Term Paper
on Boy Scouts of America
The main aim of Boy Scouts of America is to provide a program for different
community organizations that offer citizenship, effective character, and
personal fitness training for young people. Thousands of volunteer leaders, both
women and men, are involved in the program of Boy Scouting. They serve in form
of different jobs, including unit leaders, chairmen of troop committees, merit
badge counselors, and committee members (Dennis, 1985).
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Scouting consists of advancement, in which a person learns skills and strategies
of every aspect. Scouts earn the ranks of Beginner Scout, Tenderfoot, Second
Class, First Class, Star Scout, Life Scout, and in the last Eagle Scout. Above
mentioned each group is more in-depth than the one before and with each comes
more responsibilities and more opportunities. These groups of ranks are a study
of nature, camping, first aid, swimming, ropes and knots. Scouts also earn merit
badges. They have a various merit badge for every single topic we can think of.
There are over one-hundred-twenty merit badges. Some include; 3 Citizenship's,
Camping, Environmental Science, Art, Computers, Photography, Backpacking,
Camping, Public Speaking etc. A Scout is required to earn a total of twenty-one
merit badges to become a Scout of Eagle group.
The large and main part of Scouting is helping other people. A piece of the
Scout Oath states "to help others at all times". Scouts take part in various
service and other projects. These projects range from collecting money for poor
people, to cleaning a park, to patrolling a local fair; to serving at a soup
kitchen, the sky is the only limit (Dorothy, 1992).
Rational
The Boy Scouts of America endeavors to develop American citizens who are
mentally, physically, and emotionally perfect; have a good degree of
independence, self-reliance and self-sufficiency as evidenced in such
characteristics as courage, initiative, and resourcefulness; have personal
beliefs and values totally based on religious theories and concepts; have the
wish, sprit, desire and skills to help others citizens of United States of
America; understand the rules and laws of the American economic, social, and
governmental systems; are knowledgeable and educated about and take pride in
their American tradition and understand role of United States in the world; have
a high degree of respect for the primary rights of all citizens; and are fully
prepared and ready to participate in and give leadership to society of United
States of America (Paul, 2000)
Scouting is a world of its own. Boy Scouts are always three steps ahead of
normal citizens. They have the chances to succeed, to fail, to learn, to make
friends, and to develop personal opinions about different things. A Scout of
elite group who become an Eagle is treated by people as someone they can depend
and trust, who has vast knowledge and proven himself as a young man (Jay, 2001).
Type of Group
The type of groups will be “First Class Scout”. Apart from Scout members, group
will also include:
Junior Assistant Scout Master
Junior Assistant Scout Master will work as assistant to Scoutmaster. He should
be at least sixteen years old and the Scoutmaster will directly appoint him
because of his extraordinary leadership skills. He will perform all duties
exactly according to directions of Scoutmaster.
Senior Patrol Leader
Senior Patrol Leader will assist the Scoutmaster in running all Scout
activities. He will be the head of the council of Patrol Leaders and will also
in charge of all Troop officers. Senior Patrol Leader works with Program Patrol
for official closing and opening of every meeting and Service Patrol for storing
and setting up Troop flags and stands. He will be required to attend all
meetings, outings and Courts of Honor or arrange for assistant to take over.
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Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
He will take the responsibilities of Senior Patrol Leader in absence of him or
when called upon. He will also help the Senior Patrol Leader in all outings and
meetings. He will inspect the Troop at weekly meetings and he will also take
weekly attendance. Assistant Senior Patrol Leader will help to supervise and
train the Troop Scribe, Instructors, Quartermaster, Librarian, and Historian. He
will be required to attend all meetings, outings and Courts of Honor.
Troop Guide
The Troop Guide will help new Scouts to feel comfortable and earn their First
Class Scout rank. He will introduce all new Scouts to Troop operations, and will
guide them through their basic learning experiences and activities. He will
teach primary Scout strategies and will assist the Patrol Leader in his duties.
He will work with the Patrol Leader at all Patrol Leaders Council meetings. He
will also shield the new Scouts from harassment or ragging by the senior Scouts.
He will assist the Scoutmaster and Instructors with troop training. He will
counsel all new Scouts on scouting challenges.
Patrol Leader
Patrol Leader will lead the patrol at all outings, meeting and Courts of Honor.
He will be responsible for his equipment and patrol. He will help to train
patrol members in Scout strategies and skills. He will encourage the patrol to
do well and accomplish all desired goals. He will assigns and supervise jobs at
troop activities. He will also steer and plan patrol meetings, he will keep all
patrol members informed about all plans. Patrol Leader will be required to
attend all meetings, outings and Courts of Honor.
Scout Instructor
Scout Instructor will work with First Class Scouts for advancement. He will
teach primary Scouting skills and tactics to the patrols and troop. He will work
directly with an adult advisor for control and guidance. He is also required to
attend all meetings and Courts of Honor. He will be prepared to teach First
Class Scouts at any given time.
Pre-Screening
Applicants will be pre-screened for the program based on their community
service, campus and community involvement, character dependability,
communication skills, history in scouting, leadership experience and ability to
stay away from home. Applicants from the previous year will be preferred during
the admission process.
Membership fees will be $50.00 per year. This fee will include the national
registration fee, advancement awards and a medical insurance. With each outing
there will be some cost associated with it. This cost of an outing depends on
the distance, food costs, camping fees, equipment, rental, patches and medals.
Cost of personal or uniform items, food, and individual participation in camping
trips or special events, is not included in the fees. Each Scout will be
encouraged to earn the required money himself to increase his sense of
responsibility. Scouts will be responsible for payment for lost or damage of
troop equipment entrusted to them.
