Boy Scouts

Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant general in the British Army, held the first Scouting encampment on Brownsea Island in England. Baden-Powell wrote the principles of Scouting in Scouting for Boys (London, 1908), based on his earlier military books, with influence and support of Frederick Russell Burnham (Chief of Scouts in British Africa),Ernest Thompson Seton of the Woodcraft Indians, William Alexander Smith of the Boys' Brigade, and his publisher Pearson.

181 NASA astronauts were involved in Scouting, and 39 are Eagle Scouts

green and gold

The Boy Scouts were founded because Baden-Powell saw a need for getting youth involved and motivated after seeing the conditions they were living in urban London. He discovered that some youth took his military manual on scouting and were using it themselves. So he worked on a scheme to create "Scouting for Boys," tested it out on Brownsea Island in 1907 taking 22 youth form various socio-economic and living areas across England to try out his idea, and the rest is history.

35th President - John F. Kennedy (First Boy Scout to be President - Star Scout)

38th President - Gerald Ford (First and only Eagle Scout so far)

42nd President - William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton (Cub Scout)

43rd President - George W. Bush (Cub Scout)

44th President - Barak Obama (Gerakan Pramuka; The Indonesian Scout Association)(Not BSA but equivalent to Cub Scout)

Scout, Tenderfoot second class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle.

The "Super Achiever" or "Heavy Shoulder Award" is an informal distinction bestowed by the Pack on WEBELOS scouts that earn all 20 activity pins. Since it is not an actual BSA badge or award I doubt there are any statistics available.

My personal experience is that it is about 5-10% of bridging WEBELOS (finishing Cub Scouts and moving to Boy Scouts) with about half or less of all Cub Scouts bridging.

The BSA maintains records of all Eagle Scouts, but it is not accessible online. You can contact them at:

Eagle Scout Service Center

Boy Scouts of America

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

PO Box 152079

Irving, TX 75015-2079

(972)580-2000

They should wear their merit badge sashes. OA sashes are generally not worn.

Robert Baden-Powell started the Scouting Movement (Boy Scouts) in 1908 because of his experiences in the British Army. He felt that boys could benefit from the Scout method, a program of informal education and practical activities such as camping, hiking, sports, backpacking, aquatics, and woodcraft.

Many groups of girls began forming their own troops and one group of girls attended a Boy Scout rally in 1909 calling themselves "Scouts". Robert Baden-Powell felt that girls should have their own organization so he chose the name "Girl Guides" and asked his sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, to help found the Girl Guide organization in 1910. Some organizations have chosen to use "Girl Scouts" instead of "Girl Guides".

Yes, Neil Armstrong became an Eagle Scout in 1947; he also has the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and Silver Buffalo Award.

Service patrols in Boy Scouts handle the rituals at boy scout meetings. These rituals include the opening flag ceremony, reciting the oath and law at the start and end of the meeting, and policing the area after the meeting to leave it as good as, or better than they found it.

In Cub Scout packs, Akela is a symbol of wisdom, authority, and leadership. Akela is anyone who acts as a leader to the Scout. Akela can be a Cubmaster, Den Leader, parent or teacher depending on where the guidance takes place. In den meetings, it is the Den Leader who is Akela. During pack meetings it is the Cubmaster. At home, the parents fill this role.

An assistant patrol leader is an appointed leader that is designated by their patrol leader. They respond only to the patrol leader, who then responds up to the higher ranks themselves.

William Howard Taft was the first Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America in 1911.

John F. Kennedy was the first president who had been a Scout as a youth. He was a member of Troop 2 in Bronxville, New York from 1929 to 1931, attaining the rank of Star Scout. JFK was active in the Boston Council from 1946 to 1955 as district vice chairman, member of the executive board and representative to the National Council.

Gerald Ford is the only Eagle Scout President.

It depends on how you define "paramilitary". Yes, they have a hierarchy, with ranks and positions, much like the military and paramilitary organizations. They wear uniforms with distinctive unit insignia and accolades that the individual received based on merit or from positions held previously, also like a para/military organization. However, the boys are not taught drill, maneuvers, martial arts, or go to a training camp. The BSA also has an agreement with the United States military says that any man that has reached the rank of Eagle Scout in the BSA can and regularly promoted to E-2 in the military. In conclusion, the Boy Scouts are a paramilitary organization, but in the very loosest sense of the word.

States cannot force associations to accept all members. [Gradpoint]

The initials, WWW (Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui) translates as The Brotherhood of Cheerful Service, in the language of the native American Lenni Lenape tribe. WWW also stands for We Work Willingly.

The Arrow of Light award is sewn centered and just under the left shirt pocket on the Boy Scout uniform.