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A similar but entirely separate group is the [[Girl Scouts]], founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Lowe.

A similar but entirely separate group is the [[Girl Scouts]], founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Lowe.

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based [[youth]] development organizations. It promotes fun, educational skills, [[survival]] skills and activities identified with [[manliness]]. <ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About.aspx About the BSA]</ref> The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to [[preparedness|prepare]] young people to make [[ethical]] and [[moral]] choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the [[values]] of the [[#The Scout Oath & Law|Scout Oath and Law]].<ref name=overview>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/OverviewofBSA.aspx Overview of Boy Scouts of America]</ref> National headquarters is in Irving, Texas.

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based [[youth]] development organizations. It promotes fun, educational skills, [[survival]] skills and activities identified with [[manliness]].<ref>[http://www.scouting.org/About.aspx About the BSA]</ref> The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to [[preparedness|prepare]] young people to make [[ethical]] and [[moral]] choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the [[values]] of the [[#The Scout Oath & Law|Scout Oath and Law]].<ref name=overview>[http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/OverviewofBSA.aspx Overview of Boy Scouts of America]</ref> National headquarters is in Irving, Texas.

==History==

==History==

The first Boy Scout troop in the United States was founded in Pawhuska, [[Oklahoma]], in May 1909, by Anglican priest John Forbes Mitchell while on assignment for the [[Church of England]].  It was the first international charter of the British [[Boy Scouts]]. William Dickson Boyce (1859-1929) incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.<ref>http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/BSA_History.aspx</ref>

The first Boy Scout troop in the United States was founded in Pawhuska, [[Oklahoma]], in May 1909, by Anglican priest John Forbes Mitchell while on assignment for the [[Church of England]].  It was the first international charter of the British [[Boy Scouts]]. William Dickson Boyce (1859-1929) incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.<ref>http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/BSA_History.aspx</ref>

The programs were largely copied from the British models set out by [[Sir Robert Baden-Powell]], who began both the non-competitive merit badge system to encourage development in diverse skills, and the rank advancement system to encourage core skills. Even more important was the [[Social Gospel]] influence of "muscular Christianity" promulgated by the [[YMCA]] in the Era of the [[Third Great Awakening]], 1910-30.<ref>Clifford Putney, ''Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920'' (2001) </ref>  

The programs were largely copied from the British models set out by [[Sir Robert Baden-Powell]], who began both the non-competitive merit badge system to encourage development in diverse skills, and the rank advancement system to encourage core skills. Even more important was the [[Social Gospel]] influence of "muscular Christianity" promulgated by the [[YMCA]] in the Era of the [[Third Great Awakening]], 1910-30.<ref>Clifford Putney, ''Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920'' (2001)</ref>  

The new Boy Scouts of America quickly merged with the Woodcraft Indians, founded by Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946); and the Sons of Daniel Boone, led by Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941).  Seton became the BSA's first Chief Scout (1910-1915), and Beard the National Scout Commissioner of the United States.

The new Boy Scouts of America quickly merged with the Woodcraft Indians, founded by Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946); and the Sons of Daniel Boone, led by Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941).  Seton became the BSA's first Chief Scout (1910-1915), and Beard the National Scout Commissioner of the United States.

===Defining America's greatness===

===Defining America's greatness===

Many presidents have praised and addressed the Boy Scouts over the years.  President [[Calvin Coolidge]] told Scouts in 1924 that the three fundamentals of scouthood are reverence for nature, for the law and for God.<ref> [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=24184 Coolidge, "Telephone Remarks to a Group of Boy Scouts," July 25, 1924]</ref>   

Many presidents have praised and addressed the Boy Scouts over the years.  President [[Calvin Coolidge]] told Scouts in 1924 that the three fundamentals of scouthood are reverence for nature, for the law and for God.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=24184 Coolidge, "Telephone Remarks to a Group of Boy Scouts," July 25, 1924]</ref>   

"There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer....Resolve that the sacrifices by which your great opportunities have been purchased will be matched by a sacrifice, on your part, that will give your children even a better chance....Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan."

"There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer....Resolve that the sacrifices by which your great opportunities have been purchased will be matched by a sacrifice, on your part, that will give your children even a better chance....Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan."

