapolis,IN46206,[email protected].
03-174BBoy Scouts of America2008 Printing 03-174B
03-174.indd 6-1 2/8/08 1:18:35 PM
Boy ScoutingPURPOSE.BoyScoutingencouragesboystodevelopphysical,mental,andemotionalfitnessandtoadoptandlivebymeaningfulpersonalstandardsasacornerstoneforsuccessinlife.ThesevaluesincludethebasicprinciplesintheScoutOathandLaw.
PROgRAM. BoyScoutslearntodeveloppersonalstrengthsbyexampleandthroughhands-onexperi-ence.Activitiesincludefitnessandleadershiptrain-ing,wildernessadventures,andmeritbadgeincentivesforboysmasteringhobbyandcareerskills.Scoutingencouragesboystoexpandandtesttheirpersonalinitiative,courage,andresourcefulness.
MEthODS. BoyScoutslearnsomeoflife’smoreseriouslessonswhilehavingfun.Boyslearnaboutimportantvalues,suchashelpingyourselfbyhelp-ingothers,andhonoringthebasicrightsofothers.BoyScouting’sactivelearningexperiencesincludehiking,camping,andotheroutdoorexpeditions;competitiveindividualandteamsportsactivities;andcommunityorreligiousserviceprojects.ManyBoyScoutsfirstpracticebasicleadership,self-government,andcitizenshipskillsduringregulartroopcampoutsandmeetings.
VenturingVenturingisaneffectivecoedyoung-adultprogramdesignedtoimprovecharacter,citizenship,andfitness.Venturersexerciseleadership,citizenship,fitness,social,outdoor,andcommunityserviceendeavors.Venturingprovidesavarietyofchallengingactivitiestoteachyoungpeopleages14–20thereal-worldmeaningofvalues,ethicaldecisionmaking,andlifeskills.Venturingteachesleadershipandproblem-solvingskillstohelpyouthsmatureintoconfident,successfuladults.Venturingcrewsorganizearoundaspecialvocationorinterestoftheyouthmembers.Thespecialtyclustersincludeoutdoors,sports,arts/hobbies,youthministry,andSeaScouting.
Cub ScoutingPURPOSE. TheBoyScoutsofAmericacreatedCubScoutingin1930tohelpadvancethecharacterdevelopmentandspiritualgrowthofyoungboys.ThiscentralmissionofCubScoutingmightbeevenmoreimportanttoboysgrowingupinthe1990sthanitwasforthefirstCubScoutsmorethan60yearsago.
PROgRAM. LocalCubScoutingactivitiesinvolvetheparents,adultleaders,andfriendsofCubScoutsinhome-centeredprogramsthatteachlifeskills,habits,values,andattitudesconsistentwiththeinterestsoftheirchurchandcommunity.MillionsofboysandtheirfamiliesparticipateinCubScouting,thelargestofthethreeBoyScoutsofAmericamembershipdivisions.
MEthODS.CubScoutingencourageseachboytostriveforhispersonalbest,alessonthatwillhelphimachievesuccessasheentersBoyScouting—andthroughouthisadultlife.CubScoutactivitiesencouragecharacterdevelopment,physicalcoordina-tion,familyunity,andenthusiasmforlearning.CubScoutinghelpsboysdevelopasenseofteamwork,achievement,self-confidence,andrespectforothers.LearningtomasternewskillshelpstheCubScoutrealizehisownabilitiesanddiscoverthathiscan-doattitudeisthefirstsignofsuccessinanyendeavor.Infact,that’stheCubScoutmotto:DOYOURBEST.
Legion Scholarship ProgramsTheAmericanLegionLifeInsurance
CommitteeprovidesannuallyforanationalscholarshiptobeawardedtotheEagleScoutwhoisselectedthe“American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year.”Thewinneriseligibletoreceivea$10,000scholarshiptobeawardedoverafour-yearperiod.Threeadditionalscholarshipsof$2,500eacharealsoawarded.Eligibilityrequirements
specifythatanomineemustbearegistered,activememberofaBoyScouttroop,VarsityScoutteam,orVenturingcrewcharteredtoanAmericanLegionPost,AmericanLegionAuxiliaryUnit,orSonsoftheAmericanLegionSquadron,orbearegistered,activememberofadulycharteredBoyScouttroop,VarsityScoutteam,orVenturingcrewandthesonorgrandsonofaLegionnaireorAuxiliarymember;havereceivedtheEagleScoutAward;beanactivememberofhisreligiousinstitutionandhavereceivedtheappropriateBoyScoutreligiousemblem;havedemonstratedpracticalcitizenshipinchurch,school,Scouting,andcommunity;havereachedhis15thbirthday;andbeenrolledinhighschoolatthetimeofselection.Furtherinformationontheselection
processandanominationapplicationcanbeobtainedfromtheNationalAmericanismCommission,AmericanLegion,P.O.Box1055,Indianapolis,IN46206-1055,ore-mailacy@legion.org.TheapplicationcanalsobedownloadedfromtheAmericanLegionWebsiteatwww.legion.org.
03-174.indd 2-5 2/8/08 1:18:43 PM