Support Scouting by Sponsoring a Unit

With more than four million youth members, Scouting America is one of America’s most popular youth organizations. Youth join Scouting for one primary reason—to have fun! A key to Scouting’s ongoing success is in the fact that the movement recognizes that a youth’s perception of what is fun is constantly changing. In response, the Scouting program has expanded through the years to continuously offer activities and programs that challenge youth both physically and intellectually. For Scouts today, the Scouting difference is that these youth get the opportunity to experience and explore life to its fullest. Perhaps more importantly, while youth have great experiences in Scouting, they gain much more than fun. Scouts learn lessons about life, and the value of being a person of character and integrity. These lessons come through spending significant time and sharing experiences with families, Scout leaders, and fellow Scouts. If your organization is interested in starting a unit, contact juan.hernandez@scouting.org.  


“Families Like Mine” Testimonial Videos

One of the key insights from the Scouting America’s Authenticity Gap study was that despite the fact many American families see value in the Scouting program, they state that it simply is “not for families like mine.” They know Scouting is great. They know it has tremendous impact on youth and communities. But for whatever reason, they don’t think it will work for them.

We strongly believe that Scouting can benefit all families, from all walks of life, and from all backgrounds. The videos below can be used for advertising purposes by councils and districts to demonstrate that Scouting truly is for “families like yours.” The videos feature powerful testimonials from a diverse selection of Scouting families and parents who speak to the way Scouting has benefited their children, their family, and their community.

Lester and Apryl

Lester and Apryl

Hear from Lester and Apryl as they share how Scouting has allowed their boys – one who has autism – to thrive and overcome challenges.  Watch.   Download

Becky

Becky

Watch single mom Becky share how Cub Scouts offered her and her children more than a club or activity. They gained a family in Scouting.  Watch.   Download.

Catherine

Catherine

Scout leader Catherine shares how Scouting has provided her son with the siblings he never had. Hear about Catherine and her son’s experiences in this emotional video.  Watch.   Download. 

Juan (English)

Juan (English)

See the emotional video that gives Scout dad Juan’s perspective on Scouting and how the program has helped him be a better father.  Watch.   Download. 

Juan (Spanish)

Juan (Spanish)

Scouting ha hecho una diferencia increíble para la familia de Juan. Ve este video para escuchar cómo Scouting America influye positivamente en familias como la de él.    Watch.   Download.  

Lydialice

Lydialice

Scout mom Lydialice didn’t just sign her son up for a Cub Scout Pack – she started one. In this video she explains what inspired her and how it’s bettered her family.   Watch.  Download. 

Why Scouting?

For almost 100 years, Scouting programs have instilled in youth the values found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Today, these values are just as relevant in helping youth grow to their full potential as they were in 1910. Scouting helps youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives.

Scouting America provides youth with programs and activities that allow them to

  • Try new things.
  • Provide service to others.
  • Build self-confidence.
  • Reinforce ethical standards.

While various activities and youth groups teach basic skills and promote teamwork, Scouting goes beyond that and encourages youth to achieve a deeper appreciation for service to others in their community.

Scouting provides youth with a sense that they are important as individuals. It is communicated to them that those in the Scouting family care about what happens to them, regardless of whether a game is won or lost.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Scouting promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility and high self-esteem. As a result, when hard decisions have to be made, peer pressure can be resisted and the right choices can be made.

 

 

 

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Since 1910, Scouting has helped mold the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. Scouting America believes and, through nearly a century of experience, understands that helping youth puts us on a path toward a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

Scouting, with programs for young men and women, helps meet these six essential needs of the young people growing up in our society:

Lifelong Learning

People need to learn all through their lives. We live in a society that rewards continual acquisition of skills and knowledge. Scouting provides structured settings where young people can learn new skills and develop habits of continual learning that will help them succeed. From its foundation, Scouting has offered a concrete program of discovering, sharing, and applying knowledge and skills.

Healthy Living

Young people need to be well. To get the most from life, one must be both mentally and physically fit. A commitment to physical wellness has been reflected in Scouting’s outdoor programs such as hiking, camping, swimming, climbing, and conservation. First aid, lifesaving, and safety programs are synonymous with Scouting. Our programs today include strong drug abuse awareness and prevention programs emphasizing the value of healthy living habits.

Building Character

Young people need to know to be good and to do good. Few will argue with the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our children – not only right from wrong, but specific, affirmative values such as fairness, courage, honor, and respect for others. Beginning with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, the Scouting program is infused with character-building activities that allow youth to apply abstract principles to daily living situations.

