SOUTHERN IL SCOUTING - GSLAC

Welcome to Scouting America!

Scouting America, previously known as the Boy Scouts of America, is chartered by Congress to serve our nation’s youth by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. This organization aims to prepare young people for lives of impact and purpose. We welcome, at every level of our movement, youth and families who wish to live such a life of impact and purpose, guided by the Scout Oath and Law.

Our organization is committed to creating a welcoming, safe environment where Scouts can freely express themselves, share their experiences, and become the best version of themselves by learning from and respecting each other.

We are non-partisan. The National organization, Local Scout communities (councils), and units will ensure that their decisions, public statements, relationships with third parties, activities, and events are consistent with our non-partisan nature and maintain the welcoming and supportive nature of Scouting.

Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” The Scouting organization is composed of more than 1 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 21 and more than 628,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories.

Since its inception in 1910, more than 130 million young men and women have participated in Scouting America’s youth programs. More than 35 million adult volunteers have helped carry out this mission.

Scouting America’s programs are divided by age and activity amongst 5 programs:

CUB SCOUTS

Designed for boys and girls from Kindergarten through 5th grade, Cub Scouts focuses on building character, developing skills, and fostering a sense of community through fun and engaging activities.

SCOUTS BSA

Designed for boys and girls 11 to 17, Scouts BSA focuses on developing leadership skills, self-reliance, and community service through a variety of outdoor activities, merit badge programs, and rank advancements.

VENTURING

Designed for young men and women aged 14 to 20, Venturing emphasizes adventure, leadership, personal growth, and service.

SEA SCOUTS

Designed for young men and women aged 14 to 20, Sea Scouts focuses on maritime skills, leadership, and community service.

EXPLORING

Designed for young men and women aged 10 to 20, Exploring focuses on career exploration and development through immersive, hands-on experiences and mentorship from professionals in various fields.

Traditional Scouting programs are operated by local chartering organizations, such as religious institutions, clubs, civic associations, and educational organizations, which implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. These units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both volunteers and paid professional staff.

The Foundation of Scouting

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.

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

Scout Mission: The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Diversity Statement (GSLAC): In principle and practice, aligned with the Scouting America Mission and the Scout Oath and Law, the Greater St. Louis Area Council strives to build and foster an inclusive environment that enables, values, and promotes diversity within our organization, local community, employees, volunteers, and Scouts. We stand committed to driving forward the Scouting mission, providing equitable opportunities to all.

Membership in Scouting America

Who Can Join?

It is the philosophy of Scouting to welcome all eligible youth, regardless of race, ethnic background, or orientation, who are willing to accept Scouting’s values and meet any other requirements of membership.

We work to ensure every youth and adult member has the opportunity to join a local unit that aligns with his or her beliefs and with the experience he or she wants within the Scouting community.

No youth may be removed from any of our programs on the basis of his or her orientation, and we teach youth members to be helpful, friendly, courteous, and kind to all and to respect those whose beliefs differ from their own.

Who Can Volunteer?

To be eligible for registration, an adult leader must agree to: subscribe to the Scout Oath; fulfill the obligations of his or her position; and perform his or her duties in accordance with the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, policies, and guidelines of Scouting America.

Scouting America allows chartered organizations to select adult leaders without regard to sexual orientation, continuing Scouting’s long-standing policy of chartered organizations selecting their leaders. This allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families. This change also respects the right of religious chartered organizations to continue to choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own.

Scouting will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth to help them grow into good, strong citizens.

By focusing on the goals that unite us, we are able to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.

Levels of Scouting

National Level: This is the highest level, overseeing the entire Scouting organization in a country. It sets policies, provides resources, and offers national events and training. In the U.S., this is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA)/Scouting America National Council.

Service Territory: Scouting is divided into regions to better manage resources and support. For example, there are four Service Territories: Central, Southern, Northeast, and Western. Each region provides support and resources to councils within its area.

Area Level: Some regions are further divided into areas. Each area supports the councils within its boundaries, helping with training, events, and administration.

Council Level: Councils are local organizations that provide direct support to districts and units (such as troops and packs) within a defined geographic area. They offer programs, training, and resources, and are responsible for membership and fundraising efforts. Councils have professional staff and volunteer leadership.

District Level: Districts are sub-divisions of councils, focusing on more localized support. Districts provide program assistance, training, and resources to units. They organize district-wide events and activities, such as camporees and merit badge fairs.

Unit Level: This is the most local level and includes individual packs (Cub Scouts), troops (Scouts BSA), crews (Venturing), and ships (Sea Scouts). Units are led by adult volunteers and are where the actual Scouting program is delivered to the youth members.

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