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Goals and Objectives
Scouting is far more than just fun, hiking, tying knots, sleeping in tents, and
cooking over an open fire. Although these skills are important parts of the
Scouting program, but Scouting program goes far beyond these primary activities.
This Scouting program will include both adventure and service, with actual
emphasis on advancement at all stages of the Scout’s development. The actual
behavior required for a Scout is set forth in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.
Main objective of this program is to teach each Scout the meaning of the Oath
and the Law and to help and guide him to learn how to apply ideal skills in his
regular life. The complete development of a Scout is a very lengthy job. It
comes from advancing in rank, competing with other Scouts, from camping and from
working in and with the troop.
It is will be a main goal that each Scout realizes his highest goals in
Scouting. Each Scout will be given all of the necessary guidance to help him to
achieve his goals. The Scout should be willing to participate, to work, and be
willing to make decisions independently and to accept decisions made by his
group-mates and leaders. Parents too should be willing to give of their
interest, time and encouragement. Not every group member will become a First
Class Scout, but every Scout can realize the ideals of Scouting and can become a
much a better citizen and better person.
Group Rules
Any Scout participating in malicious verbal or physical harassment and
disruptive behavior will be immediately separated and his membership might be
terminated or may be requested to call his guardians or parents to pick him up
early from the meeting. Other rules include:
1. Age should be between 13 and 18 years.
2. No electric items, snacks, sharp knives and hand-held video games will be
allowed.
3. Each Scout will bear the responsibility for administering and maintaining any
prescription medication.
4. The Scout will provide senior Scout leaders with written instructions and
authorization, signed by a parent for any medication carried by the Scout.
5. Scout will carry all medications in the original container.
6. The Scout will carry only a quantity of medication sufficient to last the
duration of the Scouting program.
7. Any Scout who knowingly or intentionally participates in an activity that has
the potential to cause harm will be fined.
8. No bikes and animals will be allowed to take on campouts or to troop
meetings.
9. All Scouts will be required to put name on their belongings.
10. Before each trip Scouts and parents will be required to sign an
authorization form.
Topics and Techniques
Patrols
The patrol technique will give Boy Scouts a good experience of participating and
group living citizenship. It places great responsibility on their shoulders and
teaches them how to accept and handle it. The patrol technique will allow Scouts
to interact in small groups where they can know about others. These small groups
determine troop activities and techniques through their elected representatives
and leaders (David, 1978)
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Ideals
The ideals of Scouting are clearly specified in the Scout Law, the Scout Oath,
the Scout slogan and the Scout motto. All Boy Scout will measure themselves
against these ideals and will continually try to improve their skills. The goals
are very high, and, as they will reach these goals, they will have some more
control themselves.
Outdoor Programs
Scouting is actually designed to take place outdoors in the fields. In outdoor
setting Scouts learn to share their responsibilities and learn to live together
(Robert, 1992). Outdoor program will also help Scouts to know about nature.
Being close to nature helps all Scouts will gain an appreciation for God's
handiwork. The outdoor programs are the learning environments for Scouts to
learn and practice conservation of nature's resources.
Advancement
Scouting provides various surmountable steps and obstacles in overcoming them
through the advancement topics and techniques (John, 1985). All Scouts will plan
their advancement individually and progresses at their own pace. They will be
rewarded for each achievement, which will help them gain self-confidence.
Personal Growth
After planning their activities and responsibilities and progress toward their
goals, they will experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a main and
important part of the personal growth method of Scouting. Probably no device is
so successful and good in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily
Good Turn. Frequent personal conferences with their Scoutmaster will help each
Scout to determine his growth toward goals of Scouting.
Issues for Leadership
One of the biggest parts of Scouting is teaching Scouts good leadership
strategies and skills. For a troop to be successful, it needs Scouts and
instructor with strong skills of leadership to hold it together. A Scout will be
able to use many of the leadership skills that he will learn during this
program, in his daily routine activities throughout his life (Neil, 1993).
This Boy Scouting program will encourage boys to practice and learn all
leadership skills. All Boy Scouts will have the opportunity and chance to
participate in both total leadership and shared situations. Understanding the
concepts of leadership will help all Scouts to accept the leadership role of
others.
Conclusion
There are three main objective of Boy Scouting. The first is growth in moral
character and strength and. It is related to what the boy is himself; his
values, his personal qualities, and his outlook. Second objective is
participative citizenship. Used widely, citizenship means the Scout’s
relationship to others people. He will come to learn about his responsibilities
for other people, to the culture and society in which he lives and to the
government of his country that presides over that culture and society. (Sandra,
Jeff, 2001). The third objective is development of mental, physical, spiritual
and emotional fitness. Fitness includes the body, the mind, the emotions and the
spirit (Stan, 2002).
References
David Hall, 1978: The Patrol System
Dennis Humphries, 1985: Scout Group: A Handbook for Group Scout Leaders and
Group Administrators
Dorothy Lees, Mike Brennan, 1992: Scouting is Fun
Jay Mechling, 2001: On My Honor: Boy Scouts and the Making of American Youth
John Sweet, 1985: Scouting "On the Level"
Neil Broughton, Peter Rogers, 1993: Scout Leaders' Handbook
Paul Fairbank, 2000: Scout Camps USA - A Guide to Boy Scouts of America Summer
Camps
Robert Baden-Powell, 1992: Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good
Citizenship
Sandra Schwartz, Jeff Schwartz, 2001: The Scouting Way
Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain, 2002: The Bear Scouts (Beginner Books)
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