Mentoring

Young people need mentors. Positive relationships with adults—community and religious leaders and, of course, parents—provide youth with good role models and have a powerful impact on their lives. Young people of every age can benefit from constructive, one-on-one interaction with adults beyond their own families. Scouting provides such adult interaction. We have a process that screens, selects, and trains the leaders who can provide that extra attention all young people need to succeed in life.

Does Scouting Work?

In a groundbreaking two-and-a-half-year study, Dr. Richard M. Lerner and his team at Tufts University surveyed nearly 1,800 Cub Scouts and 400 non-Scouts in the Philadelphia area to analyze the effects of Scouting.

How Scouting Builds Your Organization’s Future

With Scouting America, young people are the future. This means

  • Investing in new and relevant programs like STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
  • Taking youth protection seriously by educating youth members and training volunteers and families about issues like cyberbullying and other abuses
  • Teaching youth and adult volunteers positive life skills that can be used to help combat major societal concerns such as employability, child abuse, the global environmental crisis, lack of faith, obesity, the shifting economy, violence and youth crime, poverty, peer pressure, drug and alcohol abuse, single-parent households, and social isolation

Benefits 

For Your Organization

For Youth

For Adult Volunteers
  • Scouting is a proven program with 100 years to show for it.
  • Scouting is an opportunity to prepare our next generation of leaders.
  • Liability insurance in support of your organization is provided.
  • It helps with team-building attitudes within the organization.
  • It is an exciting opportunity to give back to the community and nation through service projects.
  • Local, regional, and national outdoor camping facilities are available.
  • Local, regional, and national events are options to supplement your program.
  • Extensive literature, training materials, youth protection training, videos, and other resources are available for adults and youth.
  • Outstanding adult and youth leader training courses, including leadership development.
  • Professional and volunteer assistance is available from the council.
  • You become part of a large, friendly family.
  • Scouting is an exciting, challenging program young people can do with friends.
  • The setting lets youth participate in making choices.
  • It is a positive alternative to negative youth activities.
  • Young people have a chance to have a sense of acceptance and belonging to the "right" group.
  • Scouts and Venturers can experience the adventure of adult-like activities in a supervised environment.
  • Scouting develops interpersonal skills that will equip its members for a lifetime.
  • There are real opportunities to try leadership roles and develop leadership skills.
  • It is a positive environment for the transition of youth from dependence to interdependence.
  • Recognition of achievement through the awards and advancement program gives youth a sense of accomplishment.
  • Scouting is an opportunity to work safely with young people.
  • Adults get to participate in a values-based program.
  • Have the satisfaction of seeing young people grow through mentoring and teaching others.
  • Adults are recognized for their commitment and involvement in serving youth.
  • Complete program resources help adults work effectively with youth.
  • It's fun!

 

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Strengthening Youth Through Scouting

Young people need faith. There is abundant evidence that children benefit from the moral compass provided by religious tradition. We acknowledge that faith can become an important part of a child’s identity. Each of the major faiths breeds hope, optimism, compassion, and a belief in a better tomorrow. Scouting encourages each young person to begin a spiritual journey through the practice of his or her faith tradition. One of the key tenets of Scouting is “duty to God.” While Scouting does not define religious belief for its members, it has been adopted by and works with youth programs of all major faiths.



 

 

 

Religious Resources

Scouting Ministry 

African Methodist Episcopal

Armenian Church 

Assemblies of God 

Baptist

 

 

Buddhist Churches of America

Catholic Church

 

 

 

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 

Christian Methodist Episcopal

Churches of Christ for Scouting 

Community of Christ

Church of the Nazarene 

Eastern Orthodox 

Episcopal Church 


 
 


Islamic Society of North America

Jain Association in North America 

Jewish 

 

 

Methodist

Lutheran Church

Moravian Church in N. America

Presbyterian

Salvation Army

SIKHS

United Church of Christ

United Pentecostal Church

Unitarian Universalist Scouters




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Family Scouting

Scouting America’s mission 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.

Our priority is to bring the benefits of Scouting to more youth while remaining true to our mission.

The Cub Scouting program is open to boys and girls. By welcoming both girls and boys into the program, even more youth will have access to the character development and values-based leadership that Scouting promises and be better prepared for future success.

Leadership Policies

  • There is no national restriction on openly gay adult leaders and employees
  • Chartered organizations will continue to select their adult leaders. Religious chartered organizations may continue to use religious beliefs as criteria for selecting adult leaders, including matters of sexuality.
  • Scouting's members and parents may continue to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families
  • The youth membership policy adopted in 2013 is not affected by this resolution and remains unchanged.
  • The ideals and principles of "duty to God" and "a Scout is reverent" set forth in the Scout Oath and Scout Law remain central to Scouting.

