ScoutReach Division

ScoutReach Overview

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The in-school Scouting program for elementary schools was created to ensure that every child who wishes to participate in Scouting has the opportunity to do so, even when circumstances beyond their control would otherwise prevent participation. Built on a strong partnership with schools, this engaging, character-building program is open to all boys and girls.

Traditional after-school Scouting programs often limited participation to only those students who could stay after school, leaving others without access. Integration of Scouting into a school’s broader educational offerings enables greater participation and allows more students to benefit from time-tested values—principles that have supported youth development for over a century.

Deep appreciation is extended to educators who recognize and support Scouting's impact on students. Trained staff members serve as program leaders, delivering a high-quality experience that fosters character development and reflects positively on each participating school.

Target Population

In-school Scouting serves students in grades 1 through 5 who are interested in participating in the program. Participating schools are often located in communities experiencing socioeconomic challenges, may align with United Way ALICE Project guidelines, may have limited or no parental support, or may lack access to a traditional Scouting program in the area. The primary goal is to ensure that every child and family has access to a meaningful Scouting experience.

Principals of ScoutReach schools agree!

92%      Because of Scout's extracurricular activities, such as the anti-bullying program, my students are better able to recognize their own actions as well as those of others.
92% The Scouting curriculum is helping my students build self-esteem
92% My students enjoy the Scouting program.
84% Because Scouting is a character-building program, my students are better able to deal with peer pressure.
 

In-School Scouting Program Qualifying Criteria

To qualify for an in-school Scouting program, schools must commit to providing an ancillary program timeframe, complete an annual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and submit a school roster in place of individual applications. The roster must include each student’s name, date of birth, grade level, and ethnicity. Additional requirements include completion of a biannual survey and assessment, provision of a space large enough to accommodate the largest grade level at one time, and designation of a school employee to serve as the Scouting representative.

Scouting Supports Education

Scouting activities contribute to the academic development of the children who participate. 

In the elementary grades, the program is built around a series of theme-based explorations. As a Cub Scout advances, the requirements get more challenging to match the new skills and abilities they have learned. Cub Scout advancement supports over 80 elementary TEKS. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are the standards that outline what students are to learn in each grade in the state of Texas.

Scouting also helps Scouts develop the 6 Cs of education for the 21st century: critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, communication, creativity, character education, and citizenship. These skills help prepare children for future employment. Employers are looking for creative employees with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to change; the Scouting program helps foster these skills.

The Advancement Program

The advancement program of Scouting is designed to assist each Scout in reaching his or her highest goal. It all begins in the Cub Scout program offered in elementary schools. At the beginning of each school year, the very first rank each new Cub Scout earns, no matter the grade, is the Bobcat Badge. Once this is completed, they quickly begin working on grade-level rank advancements, which is part of the Aims and Methods of Scouting (character, development, leadership development, citizenship training, and personal fitness). Leadership development is also one of Scouting’s eight methods contributing to both good character and good citizenship. The methods used to achieve the aims are listed below in random order to emphasize their equal importance.

Aims of Scouting

The Aims of Scouting are: Character, Citizenship, Personal Fitness, and Leadership

Methods of Scouting

  • Living the Ideals - Cub Scouting’s values are embedded in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Cub Scout motto, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute. These practices help establish and reinforce the program’s values in Scouts and the leaders who guide them.
  • Belonging to a Den - The den is ideally a group of six to eight children who are in the same grade. It is the place where Cub Scouting starts. In the den, Cub Scouts develop new skills and interests, practice sportsmanship and good citizenship, and learn to do their best, not just for themselves but for the den as well.
  • Advancement - Recognition is important to everyone. The advancement plan provides fun for the Scouts, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members and their den leader work with them on advancement projects.
  • Family Involvement - Whether a Cub Scout lives with two parents or one, a foster family, or other relatives, their family is an important part of Cub Scouting. Parents and adult family members provide leadership and support for Cub Scouting and help ensure that Scouts have a good experience in the program.
  • Activities - Cub Scouts participate in a huge array of activities, including games, projects, skits, stunts, songs, outdoor activities, trips, and service projects. Besides being fun, these activities offer opportunities for growth, achievement, and family involvement.
  • Serving the Neighborhood - Cub Scouting focuses on the home and neighborhood. It helps Scouts strengthen connections to their local communities, which in turn supports their growth and development.
  • Uniform - Cub Scout uniforms serve a dual purpose, demonstrating that a Scout is part of a team and showing individual achievement (Scouts wear the badges they’ve earned). Wearing the uniform to meetings and activities also encourages a neat appearance and good behavior.