===Rank of Eagle Scout===

===Rank of Eagle Scout===

The highest rank that may be attained by a Boy Scout is that of [[Eagle Scout]], which 2% of Scouts nationwide earn. <ref>http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0410/d-news.html</ref> One of the requirements for this rank is leading a service project to benefit either the [[community]] at large, or a specific non-profit organization, such as a school or a church. Other requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges (including 12 predetermined ones), being active in the troop for a minimum amount of time, holding a position of leadership within one's troop, and appearing before a Board of Review. All of the requirements for an Eagle Board of Review must be completed before a candidate's 18th birthday (although exceptions may be made for Scouts with mental disabilities), although the Board of Review may occur after this date.  Some notable Eagle Scouts include:<ref>[http://www.nesa.org/PDF/NotableEagleScouts.pdf Notable Eagle Scouts (PDF)], nesa.org.</ref>

The highest rank that may be attained by a Boy Scout is that of [[Eagle Scout]], which 2% of Scouts nationwide earn.<ref>http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0410/d-news.html</ref> One of the requirements for this rank is leading a service project to benefit either the [[community]] at large, or a specific non-profit organization, such as a school or a church. Other requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges (including 12 predetermined ones), being active in the troop for a minimum amount of time, holding a position of leadership within one's troop, and appearing before a Board of Review. All of the requirements for an Eagle Board of Review must be completed before a candidate's 18th birthday (although exceptions may be made for Scouts with mental disabilities), although the Board of Review may occur after this date.  Some notable Eagle Scouts include:<ref>[http://www.nesa.org/PDF/NotableEagleScouts.pdf Notable Eagle Scouts (PDF)], nesa.org.</ref>

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::The BSA reaffirmed its view that an avowed homosexual cannot serve as a role model for the traditional moral values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law and that these values cannot be subject to local option choices.

::The BSA reaffirmed its view that an avowed homosexual cannot serve as a role model for the traditional moral values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law and that these values cannot be subject to local option choices.

Starting in the late 1990s this led to several high profile lawsuits, such as the one brought by the [[ACLU]] of San Diego<ref>http://www.aclusandiego.org/boy_scouts/boy_scouts_082800.html</ref>, which proposes that the discriminatory practices of the organization should make them ineligible for the use of public funds or public lands.

Starting in the late 1990s this led to several high profile lawsuits, such as the one brought by the [[ACLU]] of San Diego,<ref>http://www.aclusandiego.org/boy_scouts/boy_scouts_082800.html</ref> which proposes that the discriminatory practices of the organization should make them ineligible for the use of public funds or public lands.

The homosexual cases culminated in the [[Supreme Court]]'s Dale decision in 2000, which ruled that as a private organization, the Scouts were entitled to choose their own members. The ACLU lost, but as noted by Robert Bork Jr., spokesman for the BSA and son of the former Supreme Court nominee [[Robert Bork]], the ACLU "has been trying ever since to have the Scouts expelled from the public square." [[Gay rights activist]]s in dozens of cities have persuaded [[United Way]] to stop supporting the Scouts.  

The homosexual cases culminated in the [[Supreme Court]]'s Dale decision in 2000, which ruled that as a private organization, the Scouts were entitled to choose their own members. The ACLU lost, but as noted by Robert Bork Jr., spokesman for the BSA and son of the former Supreme Court nominee [[Robert Bork]], the ACLU "has been trying ever since to have the Scouts expelled from the public square." [[Gay rights activist]]s in dozens of cities have persuaded [[United Way]] to stop supporting the Scouts.  

In 2013, the Boy Scouts of America lifted its ban on gay youth. In 2015, the organization lifted its ban on gay leaders. <ref.[http://www.latimes.com/la-na-nn-boy-scouts-gay-leaders-20150713-story.html#page=1 "Boy Scouts of America moves to stop banning gay troop leaders," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 13, 2015.]</ref>

In 2013, the Boy Scouts of America lifted its ban on gay youth. In 2015, the organization lifted its ban on gay leaders. <ref.[http://www.latimes.com/la-na-nn-boy-scouts-gay-leaders-20150713-story.html#page=1 "Boy Scouts of America moves to stop banning gay troop leaders," ''Los Angeles Times,'' July 13, 2015.]</ref>

[[Atheist]] Scouts have also been removed from the organization on the basis of the twelfth point of the Scout Law being "reverent". <ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/116/story_11619_1.html</ref>

[[Atheist]] Scouts have also been removed from the organization on the basis of the twelfth point of the Scout Law being "reverent".<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/116/story_11619_1.html</ref>

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Preparedness|"Be Prepared"]]

* [[Preparedness|"Be Prepared"]]

* [[Boy Scouts]], for international perspective

* [[Boy Scouts]], for international perspective

*  Boy Scouts of America. ''Handbook for scout masters'' (1914)  352 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=pEcqAAAAYAAJ&dq=intitle:boy+intitle:scouts&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3 online edition]

*  Boy Scouts of America. ''Handbook for scout masters'' (1914)  352 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=pEcqAAAAYAAJ&dq=intitle:boy+intitle:scouts&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3 online edition]

   

   

==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://www.scouting.org/scouting.aspx Boy Scouts of America] - Home

* [http://www.scouting.org/scouting.aspx Boy Scouts of America] - Home

* [http://www.scouting.org/About/Research/ValuesofAmericans.aspx Values of Americans] - BSA

* [http://www.scouting.org/About/Research/ValuesofAmericans.aspx Values of Americans] - BSA