Recruiting Leaders

Coming soon.

Leadership Selection

Scouting America takes great pride in the quality of our adult leadership. Being a leader in Scouting America is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. We work closely with our chartered organizations to help recruit the best possible leaders for their units.

The adult application requests background information that should be checked by the unit committee or the chartered organization before accepting an applicant for unit leadership. While no current screening techniques exist that can identify every potential child molester, we can reduce the risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant for a leadership position—his or her experience with children, why he or she wants to be a Scout leader, and what discipline techniques he or she would use.

Youth Protection

Scouting America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Scous  BSA, and Venturing programs. 

Few youth organizations encompass the breadth, volume, and diversity of physical activity common to Scouting, and none enjoy a better safety record. The BSA's Commitment to Safety is ongoing and we want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. Scouting America puts the utmost importance on the safe and healthy environments for its youth membership. The Sam Houston Area Council takes great strides to ensure the safety of its youth as well as the adult volunteer leadership that interacts with them. 

As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in a Scout activity, the National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the National Council have developed the SAFE Checklist of safety procedures for physical activity. These 16 points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities.

 

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Resources

Every pack, troop, crew, and ship belongs to an organization with interests similar to those of Scouting America. This organization, which might be a church, school, community organization, or group of interested citizens, receives a charter from Scouting America to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization provides a suitable meeting place, adult leadership, supervision, and opportunities for a healthy Scouting life for youth under its care. The chartered organization helps the pack by Providing the Scouting program as an integral part of its program for youth and families Ensuring that the Scouting program is conducted according to the policies and regulations of the organization and Scouting America Selecting a chartered organization representative to serve as liaison with the pack Appointing a pack committee Providing adequate and safe facilities for the monthly pack meeting Providing opportunities for youth to recognize responsibility to God, to country, to other people, and to self cooperating with the council in fund-raising through Friends of Scouting (FOS) and the United Way so the Scouting program can operate.

Responsibilities of the Chartered Organization

The primary responsibilities of each chartered organization to its Scouting units include:

  1. Selecting quality leadership for each unit
  2. Providing adequate meeting facilities
  3. Appointing a chartered organization representative for Scouting unit operations.

Resources

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About the Sam Houston Area Council

​The Sam Houston Area Council serves approximately 50,000 youth in 16 counties in Southeast Texas through dedicated service and leadership of approximately 19,000 adult volunteers. Scouting is completely funded by the generosity of those that believe in its mission.

  • Over 1,000 youth earn Scouting's highest rank (Eagle Scout) each year
  • Scouts earn over 35,000 merit badges annually
  • Scouts perform over 300,000 hours of community service annually
  • Scout camp over 70,000 nights each year
  • Annual Reports
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Scouting America

Scouting AmericaScouting America is one of the largest Scouting organizations in the United States and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly one million adult volunteers. Scouting America was founded in 1910, and since then, more than 110 million Americans have been participants in Scouting America programs. Scouting America is part of the international Scouting Movement and became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922.

The goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in various 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, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through various activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking. To further these outdoor activities, there are four high-adventure bases: Northern Tier (Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario), Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Florida), and Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia).

The traditional Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for children ages 7 to 11 years, Scouts BSA for youth ages 11 to 18, and Venturing for young men and women ages 14 (or 13 and having completed the 8th grade) through 21. Learning for Life is a non-traditional subsidiary that provides in-school and career education. Beginning in 2018, girls have the opportunity to join Cub Scout dens, and in 2019, programs for older girls will make it possible to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

For more information on Scouting America, please consult the following resources:

Mission Statement

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 Law.

Vision

Scouting America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.

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Why Become a Chartered Organization?

  • Scouting provides a unique opportunity for chartered organizations to bring stronger service to the community while offering fun and adventure to their own youth and families.
  • By working together, your organization and Scouting can combine time and other resources that result in stronger, more confident children and more productive families and communities.
  • A relationship with Scouting can also help your organization to fulfill its mission and strengthen its outreach efforts.

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How to Become a Chartered Organization

Families today live hectic lives. Your organization can help parents understand that Scouting makes the most of the little time they have to impact the lives of their children. Scouting is a one-stop shop providing opportunities for personal leadership, physical fitness, mentoring, career exploration, outdoor adventure, positive life skills, fun activities, and values for a lifetime. We would like to help you fulfill your organization’s need to attract more families. 

 

 

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Contact

Contact us to start a pack, troop, crew or ship.

Juan Hernandez

Field Director


Email Juan