[ 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 ]
1910
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated
on February 8 under the laws of the District of Columbia by W. D. Boyce.
On June 21, a group of 34 national representatives of boys' work agencies
met, developed organization plans, and opened a temporary national headquarters
in a YMCA office in New York. In
September, Robert S.S. Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, visited
America and interpreted the program. President William Howard Taft accepted
the office of honorary president; Theodore Roosevelt became honorary vice-president
and chief Scout citizen; Colin H. Livingstone was elected president; Mortimer
L. Schiff, Milton A. McRae, and Benjamin L. Dulaney, vice-presidents; George
D. Pratt, treasurer; Daniel Carter Beard, National Scout Commissioner;
Ernest Thompson Seton, Chief Scout; and John Sherman Hoyt, Jeremiah W.
Jenks, William D. Murray, and Frank Presbrey, members of the Executive
Board. James E. West was appointed executive officer.
1911
The National Council office was established
at 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y., on January 2, 1911, with seven employees.
The first annual meeting was held at the White House, Washington, D.C.,
and was addressed by President Taft. The Scout Oath, Law, badges, and fundamental
policies were adopted. The first awards for heroism were presented by the
National Court of Honor. Membership to date, Scouts and Scouters, 61,495.
1912
By now Scouts were enrolled in every state.
Scouts mobilized for the first of a series of national civic Good Turns,
including the promotion of a safe and sane Fourth of July. Other community
Good Turns began. Sea Scouting for older Scouts was started. Boys' Life
was purchased to become an official BSA magazine. Membership during the
year, Scouts and Scouters, 97,495. Total members to date, 126,860.
1913
The first local council charters were issued
to first-class and second-class councils. Local supervision was facilitated
by dividing the United States into eight districts-the forerunner of 12
regions. Scouting, the official magazine for Scouters, was started. Boy
Scout Week was observed. A registration plan for Scouts was adopted. Scouts
demonstrated the motto ''Be Prepared'' in first aid during spring floods
in Ohio and Indiana. Scouts rendered service at the 50th anniversary of
the Battle of Gettysburg reunion of veterans. The first Children's Book
Week was observed. Membership during the year, 115,364. Total members to
date, 188,964.
1914
The troop committee plan was created. The
first Scout Sunday observance took place. Training for Scout leaders was
developed. The first William T. Hornaday gold medal for the conservation
of wildlife was presented. The first tree-planting project was held in
New York. Membership, December 31, was 127,685. Total members to date,
275,304.
1915
The Department of Education established a
national office to train all Scouters. Expansion of merit badge work prompted
issuance of 57 merit badge pamphlets. The Handbook for Scoutmasters was
issued. Military policy was adopted. Scouting was extended on the Pacific
coast. The Order of the Arrow was founded. Membership, December 31, was
182,303. Total members to date, 409,662.
1916
Congress granted a Federal Charter on June
15, giving special protection to the name and insignia and limiting membership
to American citizens. An act of Congress, June 3, authorized a Scout uniform
similar to the Army, Navy, or Marine uniform. The Constitution and Bylaws
were adopted. The first college course in Scouting was held at Teachers
College, New York. Veteran and associate Scout classifications were created.
Scouting in rural areas emphasized Pioneer Scouts (later Lone Scouts).
A Department of Camping was established at the national office to help
local councils maintain camping standards and promote
camping. Membership, December 31, was 245,183. Total members to date, 571,649.
1917
Scouting's full resources were placed at the
service of the government, under the slogan ''Help Win the War,'' and,
within 24 hours, Scouts throughout the United States were so advised. Significant
demonstration of boypower, trained and organized for service, followed
for the duration of the war and drew thousands of boys into the movement.
The first winter camp was held by Chicago Scouts. Membership, December
31, was 363,837. Total members to date, 812,586.
1918
After the signing of the armistice, the slogan
''The War Is Over, but Our Work Is Not'' was adopted. Scouts rendered nationwide
service in the influenza epidemic. The first service club sponsorship of
troops was inaugurated by Rotary International. A Scout executives' training
confererce was held at Cranberry Lake. National standards were established
for Boy Scout camps. As part of the war effort, 1917-18, Scouts sold 2,350,977
Liberty Loan bonds, totaling $147,876,902; war savings stamps, to
a value of $53,043,698. More than 300 million pieces of government literature
were distributed, and services rendered included food and fuel conservation
and Boy Scout war gardens. Membership, December 31, was 418,984. Total
members to date, 1,065,495.
1919
A systematic method of developing cooperation
with churches of all faiths was adopted. Boy Scouts were invited to aid
the Department of Labor in its Americanization program. Following the death
of Chief Scout Citizen Theodore Roosevelt on January 6, Scouts began the
practice of planting Roosevelt memorial trees and making pilgrimages to
his grave at Oyster Bay. The first gold Honor Medals were awarded by the
National Court of Honor for saving life at risk of the rescuer's own, replacing
the silver and bronze awards. Membership, December 31, was 462,060. Total
members to date, 1,325,878.
1920 { Top of
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The First National Training Conference for
Scout Executives was held in
September at Bear Mountain, Palisades Interstate
Park. The First World Jamboree was held in England; Boy Scouts from 32
of 52 countries were present; the Boy Scouts of America sent 301 members.
The First International Conference of Scout Leaders was held in connection
with the jamboree, with International Scout Commissioner Mortimer L. Schiff
and others representing the Boy Scouts of America. The quota plan was adopted.
The Scout International Bureau was established in London. Membership, December
31, was 478,528. Total members to date, 1,643,988.
1921
Scouts of Washington, D.C., served as aides
and guides at the limitation of arms conference. Scouts participated at
the annual Eastern States Exposition at
Springfield, Mass. Outstanding civic Good Turns were rendered in forest
conservation and in connection with the Knickerbocker Theater
disaster at
Washington, and floods at Pueblo, Colo., and San Antonio, Texas.
Membership, December 31, was 513,015. Total members to date, 1,879,471.
1922
The Order of the Arrow became an official
program experiment. The Second International Conference of Scout Leaders
was appointed as a permanent international committee upon which the Boy
Scouts of America was represented by Mortimer L. Schiff and Frank Presbrey.
The Second National Training Conference for Scout Executives took place
at Blue Ridge, N.C. The membership roundup was stimulated by streamer awards
by President Warren G. Harding. Membership, December 31, 534,415. Total
members to date, 2,110,973.
1923
The international left handclasp was adopted.
Patrol leader conferences and training courses for Scout leaders were developed.
The Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Fund advanced $100,000 for the promotion
of Boys' Life. The Bureau of Church Relations was established at the national
office. Patriotic pilgrimages to the homes of great Americans and to historic
spots were made. Membership, December 31, was 587,578. Total members to
date, 2,371,520.
1924
The Every Scout a Swimmer program was inaugurated.
The first achievement badges were earned by physically handicapped
Scouts. The Third International Conference of Scout Leaders was attended
by 6,000 boys from 33 Scout associations. The Lone Scouts of America merged
with the Boy Scouts of America. The Second World Jamboree was held at Copenhagen,
Denmark; our delegation numbered 56. The Third Biennial Conference of Scout
Executives was held at Estes Park, Colo. The International Scout constitution
and bylaws were adopted. Membership, December 31, 696,620. Total members
to date, 3,144,300.
1925
James J. Storrow of Boston was elected president.
The first National Training School for executives opened. Outstanding service
was rendered by Scouts in the Illinois tornado, California earthquake,
and Louisiana fire. A delegation from Boy Scouts of America visited South
America to advance Scouting there. Membership, December 31, 756,857. Total
members to date, 3,436,294.
1926
President James J. Storrow died in March and
Vice-President Milton A. McRae was elected to fill his term. At the annual
meeting in May, Walter W. Head was elected president. Sir Robert S.S. Baden-Powell,
founder of Scouting, attended the annual meeting and traveled throughout
the country inspecting Scouting centers. The first Silver Buffalo Awards
for distinguished service to boyhood were presented. Twenty-two awards
were given: the first to Baden-Powell and the second to the Unknown Scout
whose Good Turn brought Scouting to America. The Fourth International Scout
Conference was held at Kandersteg, Switzerland. The Fourth Biennial Conference
of Scout Executives was held at Hot Springs, Ark. The national Executive
Board authorized development of a program for younger boys. Exceptional
Scout service was rendered in the Florida hurricane and Arkansas flood.
Membership, December 31, was 783,574. Total members to date, 3,749,244.
1927
Eagle Palms were added to the list of awards.
Twelve new rural merit badges were added, bringing the total to 89. Eight
Sea Scouts were taken on the Borden-Field Museum Expedition to the Bering
Sea. Exceptional service was rendered by Scouts in the Mississippi and
Vermont flood disasters and the St. Louis tornado. The national office
was moved to its new enlarged quarters at 2 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y.
Membership, December 31, was 785,633. Total members to date, 4,095,988.
1928
Three Scouts-David R. Martin, Douglas Oliver,
and Dick Douglas-accompanied the Martin Johnson Expedition to Africa. The
Fifth National Training Conference for Scout Executives was held at Cornell
University. The 18th annual meeting was held in San Francisco. Four Scouts
participated in the Lincoln Highway covered-wagon tour from coast to coast
and Paul A. Siple, a Sea Scout, accompanied Commander Richard E. Byrd to
the Antarctic. Membership, December 31, was 819,791. Total members to date,
4,499,908.
