Scouting Essentials

Purpose of the Boy Scouts

It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to provide an effective program designed to instill within youth desirable qualities of character, to train them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to help develop their personal fitness, providing this country with citizens who:

  • Are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit.
  • Have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage and resourcefulness.
  • Have personal and stable values firmly based on religious concepts.
  • Have a desire and the skills to help others.
  • Understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems.
  • Are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand America’s role in the world.
  • Have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people.
  • Are prepared to fulfill the varied responsibilities of participating in and giving leadership to American society and in other forums of the world.

Boy Scouts of America Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based upon those found in the Scout Oath and Law.

Scout Oath

  • On my honor I will do my best

    By giving your word, you are promising to be guided by the ideals of the Scout Oath. Try hard to live up to the points of the Scout Oath. Measure your achievements against your own high standards and don’t be influenced by peer pressure or what other people do.

  • To do my duty to God and my country

    Your family and religious leaders teach you about God and the ways you can serve. You do your duty to God by following the wisdom of those teachings every day and by respecting and defending the rights of others to practice their own beliefs. Help keep the United States a strong and fair nation by learning about our system of government and your responsibilities as a citizen and future voter. America is made up of countless families and communities. When you work to improve your community and your home, you are serving your country. Natural resources are another important part of America’s heritage worthy of your efforts to understand, protect, and use wisely. What you do can make a real difference.

  • and to obey the Scout Law;

    The twelve points of the Scout Law are guidelines that can lead you toward wise choices. When you obey the Scout Law, other people will respect you for the way you live, and you will respect yourself.

  • To help other people at all times;

    There are many people who need you. Your cheerful smile and helping hand will ease the burden of many who need assistance. By helping out whenever possible, you are doing your part to make this a better world.

  • To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

    Take care of your body so that it will serve you well for an entire lifetime. That means eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly to build strength and endurance. it also means avoiding harmful drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and anything else that can harm your health. Develop your mind both in the classroom and outside of school. Be curious about everything around you, and work hard to make the most of your abilities. With an inquiring attitude and the willingness to ask questions, you can learn much about the exciting world around you and your role in it. To be a person of strong character, your relationships with others should be honest and open. You should respect and defend the rights of all people. Be clean in your speech and actions, and remain faithful in your religious beliefs. The values you practice as a Scout will help you shape a life of virtue and self-reliance.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Scout Motto: Be Prepared.

Scout Slogan: Do a good turn daily.

Outdoor Code

As an American, I will do my best to

  • Be clean in my outdoor manners,
  • Be careful with fire,
  • Be considerate in the outdoors, and
  • Be conservation-minded.

BSA Minuteman Council Nondiscrimination Policy

Updated July, 2012

All Scouting is local.

The Boston Minuteman Council of the Boy Scouts of America has responsibility to administer, implement and grow the Scouting program in Boston, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelsea, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Everett, Hanscom AFB, Lexington, Lincoln, North Reading, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Needham, Quincy, Reading, Revere, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Westwood, Winchester and Woburn.

In 2001,the Boston Minuteman Council adopted this statement of nondiscrimination:

The mission of the Boston Minuteman Council, Boy Scouts of America is to provide character development, citizenship training, growth in physical and mental fitness, and leadership opportunities for the young people of the Boston metropolitan area. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our members, and we are committed to providing young people with an educational and stimulating environment in which to learn and grow. Through the Scout Oath and Law, we pledge to respect all people and to defend the rights of others. Bias, intolerance and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable within the ranks of the Boston Minuteman Council.
The Boston Minuteman Council serves youth through volunteers in Packs, Troops and other units without regard to color, race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation or economic status.
We have done our best to live up to this statement in the decade since its adoption.

Our duty to youth members is to see that they enjoy a great Scouting experience with all the growth
opportunities Scouting offers. Our duty to adult leaders is to provide support as they lead our youth.

Since our founding we have worked through sponsoring institutions: religious, civic and other organizations that host Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Varsity Teams, Venturing Crews and Sea Scout Ships. Our duty to these institutions is to help make Scouting a key part of their youth program.

The national officers of the Boy Scouts of America recently reaffirmed the membership standards of the organization, particularly relating to people who are avowed homosexuals. We agree with the national organization that the discussion of sexual orientation and sexual behavior in the context of Scouting can be a distraction to the mission of Scouting. We also believe that the exclusion of persons from Scouting because of sexual orientation can be a distraction to the mission of Scouting, particularly in the area we serve.

We believe that sex, sexual orientation and their discussion are important. But we also believe that Scouting is not prepared and equipped to be a fruitful forum for this discussion, and such a discussion in the context of Scouting risks trivializing, politicizing and “soundbiting” the topic. Discussions of sex and sexual orientation are appropriately held in the family and with educational, religious and medical counselors.

These are the principles which we teach youth and try to live by:

The Scout Oath
On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times,
to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

The Scout Law
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous,
Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.

Youth participate in Scouting for fun and adventure and to enhance citizenship, character and fitness. Adults participate in Scouting to help youth grow. Scouting cannot and will not be a forum for the pursuit and advancement of adult agendas.

We reaffirm our statement of non-discrimination. We believe that all people should at all times be treated in accordance with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. We strongly oppose treating anyone in any way that is contrary to the Scout Oath and Scout Law, because of sexual orientation or for any other reason.

All Scouting is local.