The Boy Scout Program

Boy Scouting was founded in England by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. It was brought to the United States by William Boyce and Ernest Seton in 1910. The genesis of Boy Scouting occurred during the Boer War in South Africa. Baden-Powell was in charge of the defense of the beseiged town of Mafeking. The boys of the English townspeople were organized into groups with assigned duties of keeping the town running, in order to free the men for the defensive lines. With simple uniforms and simple tasks, the boys took to their jobs seriously, yet with boyish enthusiasm. A town under siege is a boring place for a boy, and these duties and groups gave them a purpose and excitement. Baden-Powell was credited with the success of the defense of Mafeking, and came back to England a national hero.

Years later in England, Baden Powell observed the urban youth of the Industrial Revolution, who no longer learned the ways of the outdoors and pioneers, and who formed gangs that got into trouble. He also noticed that his military training manual Aids to Scouting was a best-seller and being used by teachers and youth organizations. He remembered the success with the boys of Mafeking, and so created a program that emulated it. Along with English martial traditions he included symbology from the South African Zulu people. Many people in the United States, including Seton, were attempting similar programs. Baden Powell's idea was successful because it emphasized the right mix of:

a) personal advancement and growth as measured by mastering new skills and challenging activities,
b) older boys leading and teaching younger boys in semi-autonomous groups (patrols) with unique identities,
c) boys being of service to the community,
d) a universal moral code to live up to and follow, and
e) fun outdoor activities to keep boys interested.

As we approach the centenary of the Boy Scouts of America, we follow Baden-Powell's principles nearly unchanged. Only the specific skills the boys learn have changed with the times. Pioneer woodcraft, semaphore, and wood-fire cooking are fading into the past. Boy Scouts now learn to Leave No Trace when they travel in the natural world. Outdoor sporting equipment, radios, GPS, and satellite communications allow every boy to go where only the hardiest of their grandfathers could. Yet in Scouting, each boy starting on the trail to Eagle walks a well-trodden path. At first they are anxious and uncomfortable, being away from home, asked to do many strange and difficult things, and with only the company of older boys who seem wise and strong to guide them. As they learn Scouting skills and gain the approval of their peers, they grow confident that they too can both be a competent Scout, and teach the younger boys behind them.

The Outdoor Program is essential to Scouting. Personal and leadership skills can be taught and learned in meetings. But they can only be mastered in the testing grounds out-of-doors and in the community. Nature does not cut boys any slack. In nature boys learn the value of planning, foresight, enthusiasm, and teamwork for achieving their goals. And they have fun doing it. The principles of Scouting truly are Timeless Values.

Troop 191 follows the Boy Scouting program so that each boy will achieve personal maturity, a moral code, leadership, and community awareness. The Scout Oath and Law are our guides. We pursue a balanced Scouting program of challenging outdoor activities, community service projects, and Scouting skills for rank advancement. More than 30 of our boys have achieved the Eagle Scout rank.

Roster:
  To get a current copy of the troop roster, please send a request to Roster@Troop191RB.Org with contact information that can be verified.