1929
The Third World Jamboree, held at Birkenhead,
England, where 1,300 Scouts and Scouters represented the Boy Scouts of
America, was attended by 50,000 Scouts representing 73 different lands.
It was followed by the Fifth International Scout Conference. The Cub Scout
program was put into operation on an experimental basis. Registration of
all Scouters was authorized. Membership, December 31, was 833,897. Total
members to date, 4,779,219.
1930 { Top of
Page }
The Cub Scout program was formally launched;
there were 5,102 Cub Scouts at the end of 1930. Scouts participated in
the Oregon Trail Memorial Centennial. The Chief Scout Executive served
as chairman of the committee on youth outside the home and school for President
Hoover's White House Conference on Child Health and Protection. Scout circuses,
merit badge exhibits, expositions, rallies, and other gatherings increased
in number and scope. Membership, December 31, was 847,051. Total members
to date, 5,249,350.
1931
At the 21st annual meeting held in Memphis,
Tenn., Mortimer L. Schiff was
elected president. Within a month of his election, Scout organizations
throughout
the world were saddened by his untimely death. Walter W. Head was elected
to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Schiff. The divisional plan of organization
was put
into operation at the national office. The Sixth International Scout
Conference
was held near Vienna. The first Silver Beaver Awards were presented
for
distinguished service to boyhood within a council. Membership, December
31,
was 878,358. Total members to date, 5,658,485.
1932
At the 22d annual meeting, the National Council
adopted the 10-year program of growth-a plan to enroll one of every four
12-year-old boys and keep them in Scouting for 4 years. To stimulate this
effort, President Hoover presented awards to Scout units, councils, and
regions reaching a specific standard for the year. Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff
presented the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation at Mendham, N.J.,
in memory of her son. Work in emergency relief continued. There was
strong development in troop camping under council-trained leadership. Membership,
December 31, was
878,461. Total members to date, 6,019,301.
1933
President Franklin D. Roosevelt became honorary
president and former President Hoover, honorary vice-president. The Mortimer
L. Schiff Scout Reservation was formally opened and dedicated. The Fourth
World Jamboree was held at Godollo, Hungary, with 21,000 Scouts from 46
countries and an American contingent of 406 Scouts and leaders. Membership,
December 31, was 904,240. Total members to date, 6,389,551.
1934
In response to the request of President Roosevelt
in a radio address delivered February 10, Boy Scouts performed a
nationwide Good Turn, collecting 1,812,284 items of clothing, household
furnishings, foodstuffs, and supplies for the distressed and needy. President
Roosevelt announced a national jamboree would be held in Washington, D.C.,
in 1935. A strong program of cooperation was developed with the Catholic
Church. Special emphasis was placed on the health program. The Order
of the Arrow program was approved. Membership, December 31, was 973,589.
Total members to date, 6,530,330.
1935
The entire Scout membership celebrated the
Silver Jubilee of Scouting. For the first time, the membership passed the
million mark. Observed as part of the 25th anniversary celebration: Boys'
Life anniversary in March, ceremonies incident to the publication
of the 5-millionth copy of the Handbook for Boys in April, the Silver Anniversary
Meeting of the National Council in October, and Christmas holiday camps.
The proposed national jamboree was canceled because of an infantile
paralysis epidemic. Membership, December 31, was 1,027,833. Total members
to date, 6,945,160.
1936
In a broadcast on February 8, President Roosevelt
again invited the Scout membership to a national jamboree to be held in
Washington in July 1937. The Sixth National Training Conference for Scout
Executives was held at French Lick, Ind. The 26th annual meeting of the
National Council took place at Atlantic City. In recognition of its health
and safety programs, the American Children's Fund made a grant of $100,000
to the Boy Scouts of America. The new Handbook for Scoutmasters was published.
Membership, December 31, was 1,069,837. Total members to date, 7,376,961.
1937
The First National Jamboree was held in Washington
from June 30 to July 9, at the invitation of President Roosevelt, with
an attendance of 27,232 representing 536 councils. This was followed by
the Fifth World Jamboree at Vogelenzang, Holland (attendance in the American
contingent: 814), and the Ninth International Scout Conference. A retirement
plan for professional leaders was adopted. Membership, December 31, was
1,129,841. Total members to date, 7,858,931.
1938
The national program emphasized Americanism
and a rededication to the Constitution of the United States and the
Declaration of Independence. A magnificent gift was made by Waite Phillips,
a campsite known as Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp (later changed to
Philmont Scout Ranch-see 1941) consisting of 35,857 acres of land on the
eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain Continental Divide, near Cimarron,
N.M. Scouts rendered unusual service in the New England hurricane and floods.
The first grants from the Frank Phillips Foundation were made in Oklahoma
and part of Texas to extend Scouting. Membership, December 31, 1,242,009.
Total members to date, 8,399,923.
1939
Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp was opened
for advanced Scout camping. Scouts participated in the Golden Gate Exposition
and at the New York World's Fair. A session of the 29th annual meeting
was held at the New York World's Fair for a citizenship ceremony when a
group of former Scouts who had just become 21 were formally received into
citizenship by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts. The 10th International
Scout Conference was held in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Seventh National
Training Conference for Scout Executives was held at Bretton Woods, N.H.
The Boy Scouts of America was represented at the White House Conference
on Youth in a Democracy by the Chief Scout Executive. Special experimental
work with Scouting in less-chance areas was carried on through the Irving
Berlin Fund. Membership, December 31, was 1,357,993. Total members to date,
8,977,696.
1940 { Top
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Boy Scouts served again at the New York World's
Fair and at the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco. A Boy Scout program
for helping in national
emergency and government defense programs was adopted. Outstanding
events
included: troop inventory and roll call, adoption of emergency service
corps, and mobilization plans. Membership, December 31, was 1,449,412.
Total members
to date, 9,558,869.
1941
With the declaration of war, the Government
requested Boy Scout service for the distribution of defense bonds and stamp
posters; collection of aluminum and wastepaper; defense housing surveys;
victory gardens; distributions of air-raid posters; cooperation with the
American Red Cross; and, by joint agreement with the Office of Civil and
Defense Mobilization, services in three
capacities-messengers, assisting emergency medical units, and fire
watchers.
Waite Phillips made another large gift-land, residence and ranch buildings,
livestock, operating ranch equipment-contiguous to Philturn Rockymountain
Scoutcamp, bringing total acreage to more than 127,000 acres.
The area was
renamed Philmont Scout Ranch. He also presented the Philtower
Building in Tulsa, Okla., the income from which was to be used for operating
and developing the camp. The 31st annual meeting was held in Washington,
D.C. Membership, December 31, was 1,522,302. Total members to date, 10,165,060.
1942
Scouts continued in war service. Twenty-eight
projects were requested by the government, including: the collection of
30 million pounds of rubber in a 2-week drive; all-out salvage based on
the government-issued pamphlet Scrap and How Scouts Collect It; distribution
of pledge cards for war bonds and savings stamps; victory gardens; work
on farms and in harvest camps; and Government dispatch bearers. The 32d
annual meeting was held in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Air Scouts program
for boys 15 years of age and older was developed. Membership, December
31, was 1,553,080. Total members to date, 10,769,041.
1943
Scouts rendered war service at the request
of the government in four general classifications: collections-aid in salvage
drives; distribution, as official dispatch bearers for government pamphlets
and posters; production; and conservation. The first Silver Antelope Awards
were presented for distinguished service to youth within a region. The
Pan-American project was developed. Chief Scout Executive James E. West
became Chief Scout and Dr. Elbert K. Fretwell was appointed Chief Scout
Executive. Dr. George J. Fisher became National Scout Commissioner. Long
trousers and the Scout cap were made a part of the official uniform. The
33d annual meeting was held in New York. Membership, December 31, was 1,613,783.
Total members to date, 11,477,483.
1944
The Whole Scout Family was emphasized with
stress on the three branches of the Scout program. World brotherhood was
emphasized in the continuation of the world jamboree and World Friendship
program. The Inter-American Youth Leaders' Training project was inaugurated
and students from Latin-American countries, in cooperation with the coordinator
of Inter-American affairs, attended the National Training School and toured
the eastern United States and Canada. The World Friendship Fund to help
restore Scouting in devastated countries was inaugurated. membership, December
31, was 1,866,356. Total members to date, 12,289,614.
1945
The total Boy Scout war service included 69
requests from the government during 1941 through 1945. General Eisenhower's
outstanding Wastepaper Campaign culminated in the General Eisenhower Award-a
gold medal was presented to him in December by the Boy Scouts of America
in appreciation. Other service included collections in many communities,
distribution of circulars on conservation projects, and the Green Thumb
program. Twenty thousand Scouts earned the General Douglas MacArthur Medal
for growing food. The World Friendship Fund increased; $10,000 was
allocated to the Philippines. The ''Shirts Off Our Back'' campaign was
inaugurated to help Scouts abroad. The Army Air Force cooperated in the
Air Scouts program. World brotherhood literature was published. Increased
emphasis was placed on visual education as a means of training. Membership,
December 31, was 1,977,463. Total members to date, 13,073,629.
