Used broadly, citizenship means the Scout’s relationship to others. The Scout comes to learn of their obligations to other people, to the society they lives in, to the government that presides over that society.
Scouting works toward three aims. One is growth in moral strength and character. We may define this as what the scout is to their self: their personal qualities, their values, their outlook.
Fitness includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage, and self-respect).
Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a Scout accept the leadership roles of others and guides them toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of 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.
For more than 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.
The Boy Scouts of 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.
Since 1910, Scouting has helped mold the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes and, through more than 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:
Cub Scouting is fun for the whole family. In Scouting, boys and girls start with their best right now selves and grow into their very best future selves. It’s fun, hands-on learning and achievement that puts kids in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life.
Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting experience for youth in the fifth grade through high school. Service, community engagement and leadership development become increasingly important parts of the program as youth lead their own activities and work their way toward earning Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.
Venturing is an inclusive program of the Boy Scouts of America for males and females ages 14 to 21 (or 13 and completed the eighth grade).
The Venturing program emphasizes:
Venturing enables you to:
This program is operated through local Venturing crews, units made up of youth members and adult Advisors that meet regularly and plan activities and events. To find a crew near you, visit BeAScout.org.
Absolutely! There are tons of organizations in neighborhoods throughout the Atlanta area that sponsor Scout Troops. Scouts meet at service organizations, places of worship, schools, and more, all within a comfortable distance to your home
Scouting is a family activity! You will have the opportunity to take a role in leading your child’s experience – and we’re here to help you become the best leader you can be with training, online resources and support from our Program Center.
Every volunteer leader is required to go through a rigorous background check and Youth Protection Training process that ensures your child will be in a safe and fun program. The Atlanta Area Council provides many training opportunities for our leaders to enhance the program they deliver and increase the skills they can pass onto our Scouts
Lots of youth take part in Scouting along with a variety of other activities like sports, music, academic interests, and more. These programs all work together with Scouting to provide your child with a balance of adult role models and experiences!
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations, providing programs for young people that build character, train them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and develop personal fitness. We believe that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible and productive society. Through our four primary programs we strive to develop and train future leaders of all ages. Contact Us
Leave this world a little better than you found it.
— Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scout Movement
