The Investment that Lasts a Lifetime

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, teaches them citizenship, and develops personal fitness.

For over a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes — and, through over a century of experience, knows — that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.

Resources

Community Events

Fundraising

Service

In 2010, service projects were conducted by more than 2.7 million youth members and more than 1.1 million volunteers.

28,335,249 service hours were reported in 2010.
$605,240,919 of service was provided by Scouts and leaders to communities across America. (Based on the $21.36 Independent Sector value of volunteer time for 2010)

Service Projects most commonly reported for Journey to Excellence in 2010 include

Food collection and distribution
Litter cleanup/community beautification
Military support/appreciation
Conservation projects
National Park Service Resource

Volunteers

1,111,453 volunteers provided leadership for Scouting programs in 2010.

On average, Scout volunteers give 20 hours per month in service to Scouting. This equals approximately 266,748,720 hours of volunteer time given to support Scouting in 2010. (Source: Volunteer Outcomes Study, Research & Evaluation)

$5,697,752,659 of volunteer time was given in 2010 to support Scouting across America. (Based on $21.36 Independent Sector value of volunteer time for 2010)

Alumni

181 NASA astronauts were involved in Scouting (57.4% of astronauts). 39 are Eagle Scouts.
35.5 % of the United States Military Academy (West Point) cadets were involved in Scouting as youth. 15.6 % of cadets are Eagle Scouts.
23 % of United States Air Force Academy cadets were involved in Scouting as youth. 12 % of cadets are Eagle Scouts.

25 % of United States Naval Academy (Annapolis) midshipmen were involved in Scouting as youth. 11 % of midshipmen are Eagle Scouts.
204 members of the 112th Congress participated in Scouting as a youth and/or adult leader. 29 are Eagle Scouts.

Scout Activities and Outdoor

In 2010, nearly 1.1 million youth attended a council camp or national high-adventure camp.

Cub Scouts

271,995 attended day camp.
199,762 attended family camp.
95,150 attended long-term resident camp.

Boy Scouts

424,235 attended long-term resident camp.
61,387 attended high-adventure camp.

Venturers

5,161 attended long-term camp.
20,596 attended high-adventure camp.
22,577 attended Venturing activities.

National high adventure base—Boy Scouts and Venturers

21,201—Philmont
8,971—Florida Sea Base
4,428—Northern Tier

Other outdoor adventures

85,896—COPE
139,593—Climbing and Rappelling

Advancements and Awards

56,176 youth earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2010. (Source: Program Impact Department—Eagle Scout Service)
From 1912 to 2010 more than 2 million Boy Scouts have earned the Eagle Scout rank. (Source: National Eagle Scout Association)
Eagle Scout rank is earned by only 5 % of Boy Scouts each year. (Source: National Eagle Scout Association)

2,056,870 merit badges were earned by Boy Scouts in 2010.

110,837,443 merit badges have been earned by Boy Scouts since Scouting was established in 1910.