1946
The first contribution in a program of continuing
support came from the Grant Foundation-$257,500 for a 5-year expansion
of the volunteer training program. The camping program was improved and
camp activities became more troop-centered. Sixteen hundred Senior Scouts
camped at Philmont Scout Ranch. Scouts carried through three national postwar
service projects requested by the government. The first Inter-American
Scout conference was held in Bogota, Colombia. President Head retired after
20 years of service and Amory Houghton was elected president. Membership,
December 31, was 2,063,397. Total members to date, 13,882,639.
1947
Basic Boy Scout requirements were authorized-putting
equal emphasis on Scout spirit, Scout participation, and Scoutcraft skills.
Similar revisions made Cub Scouting more effective. The Eighth National
Training Conference for Scout Executives took place in September at Indiana
University. The International Scout Conference of Scout Leaders from 112
countries meeting at Chateau Rosny near Paris adopted a revised constitution
and bylaws. The Sixth World Jamboree in Moisson, France, in August brought
together 32,000 Scouts from 38 countries; the American delegation
numbered 1,151. Membership, December 31, was 2,141,984. Total members to
date, 14,710,853.
1948
Dr. Arthur A. Schuck became the third Chief
Scout Executive, September 1; Dr. Elbert K. Fretwell was elected Chief
Scout. The 38th annual meeting was held in Seattle, Wash. The Order of
the Arrow was integrated in the national camping program. Philmont, the
world's largest Scout camp, enrolled 2,275 individual campers. The conservation
program was extended. Basic training for all unit leaders was emphasized.
Twelve Scouts presented the Report to the Nation to President Harry S.
Truman and to United Nations officials. The First International Commissioners'
Conference was held at Kandersteg, Switzerland. Membership, December 31,
was 2,210,766. Total members to date, 15,538,867.
1949
The crusade to ''Strengthen the Arm of Liberty''
was inaugurated in February. A dramatic ceremony was held at the base of
the Statue of Liberty. Age levels were lowered-Cub Scouting, 8 through
10; Boy Scouting, 11 through 14; Exploring, 14 and up. The manual on citizenship
was published. New procedures for physically handicapped boys were adopted.
Troop advancement procedures were emphasized. Five hundred forty-three
councils owned 831 campsites with 288,545 acres, at an
estimated value of $10,525,731 on land and $17,436,306 on equipment. The
National Council held its 39th annual meeting in Boston, Mass. Membership,
December 31, was 2,579,515. Total members to date, 16,686,517.
1950 { Top of
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The 40th anniversary year was observed nationally
and locally. The Second
National Jamboree at Valley Forge, June 30-July
6, brought 47,163 Scouts and leaders from every state and territory in
the United States and from many other lands. Survival training was emphasized;
conservation education was a national program feature. A total of 1,100
Order of the Arrow members participated in a national conference held at
the University of Indiana, Bloomington, Ind. Philmont Scout Ranch began
an expanded program, and the first training courses were held there. The
40th annual meeting was held in Philadelphia immediately prior to the jamboree.
The first Boy Scout stamp was issued by the U.S. Post Office Department.
Membership, December 31, was 2,795,222. Total members to date, 17,843,852.
1951
The 3-year crusade to ''Strengthen the Arm
of Liberty'' concluded with a 33 percent gain in membership. A program
of cooperation in civil defense was carried out. Conservation activities
were expanded in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies. Two
million pounds of clothing were collected for domestic and foreign relief.
Several hundred Explorers took part in the Seventh World Jamboree at Bad
Ischl, Austria, where 13,000 Scouts represented 59 countries. Expansion
at Philmont Scout Ranch made new leadership training opportunities possible.
The Ninth National Training Conference for Scout Executives was held at
Michigan State University. At the 41st annual meeting in Chicago, John
M. Schiff was elected president, succeeding Amory Houghton. membership,
December 31, was 2,942,779. Total members to date, 18,995,887.
1952
Scouting's 3-year program ''Forward on Liberty's
Team'' was launched during Boy Scout Week. Scouts distributed more
than a million posters and 30 million Liberty Bell doorknob hangers in
a Get-Out-the-Vote campaign. Scouts also cooperated nationally in securing
blood-donor pledges, collected clothing for worthy causes, distributed
seeds for Asia, and aided in conservation projects and civil defense. A
quarter-million leaders took part in training experiences. Nine thousand
Explorers and leaders camped at Philmont Scout Ranch. The 42d annual meeting
was held in New York. The 20-millionth member was registered. Membership,
December 31, was 3,183,266. Total members to date, 20,236,331.
1953
The Third National Jamboree was held at the
Irvine Ranch in southern California, July 17-23, with 45,401 Scouts and
leaders from all parts of the United States and 21 other nations taking
part. Scouts assisted in the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The effectiveness of the family ''Be Prepared'' plan was shown. Scouter
training combined with family vacation plans was expanded at Philmont Scout
Ranch. Local councils were organized in Germany and Japan to serve sons
of Americans in those countries. The 43d annual meeting was held in Los
Angeles. Membership, December 31, was 3,395,884.
Total members to date, 21,537,885.
1954
The National Conservation Good Turn was conducted.
The 44th annual meeting was held in Washington, D.C. The National Council's
office was moved to a new building near New Brunswick, N.J., in October.
Boys' Life circulation passed the 1 million mark. The Webelos den was created
to provide a means of maintaining the interest of Cub Scouts 10 years of
age in Scouting and to provide a bridge for crossing over to Boy Scouting.
Membership, December 31, was 3,774,015. Total members to date, 23,037,343.
1955
The 45th annual meeting was held in St. Louis.
Through the facilities and courtesy of the U.S. Air Force, 16 Explorers
and 3 leaders made exchange visits with 16 European Senior Scouts and 2
leaders. The Eighth World Jamboree was conducted in Ontario, Canada, with
15,000 Scouts present from 63 nations, including 1,500 Explorers from the
Boy Scouts of America. In September, 4,000 attended the Tenth National
Training Conference for Scout Executives at the University of Michigan.
A College Scouter Reserve was authorized so young men attending college
could maintain active registered membership. For the first time, there
was a total of 100,000 units and more than a million adults registered
as Scouters. Membership, December 31, was 4,175,134. Total members to date,
24,675,358.
1956
During Boy Scout Week, the Onward for God
and My Country program was launched with impressive national, state, and
local observances. A delegation of Explorers visited the White House and
presented the Report to the Nation. The 46th annual meeting was held in
Cincinnati. Kenneth K. Bechtel of San Francisco was unanimously elected
president to succeed John M. Schiff, who retired after 5 years. In a nationwide
nonpartisan Get-Out-the-Vote campaign, Scouts distributed over a million
posters and 36 million Liberty Bell doorknob hangers. In international
exchange visits, nearly 300 Explorers and Senior Scouts were
transported by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Boys' Life magazine was among
the top 17 American magazines. Membership, December 31, was 4,526,302.
Total members to date, 26,383,479.
1957
The Fourth National Jamboree at Valley Forge,
Pa., July 12-19, attracted 50,000 Scouts and Explorers. Some 1,700 Explorers
and leaders attended the World Jubilee near Birmingham, England, where
35,000 Scouts of 82 nations celebrated the Centenary of Lord Baden-Powell's
birth and the 50th anniversary of the Boy Scout movement. The 47th annual
meeting convened in hiladelphia, July 11-12. Explorers visited the White
House to present the Report to the Nation and the 15-millionth copy of
the Handbook for Boys. The U.S. Air Force provided an airlift exchange
for 50 Explorers and 50 European and Far Eastern Boy Scouts. The Thomas
J. Watson Memorial Visual Education Building at Schiff Scout Reservation
was dedicated on October 17. Membership, December 31, was 4,751,495. Total
members to date, 28,100,000.
1958
The National Safety Good Turn and the continuing
Onward for God and My Country program were outstanding successes. Explorer
Richard Lee Chappel of Eggertsville, N.Y., accompanied the National Academy
of Sciences team on the International Geophysical Year Arctic Expedition.
The 48th annual meeting was held May 16-17 in Chicago. The National Order
of the Arrow Conference in August at the University of Kansas attracted
more than 2,400 members. The new Exploring program was implemented. Work
began on the Johnston Historical Museum. Membership,
December 31, was 4,950,885. Total members to date, 29,945,000.
1959
During Boy Scout Week, 12 Explorers visited
President Eisenhower for the Report to the Nation. At the 49th annual meeting
in San Francisco, Ellsworth H. Augustus was elected president. A new edition
of the Boy Scout Handbook was published. More than 3,000 attended the 11th
National Training Conference for Scout Executives at the University of
Michigan. Scouting magazine started using full-color and color throughout.
Delegations attended both the 10th World Jamboree in the Philippines and
the 17th International Scout Conference at New Delhi, India. A citizenship
study was completed. Membership, December 31, was 5,043,195. Total members
to date, 31,563,809.
1960 { Top of
Page }
During Scouting's Golden Jubilee Year, thousands
of boys earned the 50th Anniversary Achievement Award. Some 56,378 Scouts
and leaders attended
the Fifth National Jamboree at Colorado Springs, Colo., July 22-28.
