Vision and Mission
BSA 914 l Dallas, TX
Vision
Our Vision is prepare every eligible youth in America to become a
responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath
and Law.
Mission
Our 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 Law.
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is:
- Trustworthy
- Loyal
- Helpful
- Friendly
- Courteous
- Kind
- Obedient
- Cheerful
- Thrifty
- Brave
- Clean
- Reverent
Scout Motto
Be Prepared
Virtually every Scouting organization uses a variant of this motto
(often translated as "Always Ready"). Our Scouting in Every Country
page shows the Motto for almost every Scouting country.
Scout Slogan
Do a Good Turn Daily
While many Scout organizations don't have an official slogan, the
concept of the daily Good Turn is universal in Scouting.
The Outdoor Code
As an American, I will do my best to -
• Be clean in my
outdoor manners.
• Be careful with
fire.
• Be considerate in
the outdoors.
• Be conservation
minded
The Outdoor Code
Details
• Be clean in my
outdoor manners.
I will treat the outdoors as a heritage.
I will take care of it for myself and others
I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields,
woods, and roadways.
• Be careful with
fire.
I will prevent wildfire.
I will build my fires only where they are appropriate.
When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold
out.
I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire.
• Be considerate in
the outdoors.
I will treat public and private property with respect.
I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.
and
• Be conservation
minded
I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters,
forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy.
I will urge others to do the same.
Boy Scout Aims and
Methods
AIMS
• Growth in moral strength and
character
• Participating citizenship
• Development in physical, mental, and
emotional fitness
Boy Scouting works towards three aims. One is growth in moral
strength and character. We may define this as what the boy is himself; his
personal qualities, his values, his outlook.
A second is participating citizenship. Used broadly, citizenship
means the boy's relationship to others. He comes to learn obligations to other
people, to the society he lives in, and to the government that presides over
that society.
A third aim of Boy Scouting is development of physical, mental,
and emotional fitness. 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).
The methods are designed to accomplish these aims. Thus it is
important that you know and use the methods of Boy Scouting. Other methods are
good, but they may bring different results -- results quite different than we
are seeking.
METHODS
Advancement
Self-reliance-ability to help others-challenge
Ideals
Oath - Law - Motto - Slogan
Patrols
Peer groups-elected representation-activities
Outdoors
All outdoor programs
Adult Association
Image-role model-example
Personal Growth
Good Turn-service projects-religious emblems
Leadership Development
Leadership skills and practice-citizenship
Uniform
Commitment to aims-identity
Advancement
Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to
overcome them through the advancement method. The Scout plans his advancement
and progresses at his own pace as he overcomes each challenge. The Scout is
rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps
in the advancement system help a boy grow in self-reliance and the ability to
help others.
Ideals
The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law,
motto, and slogan. The Scout measures himself against these ideals and
continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them he
has some control over what he becomes.
Patrols
The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and
participating citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on
young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows
Scouts to act in small groups where they easily can relate to each other. These
small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.
Outdoors
Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoors
that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with each other. It is
here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with
purpose.
Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for God's
handiwork and mankind's place in it. The outdoors is the laboratory for Scouts
to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.
Adult Association
Boys learn from the examples set by their adult leaders. Troop
leadership may be male or female, and association with adults of high character
is encouraged at this stage of a young man's development.
Personal Growth
As Scouts plan their activities, and progress towards their goals,
they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the
personal growth method of Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community
service projects and do Good Turns for others. There probably is no device so
successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn.
The religious emblems program is also a large part of the personal
growth method. Frequent conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Scout to
determine growth toward Scouting's aims.
Leadership Development
Boy Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice leadership
skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total
leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy
accept the leadership roles of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim
of Scouting.
Uniform
The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a force for good and
creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action
program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout's
commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout
identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals.
The uniform is practical attire for Scout activities, and provides
a way for Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.