The Boy Scouts of America is one of the country’s most respected institutions. While nearly everyone is familiar with its work, far fewer are aware of its long history.
In 1907, a lieutenant general in the British Army, Robert Baden-Powell, wrote a book for boys about reconnaissance and scouting. That summer he tested out the book’s ideas by holding a camp on Brownsea Island in England. This camp and his book “Scouting for Boys” mark the beginning of the international scout movement.
The characteristics of this movement included emphasis on spiritual, mental and physical development, practical outdoor activities like camping and hiking and the wearing of a uniform to mask differences in social status.
In 1909, an American publisher, W.D. Boyce, was visiting London and got lost in its notorious fog. A boy came to his aid but refused a tip for his help, explaining that he was a Boy Scout and just doing his good deed for the day.
Boyce was so impressed that the following year he incorporated an American version of the organization in this country. Its stated purpose was to teach boys patriotism, courage, self-reliance and related values. In 1916, it was granted a Congressional Charter, a rare honor that gives special privileges under the law.
In 1913, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the first partner to sponsor scouting in the United States. Today that church is the largest sponsoring organization of BSA with more than 430,000 boys and young men enrolled – nearly a fifth of the total national membership.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the LDS-BSA affiliation, and it was observed with a special ceremony in Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 29. The event, “A Century of Honor,” was broadcast nationwide and is available online at www.scouts.lds.org.
Featured on the program are Scout choirs, historical vignettes and videos highlighting important events, service and achievements of the past century. Scouts and former Scouts of all ages shared touching memories of what their participation has meant to them.
Local Scouts belong to the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council, with more than 23,000 boys and young men involved in San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. There are three major divisions of scouting today:
• Cub Scouts: Boys in first- through fifth-grades who participate in activities like camping, hiking, building and racing model cars, attending den and pack meetings.
• Boy Scouts: Boys 10 through 18 years old who learn outdoor survival skills and leadership and participate in community service projects.
• Explorers: Boys and girls 16 through 20 years old who, with supervision, investigate careers such as law enforcement, firefighting, engineering and medicine.
On Nov. 7, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Morgan Hill Stake Center held an open house devoted to Scouting. More than 150 Scouts, leaders and parents were in attendance to celebrate the centennial. They viewed the broadcast and had activities and displays for their various units, including pinewood derby races for Cubs, and Scouts and Explorers had displays and video of whitewater rafting, camping, rappelling and backpacking trips.
For more information about the local Boy Scouts of America program, visit www.svmbc.org.
Chuck Flagg is a retired teacher with a passion for religion. Reach him at [email protected].