Scouts
took part in a nationwide Get-Out-the-Vote campaign. The U.S. Post
Office
Department issued a Boy Scout commemorative stamp in February. A
representative from each state took part in the Report to the Nation
during Boy
Scout Week.The 50th annual meeting was held in Washington, D.C.,
June 1-3.
The Johnston Historical Museum was dedicated at New Brunswick,
N.J., on
June 4. On August 1, Joseph A. Brunton, Jr., became Chief Scout
Executive.
Membership, December 31, was 5,160,958. Total members to date,
33,076,901.
1961
In February, 12 Explorers presented the Report
to the Nation to President John F. Kennedy. Indiana University, Bloomington,
Ind., was again the scene of the Order of the Arrow's national conference
with 2,000 members present. The 51st annual meeting was held in Detroit
in June with 2,400 Scouters attending. Delegations of Scouts and leaders
attended several foreign jamborees and the 18th International Scout Conference
in Portugal. Twelve regional Explorer delegate conferences, participated
in by 12,000 Explorers, made plans for the First National Explorer Delegate
Conference to be held in 1962. Membership, December 31, was 5,210,294.
Total members to date, 34,524,815.
1962
The Fit for Tomorrow program was launched.
The 52d annual meeting was held at Portland, Ore., May 17-18, with some
2,200 Scouters attending. Charter Day observances in Washington, D.C.,
on June 14, commemorated Scouting's original Charter from Congress in June
1916. More than 3,000 Explorers attended the First National Explorer Delegate
Conference at Ann Arbor, Mich., August 26-30. A ''GO'' roundup was developed
around space exploration in cooperation with America's astronauts. Membership,
December 31, was 5,322,167. Total members to date, 36,058,864.
1963
Scouts and Explorers presented the Report
to the Nation to President Kennedy during Boy Scout Week. The 1963-65 Program
of Emphasis-Scouting Can Make the Difference-was launched. More than 2,500
delegates attended the 53d annual meeting in New York, May 23-24. Philmont
Scout Ranch received an anonymous gift of 10,098 acres. The Eleventh National
Training Conference for Scout Executives was held at the University of
Illinois, August 29-September 4, with nearly 5,000 attending. Each region
held an Explorer delegate conference. The biennial National Order of the
Arrow Conference took place August 23-25 at the University of Illinois.
Some 621 Scouts and Scouters attended the Eleventh World Jamboree held
at Marathon, Greece, August 1-11. Membership, December 31, was 5,446,910.
Total members to date, 37,500,314.
1964
Waite Phillips, donor of Philmont Scout Ranch
and the Philtower Building, died in January. The New York World's Fair
Service Corps of 2,772 boys and adults operated for 18 weeks. The 54th
annual meeting was held at Cleveland, May 21-22. Thomas J. Watson, Jr.,
was elected president by the 2,500 representatives attending. The Strengthen
America's Heritage program was launched in cooperation with Freedom's Foundation
at Valley Forge. The Sixth
National Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, July 17-23, with 52,000
Scouts and leaders participating. The Second National Explorer Delegate
Conference at the University of Kansas, August 16-20, attracted 1,200 Explorers
and Advisors. The commemorative tribute statue was unveiled in Washington,
D.C., on November 7. The Program of Emphasis was continued. Membership,
December 31, was 5,583,700. Total members to date, 39,120,922.
1965
The Report to the Nation was presented to
President Johnson during Boy Scout Week by 12 Boy Scouts and Explorers.
The 55th annual meeting was held at Bal Harbour, Fla., May 20-21, with
2,300 attending. ''The Program of Emphasis Breakthrough for Youth'' for
1965-67 was launched. Each region held an Explorer delegate conference.
Some 3,727 boys and leaders served at the New York World's Fair, while
4,237 attended the Golden Anniversary National Conference of the
Order of the Arrow at Indiana University, August 27-31. Thomas J. Watson,
Jr., was elected to the World Committee at the XX World
Conference meeting in Mexico City, September 27-October 3. The Inner-City
Rural Program was launched. Mrs. Ernest Thompson Seton presented memorabilia
of her husband. An addition was begun of the Johnston Historical Museum.
The 500,000th Eagle Scout badge was presented and the 40,000,000th member
was registered. Membership, December 31, was 5,732,708. Total members to
date, 40,746,314.
1966
Boy Scouts and Explorers, representing 12
regions, presented the Report to the Nation to President Johnson. ''The
Program of Emphasis Breakthrough for Youth'' continued. The 56th annual
meeting at Dallas, May 19-20, attracted 3,163 Scouters and their
wives. The revised Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America was
adopted. Some 2,149 Explorers and Advisors attended the Third National
Explorer Delegate Conference at Indiana University,
August 14-18. More than 17,000 boys and leaders visited the renamed Philmont
Scout Ranch and Explorer Base, and 13,828 Scouts and leaders visited other
countries. The dedication of the new wing of the Johnston Historical
Museum in New Brunswick took place in June. In October, ground was broken
for an Ernest Thompson Seton Memorial Library and Museum at Philmont. Membership,
December 31, was 5,831,521. Total members to date, 42,375,467.
1967
The Boy Scouts of America hosted the XII World
Jamboree. The XXI Boy Scouts World Conference was held in Seattle, Wash.
The Report to the Nation was made to President Johnson, and Report to the
State ceremonies were conducted in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands. Pittsburgh, Pa., hosted the 57th National Council Annual
Meeting. Thomas J. Watson, Jr., was elected to a fourth term as President.
The Ernest Thompson Seton Memorial Library and Museum at Philmont and the
Ellsworth H. Augustus International Scout House at the national office
were dedicated. The National Order of the Arrow Conference drew 4,158 members
to the University of Nebraska. Alden G. Barber became the fifth Chief Scout
Executive. The updated Cub Scout program was launched in September, establishing
a special Webelos Scout program. Nearly 26,000 needy and non-Scouts attended
Scout camps. Regional Explorer delegate conferences were held in all 12
regions. Membership, December 31, was 6,058,508. Total members to date,
44,139,905.
1968
The National Council at its 58th annual meeting
in Chicago elected Irving Feist President and adopted the BOYPOWER '76
8-year long-range program. The National Executive Institute began at Schiff
Scout Reservation and Philmont Scout Ranch and Explorer Base. The National
Council raised national membership adult fees to $2 and boy fees to $1.
A total of 1,449,266 Webelos activity badges were earned during the year.
Scouts and Explorers earned 28,311 Eagle Awards and 1,743,567 merit badges.
Exploring deputies were named in each region. Membership, December 31,
was 6,247,160. Total members to date, 45,997,048.
1969
A record 3,979 persons attended the 59th annual
meeting in Boston. Irving Feist was reelected President. The BOYPOWER '76
long-range plan was shared with President Richard M. Nixon in Washington,
D.C., on February 7, 1969, by the Report to the Nation Scouts and Explorers.
Exploring initiated a Grand National Safe-Driving Road Rally with winning
representatives of local council road rallies competing for scholarships.
Young women were accepted as participants in special-interest posts. The
7th National Jamboree was held at Farragut State Park, Idaho, with more
than 35,000 Scouts and leaders attending. The National Order of the Arrow
Conference, held at Indiana University, was attended by 4,421 delegates.
Some 18,607 needy Scouts and 17,433 non-Scouts attending Boy Scout camps
brought the 4-year total to 103,678 boys served. A total of 1,796,136 merit
badges and 31,052 Eagle Awards were earned by Scouts and Explorers. Long-term
camping reached an all-time high with 64.6 percent of troops providing
792,371 Scouts this experience under its own leadership. Two summertime
pack events were conducted by 16,571 Cub Scout packs. Mergers brought the
number of local councils to 500. Membership, December 31, was 6,183,086.
Total members to date, 47,795,216.
1970 { Top
of Page }
At the 60th National Council annual meeting,
in Denver, Irving Feist was
elected to his third term as President. BOYPOWER '76 attainment
of goals for
the end of 1970 was as follows: total units, 98.9 percent; national
standard
units, 121.2 percent; trained top unit leaders, 112.1 percent;
Cub Scout
membership, 101.2 percent; Boy Scout membership, 96 percent;
and Explorer
membership, 97.6 percent. Needy and non-Scout camp attendance
was up to
46,408. Wood Badge courses were attended by 3,108; National Camping
Schools attendance reached 2,504. Philmont and the national canoe
bases
drew 22,943. A National Standard Rating Plan for camps was developed.
Leadership Development and Wood Badge training courses were tested
and
initiated. The whole organization mobilized for Project SOAR
(Save Our
American Resources). The first National Explorer Olympics, attended
by
1,200, was held at Colorado State University. Realignment of
councils reduced
the number of local councils to 493. Membership, December 31,
6,287,284.
Total membership to date, 49,628,049.
