THE ADVENTURE OF SCOUTING

"It is easier to build a boy than to repair a man..."

Lord Robert Baden-Powell
Founder of the World Scouting Movement

Scouting, A Values Based Program... Scouting offers boys an environment in which everyone can feel secure both physically and emotionally. The goal of the Boy Scouts of America is to help boys develop into honorable men. Scouting values can be incorporated into a boy’s home, school, and religious community, adding to all three and in some cases, filling in where support is lacking.

Character Development... Scouts will have many opportunities
to learn skills of leadership, of the outdoors, and of life. Each boy
decides what he will learn and how quickly he will do it. As he
progresses, the value of his achievements will be reinforced through
recognition, advancement in rank, positions of leadership and
accomplishments during outdoor adventures. Character
encompasses a boy’s personal qualities, values and outlook.

The Scouting Program strives to help boys grow in many ways:

• He becomes confident but not conceited.


• He is honest with himself and others.


• He can be counted on to do his best, even in difficult times.


• He develops special skills and interests.


• He practices his religious beliefs.


• He respects other people regardless of their differences.

The Aims of Scouting... Every Scout activity moves a boy toward
three basic aims:

• Moral strength and character development
• Citizenship training
• Developing mental, physical and emotional fitness (personal fitness)

The Methods of Scouting... Troop 403 utilizes eight fundamental methods to meet our scouts' hope for fun and adventure, and to achieve Scouting's aims of encouraging character development, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness:

The Ideals

Click here - BSA Scout Oath, Scout Law, Motto, Slogan & Outdoor Code

The Patrol Method - Gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through elected representatives.

The Outdoors - Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. In the outdoors the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. The outdoors is the laboratory in which Boy Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.

Advancement - Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.

Adult Association - Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.

Personal Growth - As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is as successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims.

Leadership Development - The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

The Uniform - The uniform makes the Boy 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 Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished. Click Text Here