Positive Effects of Scouting

Some of the specific positive effects of Scouting documented by researchers include:

  • The time that children spent in structured activities such as Scouting has been correlated with higher academic and conduct grades, constructive peer relations, and positive emotional adjustment (Posner and Lowe, 2008).
  • Involvement in activities such as Scouting is correlated with a decrease in delinquency rates (Agnew and Peterson, 1989).
  • The time that children spent in Scouting shows that Scout programs help youth develop a sense of themselves as people who are broadly competent, who can work constructively in groups, and who can complete poorly defined tasks. Youth in Scouting also have an increased sense of obligation to the community and its institutions (Kleinfeld and Shinkwin, 1983).
  • Youth involved in Scouting are identified as demonstrating higher affective and cognitive regard for learning science content (Jarman, 2005).
  • Scouting programs support the growth of developmental assets (Search Institute, 2004).
  • Researchers identified significant differences between Scouts and non-Scouts in these areas: health and recreation, connection to others, service and leadership, environmental stewardship, goal orientation, planning and preparedness, and character. These traits carry over into adulthood (Jang, Johnson, and Kim, 2012).


Scouts as Resources to Schools

Young people involved in Scouting develop skills that can be leveraged in support of overall classroom activities and goals. Some that may be of benefit in your school include the following:

  • Skills: Help lead games and activities, problem-solving
  • Knowledge: Knowledge of science and technology content in real-world context; experience with non-competitive and initiative games
  • Dispositions: Positive self-concept, solution-oriented, independent problem solver, community service orientation, focus on participatory citizenship and stewardship
  • Service: Scouts are expected to provide service to the community, including the schools the boys attend. Any request you have for acts of service to support your school (grounds beautification, opening ceremony for school events, grounds cleanup, help at school carnivals, and the like) will be acted upon by the pack leaders and the youth in the Cub Scout pack. 

Scouting Teaches Life Skills

Scouting provides youth with skills that help them cope. Youth say Scouting has taught them to: (Harris Interactive research study, 2005)

  • Always give their best effort
  • Always be honest
  • Treat others with respect
  • Set goals
  • Stay physically fit
  • Take care of the environment

Lifelong Benefits of Scouting

"Be Prepared" is more than just a motto for Scouts; it's a way of life. Scouting offers a wide array of programs for lifelong learning that prepare youth for success. In fact, Scouts: (Harris Interactive research study, 2005)

  • Earn higher annual household incomes
  • Value family relationships highly
  • Have lifelong friendships
  • Believe helping others should come before one's own self-interest
  • There have been real-life situations in which having been a Scout helped them to be a better leader.


Scouting and Academic Performance

A CAC council survey conducted showed:3

  • 99% of Scouts advanced to the next grade in school
  • 96% earned A's and B's in school, including 92% of ScoutReach youth
  • 94% say that Scouting will help them get into college
  • 96% say that Scouting will help them get a good job in the future
  • Scouts graduate from high school (91% versus 87%)1
  • Scouts graduate from college (35% versus 19%)1

 

Scouting Builds Positive Character

A study at Tufts University showed strong evidence that participation in Scouting supports the development of pro-social behaviors, career goals, tolerant beliefs, and positive character attributes (Lerner, et al., 2015).

  • Scouts reported significant increases in six critical areas versus non-Scouts: cheerfulness, kindness, hopeful future expectations, trustworthiness, helpfulness, obedience
  • Scouts were more likely than non-Scouts to embrace positive social values. Ask a Scout what’s most important to him, and he was more likely to respond with answers like “helping others” or “doing the right thing.” Ask a non-Scout the same thing, and he was likely to say “being smart,” “being the best” or “playing sports.”
  • Scouts who attend meetings regularly report higher trustworthiness, helpfulness, kindness, and thriftiness, higher levels of hopeful future expectation and self-regulation, better grades, and a better connection with nature vs. Scouts who sometimes or rarely attended. (summary)

Leadership and Citizenship Training

  • Scouting encourages Scouts to take responsibility
  • Scouting teaches Scouts new interests and skills
  • Scouting provides multiple leadership opportunities
  • Scouts learn to be a good team player
  • Scouting influences Scout to always be honest
  • Scouts learn to take better care of the environment
  • Scouting influences Scouts to respect the life and property of others
  • Scouting teaches Scouts to have pride in their country
  • Eagle Scouts are more likely to have held a leadership position in their local community2
  • Eagle Scouts are more likely to agree they work hard to get ahead2



Contact

Marisol Gonzalez

ScoutReach Administrator

Mauro Frank De La Cerda

North Area Manager

George Valencia

South Area Manager