1971
A new 4-million acre Maine National High Adventure
Area was opened. Scouting Keep America Beautiful Day was held on June 5
with some 2 million members cleaning up more than 200,000 miles of highways
and waterways and 400,000 acres of land as more than a million tons of
litter were collected. Planning began in the fall for a nationwide program
(Operation Reach) against drug abuse. Participation by troops in Project
SOAR established a high level of Scout involvement in conservation. The
First National Explorer Presidents' Congress was held in Washington, D.C.,
with 2,043 post presidents attending. Exploring, a new magazine, was printed
in the spring and fall and distributed to 200,000 Explorers. The 62d National
Council annual meeting was held in Atlanta, and Norton Clapp was elected
president. A Silver World Award for distinguished service to youth on an
international basis was presented to four figures. In a special Ceremony
held in Washington, D.C., President Richard M. Nixon was awarded the Silver
Buffalo Award. For the first time a Reader's Digest Association-BSA National
Public Speaking Contest was held. Nearly 8,000 American Scouts and leaders
took part in the XIII World Jamboree held in Japan. A record number of
48,000 needy and non-Scouts attended summer camp. More than 5,000 members
of the Order of the Arrow attended a national conference at the University
of Illinois. The BOYPOWER campaign effort reached $16,065,658, 24.7 percent
of the $65 million goal. A new paraprofessional employment program was
begun. Membership, December 31, was 6,427,026. Total members to date, 51,484,371.
1972
The improved Scouting program was introduced.
The BOYPOWER campaign exceeded $25 million. Paraprofessionals entered full-
and part-time positions in local councils. The second National Explorer
Presidents' Congress was held in Washington, D.C., in April with 2,700
Explorer presidents and boatswains attending. A total of 2,086 Explorers
from 185 Explorer posts participated in the National Explorer Olympics
held in August in Fort Collins, Colo. The three winning posts attended
the World Youth Camp, a part of the Olympic Games in Munich,
Germany. Nearly 4 million Scouts and Girl Scouts took part in Scouting
Keep America Beautiful Day. Operation Reach, a program against drug abuse,
was launched. Six new regions were organized to provide support and service
to local councils. The National Eagle Scout Association was launched. Kenneth
L. Beale, Jr., was the 1972 Reader's Digest Association-BSA National Public
Speaking Contest winner. Project SOAR, the national conservation program,
was continued. A total of nearly 48,000 needy Scouts and non-Scouts attended
summer camp. Norton Clapp, Medina, Wash., was reelected president at the
annual meeting in Los Angeles. Troop leader evelopment was tested for the
first time at Schiff and Philmont. Membership, December 31, was 6,524,640.
Total members to date, 53,308,308.
1973
A series of special annual programs was started
in preparation for the nation's bicentennial in 1976. The first, called
GIFT (Get Involved for Them), continues through August 1974. For the third
successive year, Project SOAR (Save Our American Resources) demonstrated
good conservation practices. The program highlight was the 1973 National
Scout Jamboree held in two sites-Moraine State Park, Pa., and Farragut
State Park, Idaho-with more than 64,000 participants. At the National Council
annual meeting in Minneapolis, Robert W. Reneker was elected as president.
Several million Scouts and leaders joined with other organizations on Keep
America Beautiful Day in a massive effort to beautify America. An updated
Cub Scout program was introduced, adjusted to be more relevant to boys
and their families. New Scout merit badges introduced were Truck Transportation,
Veterinary Science, Genealogy, Skating, and Pulp and Paper. A Washington,
D.C., bureau was established to represent the national office. There were
2,500 Explorer post presidents or boatswains at the National Explorer Presidents'
Congress in Washington, D.C. The National Order of the Arrow Conference
was held at the University of California at Santa Barbara with 4,300
participants. The National Eagle Scout Association was formed. Membership
on December 31, was 6,405,225. Total members to date, 55,100,376.
1974
For the second annual program in preparation
for the nation's bicentennial, the theme was Be Prepared for Life; Be Safe,
Be Fit. The National Council Annual Meeting was held in Honolulu, and Robert
W. Reneker was reelected as president. Approval was given to hold future
National Council meetings on a biennial schedule. The First National Eagle
Scout Association meeting was held at Colorado State University, Fort Collins,
Colo., with nearly 300 participants. Project SOAR (Save Our American Resources)
program continued with Scouting Environment Day held on April 27. Jamboree
contingents from the BSA participated in the National Jamboree in New Zealand,
the Quebec Provincial Jamboree, and the Fifth Caribbean Jamboree in Surinam.
The Cub Scout Safe Bicycle Driving program and the Cub Scout Physical Fitness
program were introduced. New Scout merit badges were introduced for Orienteering
and Wilderness Survival. In April, 2,500 Explorer presidents attended the
Fourth Annual National Explorer Presidents' Congress in Washington, D.C.,
and Mary Wright of Auburndale, Mass., was elected national Explorer
president-the first young woman to hold the highest office in Exploring.
The biennial national Explorer Olympics saw a new high in Explorer sports
competition. Despite a loss in members, Scouting made
positive gains in 1974 in the quality of its program. Membership on
December 31 was 5,803,885. Total members to date, 56,626,408.
1975
Participation in the nation's bicentennial
accelerated with the theme Spirit of '76. Because of the biennial schedule
for National Council meetings, the national Executive Board elected Arch
Monson, Jr., as president. All Out for Scouting!, a 2-year program of troop
programming and troop leader training, was introduced to councils. Project
SOAR (Save Our American Resources) continued with an emphasis on energy
conservation, and Scouting Environment Day was observed on March 22. The
14th World Jamboree was attended by 2,500 U.S. Scouts and leaders in Norway.
The National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at Miami University,
Oxford, Ohio, in August. The Fifth Annual National Explorer Presidents'
Congress was held in
Washington, D.C., with nearly 2,500 Explorer post presidents attending.
Membership on December 31 was 5,318,070. Total members to date, 58,014,193.
1976
The bicentennial year gave 56,712 Cub Scout
packs, 61,283 Scout troops, and 22,540 Explorer posts the opportunity to
participate in the celebration of the 200th birthday of our nation. Sea
Explorers served on some of the sailing ships participating in Operation
Sail in New York Harbor on July 4. The Eagle Scout Bicentennial Celebration
during the entire summer enabled 750 Eagle Scouts and leaders to show Scouting
skills in an exhibition on the Mall in our nation's capital. More than
1,000 Scouts from around the world were hosted by BSA Scouts across the
U.S.A. Exploring had two exciting major events-2,000
Explorers competed in the Bicentennial Explorer Olympics in Fort Collins,
Colo., and the National Explorer Presidents' Congress attracted some 2,000
to Washington, D.C. During our biennial National Council meeting held in
New York, Arch Monson, Jr., of San Francisco, Calif., was elected to his
second term as president of the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouting/USA
communicative symbol was unveiled at the meeting. Alden G. Barber, Jr.,
resigned as Chief Scout Executive and Harvey L. Price, Scout Executive
of the Los Angeles Area Council, was chosen as
his successor. Thousands of members participated in energy conservation
projects and Project SOAR. Eagle badges were awarded to 27,687 Scouts.
Fifteen Scouts and Explorers met with Eagle Scout Gerald R. Ford, President
of the United States, to present the Report to the Nation during the 66th
Anniversary Celebration in February. Membership on December 31 was 4,884,082.
Total members to date, 59,311,859.
1977
The observance of the nation's bicentennial
ended in August with 137,335 Cub Scout packs, Scout troops, and Explorer
posts completing activities related to the New Spirit of '76. A new program
theme, Wonderful World of Scouting, was introduced in the fall. The 1977
National Scout Jamboree was held at Moraine State Park, Pa., with 28,601
participants. The national Executive Board elected Downing B. Jenks of
St. Louis, Mo., as president. At the request of President Jimmy Carter
during the annual Report to the Nation, a renewed emphasis was placed on
energy conservation, and Scouting Energy Day was observed in the fall by
thousands of energy conservation activities across the country. In addition,
Scouting Environment Day was held again in the spring. The National Explorer
Presidents' Congress was held in Washington, D.C., and the National Order
of the Arrow Conference convened at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The new four-function plan of council and district operation was developed
to be introduced in early 1978. Delegations of Scouts and leaders took
part in national jamborees held in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and
Jamaica. Membership on December 31 was 4,718,138. Total members to date,
60,551,879.
1978
The new four-function plan of council and
district operation was introduced and was well received. Age changes related
to advancement for handicapped persons were approved. Over 300,000 Cub
Scouts attended 1,800 Cub Scout day camps conducted by local councils.
The annual National Explorer Presidents' Congress was held in Washington,
D.C., and the biennial National Explorer Olympics was held in Fort Collins,
Colo. There was a new emphasis on family camping as local council camp
properties were being made available. Philmont Scout Ranch and Explorer
Base and the five other national high-adventure bases had an attendance
of 23,835. Volunteer training was established as a major program function
for the movement. Mark W. Leinmiller, Marietta, Ga., was selected for the
Antarctic Scientific Program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation
and the Reader's Digest Association. Downing B. Jenks, St. Louis, Mo.,
was elected to his second term as president during the 1978 National Council
Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. The annual Report to the Nation was held in February
and included a meeting with President Jimmy Carter. A Tom C. Clark Award
was established by the National Park Foundation for outstanding conservation
projects. A revised God and Country program for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts,
and Explorers was announced, and the National Protestant Committee on Scouting
was organized. Parent-teacher associations continued as the largest single
user of the Scouting program. A ''celebrity'' public service advertising
campaign was introduced and was headed by former President and Eagle Scout
Gerald R. Ford. Official contingents took part in international Scouting
events in Japan, Mexico, Israel, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland, Scotland,
and Ireland. The United Way continued as the largest source of support
for local councils, and a Principles of Affiliation was approved. The Boy
Scouts of America concluded its fifth consecutive year without a deficit.
