Boy Scout Troop 21

WELCOME

WHAT IS SCOUTING

CONTACT

LEADERSHIP

CALENDAR

ADVANCEMENT

GUIDEBOOK

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

PHOTOS

2010 JAMBOREE NEWS

Chartered by Peace United Methodist Church

801 Maple Grove Drive

Fredericksburg, VA 22407

(540) 786-8585

Pastor David Erickson

What is Boy Scouting?

Boy Scouting is the original program of the Boy Scouts of America which was officially organized in 1910. Boy Scouting in America is directly based on a program conceived of and designed by Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell in 1907. Lord Baden-Powell took a diverse group of young men on a camping trip to Brown Sea Island off the English coast in 1907 to test his ideas and theories, and from that experiment, the Scouting movement was born. Almost 100 years later, the mission of the Boy Scouts of America, the aims of the Boy Scout program, and the methods used to achieve those aims have remained the same.  Scouting is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10, or who are 11, but not yet 18 years old.

   Top 10 Reasons Why Parents Like Scouting 

     Top 10 Reasons Why Boys Like Scouting

The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

The Aims of Scouting

1. Growth in Moral Strength and Character-Helping a boy develop his personal qualities, values, and outlook on life.
2. Participating Citizenship- Helping a boy understand his relationship to and obligations to other people, his community, society, and government.
3. Development of Physical, Mental, and Emotional Fitness-Helping a boy be healthy, be able to use his mind, have self-control, and a positive self-image.

The Methods of Scouting

1. The Ideals-Found in the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan. These ideals are reinforced through every aspect of the Scouting program. It is the hope that these Ideals will become a foundation upon which a Scout lives his daily life.
2. The Patrol Method-As Baden-Powell said, "The patrol is the character school of the individual." These peer groups help boys practice and develop their leadership skills, learn responsibility, and develop an identity.
3. The Outdoors- This is what boys join the program for in the first place. Not only do the outdoors provide fun and excitement, they provide a place for all of the skills, leadership abilities, and attitudes Scouts develop to be put to the test and perfected.
4. Advancement-Boys like to be recognized for their accomplishments. The advancement system does this. It also teaches them valuable skills, helps them set and meet challenges, develop leadership, and may even introduce them to a skill or hobby that they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.
5. Association with Adults-Adults serve as positive role models and can make a profound difference in the life a boy.
6. Personal Growth-Adolescence is a challenging time in a boy's life. Scouting helps boys figure out what their place is in the community, develop their individual outlook on life, and explore their world all in a productive way.
7. Leadership Development-Leadership can only be developed by doing it. Scouting provides a number of practical leadership opportunities for boys to practice and develop these skills.
8. The Uniform-The uniform helps a Scout develop a sense of identity. Any person who puts on a Scout uniform is first and foremost a Scout, no matter what race, religion, or socio-economic class. The uniform is also a place where Scouts show off their achievements.

All Rights Reserved 2010 BSA Troop 21, Fredericksburg, VA 22407