Membership on December 31, was 4,493,491.
Total members to date, 61,898,410.
1979
The national office moved to Irving, Texas,
after 25 years in New Jersey, the National Executive Institute was relocated
to Arlington, Texas, and the Johnston National Scouting Museum was temporarily
closed. Plans were completed for the Eastern Distribution Center to move
to Charlotte, N.C., in early 1980. John D. Murchison, Dallas, Texas,
was elected president but died shortly thereafter. Downing B. Jenks, St.
Louis, Mo., agreed to continue as president. J. L. Tarr, Scout Executive
of the Circle Ten Council, Dallas, Texas, became Chief Scout Executive
upon the retirement of Harvey L. Price. The
annual Report to the Nation was held in February and included a meeting
with President Jimmy Carter. New editions of The Official Boy Scout Handbook
and Wolf Cub Scout Book were published. The Cub Scout Trainers' Wood Badge
was approved following field testing. The biennial National Order of the
Arrow Conference was held at Colorado State University in Fort Collins,
and the annual National Explorer Presidents' Congress was held in Washington,
D.C. Other Explorer events were the first National Law Enforcement Explorer
Conference and the first National Aviation Explorer Fly-In. Because the
XV World Jamboree in Iran was postponed, 1,000 Boy Scouts and leaders attended
Dalajamb in Sweden. ''Scouting . . . the Better Life'' was announced as
the 1980-82 national program theme. A grant of $2,124,500 was given by
the Fleischmann Foundation for a development program at the high-adventure
bases. A National Funding Division at the national office was created,
and a ''Campaign for Character'' was approved to raise $49 million for
national needs in the 1980s. Membership on December 31 was 4,284,469. Total
members to date, 63,388,065.
1980 { Top of
Page }
The 70th anniversary year concluded with gains
in both membership and units. Outfitted in colorful new uniforms designed
by Oscar de la Renta, the
movement advanced into another decade of service to the nation.
In support of
the 1980 National Census, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers
passed out
fliers to houses and apartments across the country urging participation
in the
census taking. Cub Scouting celebrated its 50th anniversary during
1980 and
was highlighted by the registration of the 30 millionth Cub Scout
since 1930.
The annual Report to the Nation presentation ceremony was held
in February,
with youth representatives of Scouting's three divisions having
the opportunity
to meet with President Jimmy Carter. Dr. Thomas C. MacAvoy of
Corning,
N.Y., was elected president of the BSA during the 1980 National
Council
meeting in New Orleans, La. A new Official Patrol Leader Handbook
was
issued, giving strong emphasis to the patrol method for instilling
qualities of
leadership. A year-long health education program called ''The
Fabulous Human
Machine,'' funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was
introduced to emphasize the tenets of the Scout Oath, ''. . . To keep myself
physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.'' More than 1,200 Explorers
and leaders attended the 10th National Explorer Presidents' Congress in
Phoenix, Ariz., and more than 2,300 participants took part in the biennial
National Explorer Olympics in Fort Collins, Colo. The first National Explorer
Winter Olympics was held in Squaw Valley, Calif., featuring Olympic-style
competition in downhill and cross-country skiing, biathlon, and skating.
In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, kits containing materials
related to energy education and conservation were sent to
councils throughout America. An agreement was signed with the Heritage
Conservation and Recreation Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior
whereby Boy Scout troops and Explorer posts would monitor natural landmarks
administered by HCRS. More than 500 Boy Scouts and leaders represented
BSA at jamborees and activities in Switzerland, Scotland, Denmark, and
Canada. A fire destroyed the second floor of the national office in November,
but rebuilding plans were prepared immediately and satellite offices were
leased to provide space for displaced employees
until reconstruction was completed. Membership on December 31 was 4,326,082.
Total members to date, 64,840,661.
1981
For the second consecutive year, the Boy Scouts
of America showed gains in membership and total units. The 10th National
Scout Jamboree was held at Fort A. P. Hill, Va., July 29-August 4, with
more than 30,000 boys and leaders participating from across the U.S. and
22 other countries. The annual Report to the Nation, which included a visit
with President Ronald Reagan, was held in February. Dr. Thomas C. MacAvoy,
Corning, N.Y., was reelected president. The National Explorer Presidents'
Congress was held in Indianapolis, Ind., and the National Order of the
Arrow Conference convened at the University of Texas
at Austin. Philmont Scout Ranch and four other national high-adventure
bases had attendance of 15,517. A new Official Scoutmaster Handbook
was released, completing the trilogy of basic literature of Boy Scouting.
Murray, Ky., was picked as the site for thenew Boy Scout Museum.Nearly
64,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers earned religious emblems while
4,140 adult volunteers received religious recognition. More than 3,000
Boy Scouts and leaders represented BSA at jamborees and Scouting events
in Switzerland, Scotland, Denmark, and Canada. The year-long program emphasis,
''Save Our American Resources (SOAR) . . . for the Better
Life,'' continued through August 1982. Membership on December 31 was 4,355,723.
Total members to date, 70,774,443.
1982
A milestone in the history of the BSA was
passed in September with the registering of the millionth Eagle Scout,
Alexander M. Holsinger. For the third consecutive year, the BSA showed
gains in membership and units. ''Shaping Tomorrow,'' a project aimed at
developing an effective strategy for addressing crucial issues of the 1980s,
was initiated in January. Four of the program concepts from Foundations
for Growth-Tiger Cubs, BSA; Bear Enrichment; Prepared for Today; and Explorer
Marketing-were field tested and implemented. ''Campaign for Character''
continued through 1982 with $40 million of the $49 million goal reported
as of December 31. Representatives from Scouting's three program divisions
presented the annual Report to the Nation and had the opportunity to meet
President Ronald Reagan. Edward C. Joullian III of Oklahoma City, Okla.,
was elected president of the BSA during the 1982 National Council meeting
in Atlanta, Ga. The National Explorer Presidents' Congress was held at
Philadelphia, Pa., and the National Explorer Olympics convened at Fort
Collins, Colo. Cub Scouting published the Cub Scout Leader Book which combines
five separate books-the Cubmaster's Pack Book, the Den Leader's Handbook,
the Webelos Leader's Book, the Den Leaders Coach Book, and the Pack Committee
Book-into one volume. Philmont Scout Ranch and
the other four high-adventure bases had an attendance of 24,833. The Backpacking
merit badge was introduced. ''Catch the Scouting Spirit'' was announced
as the national program theme for 1983-84. More than 3,800 Boy Scouts and
leaders took part in international Scouting events in Canada, Australia,
China, and Liechtenstein. Membership, December 31, was 4,542,449. Total
members to date, 68,140,738.
1983
The Boy Scouts of America showed gains in
both membership and units for the fourth consecutive year. The Shaping
Tomorrow project began implementing better methods of marketing, servicing,
and delivering of our full program and mission. Shaping Tomorrow included
strategy and structural recommendations for strengthening the organization.
Campaign for Character culminated with $52.5 million reported; this was
$3.5 million over the goal for financing major needs in the 1980s. The
annual Report to the Nation presentation ceremony was held in February,
with youth representatives of Scouting's three divisions having the opportunity
to meet with President Ronald Reagan. The Boy Scouts of America received
the Margaret Pope Hovey Award from the President's Committee on Employment
of the Handicapped for outstanding contributions to ehabilitation and employment
of handicapped persons. The BSA had registered more than 200,000 youth
with handicapping conditions. Tiger Cubs, BSA, for 7-year-old boys and
their adult partners began its second year of existence providing 123,000
families an opportunity to grow closer together (the Tiger Cub motto: Search,
Discover, Share). Pilot testing of Varsity Scouting, a program for boys
14 through 17, was concluded with a recommendation for implementation to
begin in 1984. Varsity Scouting places emphasis on advancement, high adventure,
service, personal development, and special programs and events. Explorer
membership reached its highest level, increasing by 25.2 percent over last
year, which included 354,286 Career Awareness Explorers. ''The Great Outdoor
Quest'' became the theme for Scout camping as troop camping increased more
than 6 percent and Scout attendance increased by 5 percent. The National
Order of the Arrow Conference was held in
August at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. Order of the Arrow
membership increased by almost 7,000 since 1982. This was the year for
both the XV World Scout Jamboree and the 29th World Conference. The jamboree
was held July 4-16, in Kananaskis Country, a provincial park in the Canadian
Rockies. The Boy Scouts of America hosted the World Conference in Detroit,
Mich., in July with representatives from more than 100 countries. Membership
on December 31, 1983, was 4,688,953. Total members to date, 70,014,715.
1984
Sanford N. McDonnell of St. Louis, Mo., was
elected President of the BSA during the 1984 National Council Meeting in
Salt Lake City, Utah. The third edition of the Fieldbook was produced.
Introduction to Family Camping was published and the Family Camping Association
was launched. The new association sought to enhance the richness of family
life through experiences in the out-of-doors. Dioxin contamination was
discovered at the site of the 1981 National Scout Jamboree, Fort A. P.
Hill, Va. After extensive soil testing, it was determined that the extent
of any exposure was no danger to individuals
who attended the 1981 jamboree and the 1985 jamboree would be held at this
facility as originally planned. The Boy Scouts of America completed its
fifth
consecutive year of membership gain. Varsity Scouting, for boys 14
through 17, was launched nationwide, accompanied by a full complement of
literature, training, and program materials. More than 2,000 Varsity Scout
teams were organized, serving about 30,000 Varsity Scouts. Exploring membership
showed a dramatic increase in 1984, primarily a result of the phenomenal
success of Career Awareness and in-school
Exploring. The National Eagle Scout Association awarded 30 $3,000 college
scholarships from the W. P. Clements National Eagle Scout Scholarship Fund
and 6 $1,000 grants from the Elks foundation. The Whitney M. Young, Jr.,
Service Award was presented to 36 individuals and organizations in recognition
of their outstanding service to youth in low-income situations. Membership
on December 31, 1984, was 4,748,511. Total members to date, 72,014,206.
1985
The Boy Scouts of America celebrated its 75th
anniversary. ''Pride in the Past . . . Footsteps to the Future'' was the
theme that told the story through exciting events conducted during the
year. Ben H. Love became the BSA's eighth Chief Scout Executive. The high
point of the year was the 11th National Scout Jamboree held July 24-30,
at Fort A. P. Hill, Va. More than 32,000 Scouts and leaders from around
the world attended this event. First Lady Nancy Reagan was a special visitor
at the jamboree. During May, June, and July, the BSA lit a Heritage Campfire
outside every state capitol. Campfire ashes were placed in a wooden
box the shape of that state. The box was added to a Heritage Campfire
Caravan which began in Washington State and traveled 7,600 miles through
the country and through 40 state capitals. Following 3 months on the road,
the caravan arrived at the site of the 1985 National Scout Jamboree, its
final destination. A BSA history book titled The Boy Scouts: An American
Adventure was produced in cooperation with author Robert W. Peterson and
American Heritage Publishing Company. Youth membership increased for the
sixth consecutive year, registering a 2.7 percent gain over 1984. Cub Scouting
introduced a new emphasis on Cub Scout sports. The Order of the Arrow presented
104 camperships totaling more than $4,000 to
American-Indian Boy Scouts. Membership in the Order of the Arrow increased
significantly versus 1984. The BSA Scouting for the Handicapped program
was cited for its innovative approaches in serving the handicapped and
was the recipient of the 1985 National Organization on Disability Award.
Membership on December 31, 1985, was 4,845,040. Total members to date,
73,639,425.
1986
On September 1, the Boy Scouts of America
took a new and dramatic step to serve boys in all school grades. Membership
requirements for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts became primarily based on grade
in school, rather than age. The plan was expanded to included first-grade
boys as Tiger Cubs and second-grade boys as Wolf Cub Scouts. The program
included plans for expanding Webelos Scouting to 2 years for fourth- and
fifth-graders. In the first 4 months of the expanded program, Cub Scout
membership increased by 14.3 percent compared to the previous year. The
BSA was touched by the tragic Challenger disaster. Two of the crew members
were active in Scouting as youths. Lt. Col. Ellison S. Onizuka attained
the Eagle rank in 1964 in Holualoa, Hawaii. Dr. Ronald E. McNair reached
Star rank as a youth in Lake City, S.C. Boys' Life magazine, one of the
50 largest magazines in the nation, celebrated its 75th anniversary. The
biennial meeting of the National Council held in Louisville, Ky., brought
some 2,600 key volunteer and professional leaders in Scouting together.
Charles M. Pigott, president of PACCAR, Inc., Bellevue, Wash., was elected
president. The National Court of Honor presented 19 Honor Medals, 71 Heroism
Awards, and 189 Medals of Merit. There were 26,840 youths that advanced
to the rank of Eagle Scout and 13 Sea Explorers who received the Quartermaster
Award. The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was presented to 58 outstanding
men. In response to a request by President Reagan, the BSA conducted a
nationwide Donor Awareness Good Turn to inform American families of the
urgent need for donated human organs and tissue. Families were encouraged
to discuss their wishes related to providing ''a gift
of life'' when a member dies suddenly. Some 597,823 Scouts across the country
distributed more than l4 million brochures to families in their local neighborhoods
and communities. More than 2 million mailing inserts were distributed by
125 public service institutions. The Good Turn message was delivered by
346 newspapers to an estimated audience of more than 21 million readers.
The BSA ended 1986 with a 7.5 percent increase, its seventh consecutive
year of membership increase and the largest in 30 years. Membership on
December 31, 1986, was 5,170,979. Total members to date, 83,686,624.
1987
The Boy Scouts of America began to address
five ''unacceptables'' in American society-drug abuse, hunger, child abuse,
illiteracy, and youth unemployment. The nation's largest anti-drug abuse
education campaign was launched with release of eight million copies of
a booklet titled Drugs: A Deadly Game for members, chartered organizations,
schools, and local institutions. Included in the anti-drug package were
a videotape; a poster showing how drugs, alcohol, and smoking damage the
human body; and a guide for teachers and parents. The BSA began planning
a food collection drive for 1988 to combat hunger. To help parents, teachers,
and Scout leaders deal with child abuse, a booklet called Child Abuse:
Let's Talk About It was distributed. A second booklet, Child Sexual Abuse:
How to Deal with It, was released for training professional and volunteer
Scouters. To meet the challenge of youth unemployment, the national Exploring
Division promoted Career Awareness Exploring, which exposes high school
students to various vocations and shows them what is required to be successful
in the adult job market. The division also renewed its effort to encourage
major corporations to support Exploring in the communities they serve.
The effort, called the Exploring Impact Plan, resulted in the organization
of 800 new Explorer posts. The Boy Scout Division reemphasized the importance
of a Scout advancing steadily to First Class rank; new materials to foster
advancement were made available to troops. New troop leaders were given
help for immediate training with the release of three Fast Start videotapes
explaining their sponsibilities. Cub Scout leaders also received Fast Start
videos that discussed their positions. A new edition of the Webelos Scout
Book, featuring five new activity badges boys could earn, was
published. More Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts went camping this year; total
camping participation rose to 817,582 youths, an increase of 8 percent
over that of 1986. About 3,000 BSA members attended the 16th World Jamboree
in Australia. For the eighth consecutive year, the BSA's youth membership
increased; the gain was 3.5 percent. Total membership on December 31, 1987,
was 5,347,098. Total members to date, 78,353,590.
1988
The largest national Good Turn since World
War II was held in November when Scouting for Food sent the BSA's youth
and adult leaders into their neighborhoods to collect food for the needy.
The harvest was more than 60 million containers of food. Cooperating in
the drive were Quaker Oats, United Way of America, the National Guard,
scores of food store chains, and many local organizations. Drugs: A Deadly
Game was again used by thousands of Scouting units, schools, and community
organizations to educate young people to the hazards of drugs, alcohol,
and tobacco. Coca Cola USA lent its support to the campaign, which received
the prestigious 1988 Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives.
In its efforts to reduce child abuse, the BSA distributed two publications,
How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parent's
Guide, plus a videotape with an instructor's guide for training volunteer
leaders. A 2-year Webelos Scouting program was introduced; for the first
time fourth-graders were eligible to become Webelos Scouts. Henceforth,
both fourth- and fifth-graders could participate in Webelos Scouting to
prepare for Boy Scouting. Resident camping for Cub Scouts was approved,
and many councils opened weeklong camps for Cub Scouts while continuing
to operate Cub Scout day camps. Boy Scouting received a big boost in March
from a closed-circuit teleconference broadcast nationwide by satellite.
Television personality Hugh Downs, a longtime Scouting supporter, hosted
the teleconference, which led to the organization of 8,132 new troops.
The Exploring Impact Plan was continued and brought scores of national
corporations into sponsorship of Exploring. The Exploring Division also
implemented ExplorEmphasis, a program to increase membership and the number
of special-interest Explorer posts through improved training of volunteer
and professional Scouters. At the biennial meeting of the National Council
in San Diego, Calif., Eagle Scout Harold S. Hook, chairman and chief executive
officer of American General Corp., was elected BSA president. Youth membership
rose by 1.3 percent, the ninth straight annual increase. Total membership
on December 31, 1988, was 5,377,493. Total members to date, 80,589,269.
1989
The 12th National Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill,
Va., drew 33,000 Scouts and leaders for a week's worth of challenges and
fun. A highlight was the appearance of President Bush, who praised the
Scouting movement for its fight against drug abuse. ''You are leading the
youth of America by example,'' the President said. Boy Scout advancement
and troop operation were revamped to give Scouts a more contemporary program.
The changes brought by the new Troop Operations Plan included separate
patrols for new Scouts, new advancement requirements to foster a Scout's
progress, enhanced activities for Scouts with a year or so of experience,
and advanced activities for older Scouts. The changes are reflected in
the 10th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook, which was scheduled for release
in January 1990. Cub Scouting instituted a ''Renewal Plan for Separated
Cub Scouts'' to invite dropouts back into the program. Local councils that
tried the plan reported a 40 to 50 percent return of dropouts. The Exploring
Division continued ExplorEmphasis for the second year, seeking to expand
and improve Exploring in local councils. To help market the program, videos
titled Let's Go Exploring and A Choice to Participate were introduced.
The BSA continued its attack on the ''unacceptables.'' The second annual
Scouting for Food drive netted 72 million
containers of food for the nation's needy. A new package of materials
for Drugs: A Deadly Game was distributed. It included an 18-page brochure,
a comic book-style true story of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent,
a body chart showing the effects of drugs, alcohol, and smoking on the
human body, and a teacher's guide. Advice for preventing sexual abuse of
children was incorporated into all training of adult Scouters, and a video
called A Time to Tell was produced for showing to Boy
Scout troops. The BSA continued its effort to reduce illiteracy by establishing
a book service called BSA Book Power. Youth membership rose by .3 percent,
the 10th consecutive year of gain. Total membership on December 31, 1989,
was 5,363,593. Total members to date, 82,998,087.
1990 { Top of
Page }
The Boy Scouts of America responded to the
needs of youth with a vision that was both global in its scope and local
in its effectiveness. A National Council contingent travelled to the Kremlin
to explore Scouting opportunities in the USSR, and then to the Vatican
to present Pope John Paul II with the BSA's Distinguished Citizen of the
World Commendation. The emerging Scout associations of Hungary and Czechoslovakia
received grants from the BSA's World Friendship Fund. Across America, the
new 10th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook enjoyed overwhelming endorsement
from Scouts, the public, and the media. Among its messages were guidelines
to help Scouts fight the five ''unacceptables'' of drug abuse, hunger,
child abuse, illiteracy, and youth unemployment. It also helped Scouts
realize the importance of caring for the environment and encouraged them
to roll up their sleeves and go to work for the land. The initial demand
for a million copies of the manual brought the total circulation of the
Handbook since 1910 to 33,860,000. Each copy of the new
manual contained the Scouting publication How to Protect Your Children
from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parent's Guide. Coupled with Drugs:
A Deadly Game, it provided parents, teachers, and other adults with the
most informative educational materials available. In its third year, the
BSA's Scouting for Food National Good Turn again flooded the nation's food
banks with canned goods. President George Bush honored the program for
its 1989 success with a Presidential End Hunger Award. Training opportunities
for Scout leaders were enhanced by the opening of the new Center for Professional
Development in Westlake, Texas, to house BSA's
Professional Development Division. Eagle Scout Richard H. Leet, executive
vice-president of AMOCO Corporation, was elected president of the
BSA, thus ensuring the continuation of superb national leadership. Youth
membership rose by 1.4 percent, the 11th straight annual increase.
On December 31, 1990, total membership was 5,445,899. Total members to
date, 85,292,091.
1991
Scouting continued to respond to pressing
societal changes by seeking new ways to meet young people's needs. A primary
goal-to contact all youth who would benefit from Scouting-was furthered
by the BSA's Learning for Life subsidiary, which took a values-based curriculum
into the classroom to reach children who would not otherwise be in a
character-building youth program. Reaching out to a growing segment of
the population, Hispanic Emphasis placed professional staff in local councils
to support Scouting in Hispanic communities. Cub Scouting introduced two
programs: Ethics in Action to promote ethical decision making, and
the BSA family program to strengthen the family from within. Membership
grew for the tenth consecutive year in Tiger Cubs, BSA; participation increased
in Cub Scouting's day, family, and resident camping. Boy Scouting's
outdoor programs also expanded. New outdoor skills instruction seminars
increased Scout leaders' confidence in teaching skills to Scouts. A newly
published Conservation Handbook promised to become an essential reference
for Scout leaders and conservation project managers. The TRAIL Boss program
(Teaching Resources And Individual Leadership) was developed by BSA and
seven federal agencies to teach volunteers conservation skills. Four new
merit badge subjects were introduced. More than a thousand BSA members
attended the 17th World Jamboree in Korea. Scouts continued to combat the
five unacceptables-drug abuse, child abuse, illiteracy, youth unemployment,
and hunger. The national Good Turn, Scouting for Food, was the largest
food collection effort in the United States in
1991. Exploring emphasized career preparation for young men and women through
formation of community-sponsored posts; a new video, Moments in Common,
introduced values-based post Advisor training. The DeWitt Wallace-Reader's
Digest Fund awarded a $2.3 million grant for BSA professional recruitment.
Redbook magazine's October 1991 issue carried sixteen pages about
Scouting; the special supplement titled ''The Adventure Begins!''
drew an enthusiastic response from parents. In a year that saw several
eastern European countries determined to provide Scouting for their
young people, BSA funded training for Scout leaders from the former Soviet
Union, funded the writing of the Russian Scout handbook, sponsored
the first Czechoslovakian and Hungarian youth leaders participating in
the International Camp Staff program, and hosted a Czechoslovakian Scouting
professional at BSA National Executive Institute training. On December
31, 1991, total BSA membership was 5,319,226. Total members to date, 87,158,867.
1992
The Boy Scouts of America moved forward to
meet the future with a commitment to make Scouting more widely available
than ever. Analysis of future needs led to implementation of the BSA's
new Strategic Plan to guide the Scouting movement through the 1990s and
prepare it for the twenty-first century. The plan restructured the six
BSA regions into four and addressed the need for local councils to prepare
to serve the steadily increasing number of youths who could benefit from
Scouting. A new Urban Emphasis encouraged Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops,
and Explorer posts to form in low-income and minority communities. Hispanic
Emphasis, in its third year, increased the bilingual publication of couting
literature to serve Spanish-speaking parents and leaders. A grant from
the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund launched a college internship program
aimed at enlarging the pool of female and ethnic minority candidates for
professional Scouting positions. School-based Learning for Life, designed
to teach positive values and life skills in a classroom setting, completed
its first full year of operation; nearly 700,000 youth participated. Committed
to assisting the emerging Association of Siberian Scouts, the BSA sent
an experienced Scouting professional to work in Siberia, and facilitated
the first Scout exchange between BSA local councils and Scouts in Perm,
Russia. A Cub Scout Academics program debuted. Boy Scout summer camping
attracted 70.1 percent of Scout troops and 55.2 percent of all Scouts,
the highest percentages on record. Exciting new outdoor and service adventures
were introduced through the TRAIL Boss program for conservation education
and natural resource stewardship. Emphasis on growth in traditional Exploring
resulted in substantial increases in membership and posts. The national
Good Turn, Scouting for Food, was once again the nation's largest food
collection effort. The ability of Scouts and leaders to respond at a moment's
notice was demonstrated in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, when Scouts brought
to the devastated area food, clothing, and hands to help. John L. Clendenin,
chairman and chief executive officer of BellSouth Corporation and a Silver
Buffalo Award recipient, was elected national BSA president. Jere B. Ratcliffe,
a Distinguished Eagle Scout, was chosen to succeed Ben H. Love as Chief
Scout Executive, the BSA's top professional leader (assuming office in
1993). On December 31, 1992, total BSA membership was 5,339,660. Total
members to date, 88,830,141.
1993
On February 1, Jere B. Ratcliffe became the
Boy Scouts of America's ninth Chief Scout Executive. The BSA implemented
programs to advance its National Strategic Plan in four areas critical
to growth and a quality Scouting program: traditional unit growth, Urban
Emphasis, ndowment emphasis, and positive public relations. To go where
youth are and where Scouting is most needed, the BSA devised strategies
to bring Scouting to the nation's urban areas. With the new Operation First
Class initiative, efforts to reach urban youth received board-level attention
from local councils. Professional staff members from councils throughout
the nation participated in seminars on the needs of urban youth. A new
Train-the-Trainer Conference manual was produced to train the people who
train leaders in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Exploring,
commissioner service, and district and council Scouting. Nearly 480,000
Boy Scouts, representing more than 55 percent of Scout membership and more
than 70 percent of units, went camping in 1993. Cub Scout camping
drew nearly 573,000 youth, including 5,000 new campers. Nearly 26,000 boys
ages 12 to 18, from every state and sixty-four countries, attended
the 1993 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. More than
25,000 youth participated in challenging outdoor activities at the BSA's
high-adventure bases. The Council Exploring Growth Plan achieved its third
consecutive year of membership growth, adding 13,810 to Exploring's 1992
membership. More schools adopted the BSA's popular Learning for Life program.
In its second year of operation, Learning for Life brought positive values
and essential life skills to nearly 738,000 students in classrooms nationwide.
Educators and council professionals attended the first Learning for Life
conference. Organizers of the Scouting movement in the countries of the
former Soviet Union turned to the BSA for help in producing the first Russian
Scout Handbook; 20,000 copies were distributed. The BSA established a new
award, named the James E. West Fellowship Award in honor of the first Chief
Scout Executive, to recognize major contributors to council endowment trust
funds. On December 31, 1993, total BSA membership was 5,355,401.
Total members to date, 90,525,242.