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Scouting in the United States is dominated by 1 million-memberScouting America and theGirl Scouts of the USA and other associations that are recognized by one of the internationalScouting organizations. Other scouting organizations such as Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls continue to grow steadily. There are also a few smaller, independent groups that are considered to be "Scout-like" or otherwise Scouting related.
Theprogressive movement in the United States was at its height during the early twentieth century. With the migration of families from rural to urban centers, there were concerns among some people that young men were no longer learning patriotism and individualism. Starting in the 1870s, theYMCA was an early promoter ofsocial welfare and other reforms involving young men around a program of mental, physical, social and religious development. Early corn clubs for farm boys began to develop into the4-H around 1902.[1] In 1896, years before the Scouting movement was founded byBaden-Powell he met the American born Chief of Scouts in British Africa,Frederick Russell Burnham, and learned from him the fundamentals of scouting, inspiring him and giving him the plan for the program and the code of honor of Scouting for Boys, and thus restoring the old traditions of American Youth.[2][3]
Ernest Thompson Seton started theWoodcraft Indians in 1902 and publishedThe Birch Bark Roll of the Woodcraft Indians in 1906.[4]Daniel Carter Beard started theSons of Daniel Boone in 1905. When Baden-Powell created the first Scouting program in 1907, he used elements of Setons' work in hisScouting for Boys.[5] Several small local Scouting programs started in the U.S. soon after, most notably theBoy Scouts of the United States (BSUS), the National Scouts of America (NSA) and the Peace Scouts of California—these later merged into the BSA soon after it was formed.[6] TheSouthern Baptist Convention'sRoyal Ambassadors was founded in 1908 for elementary-school-aged boys.[7] The YMCA in Michigan was organizing Scout troops based onScouting for Boys as early as 1909.[8]Salvation Army founderWilliam Booth met with Baden-Powell for discussion about a possible Salvationist Scouting program. The Salvation Army thus began itsLife Saving Scouts of the World in 1913.[9] The BSUS was started by the National Highway Protective Association and led by Peter S. Bomus.William Verbeck, Adjutant General of New York State, was leader of the National Scouts. Both the BSUS and NSA were both more military in style.[10]
Chicago publisherW. D. Boyce was visitingLondon,England in 1909 where he met theUnknown Scout and learned of the Scouting movement.[11] Boyce secured the rights to the Scouting program in the U.S.,[citation needed] and soon after his return, Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.[12]Edgar M. Robinson and Lee F. Hanmer became interested in the nascent BSA movement and convinced Boyce to turn the program over to theYMCA for development. Robinson enlisted Seton, Beard and other prominent leaders in the early youth movements. After initial development, Robinson turned the movement over toJames E. West who became the firstChief Scout Executive and the Scouting movement began to expand in the U.S.[1]
Other Scouting organizations were also started around 1910 and continued for some time. These include theAmerican Boy Scouts, the Polish National Alliance Scouts of Chicago, and the Rhode Island Scouts,[13] theYMMIA Scouts ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (formed November 29, 1911 merged May 21, 1913),[14][15]United Boys' Brigade of America's Scout program and California Boy Scouts.[16] The American Boy Scouts were organized byWilliam Randolph Hearst in May and June 1910 but by the end of the year Hearst had left followed by the New England Department as theNew England Boy Scouts[17] and the following year theRhode Island Boy Scouts.[18]
Other groups used the Scout name, but did not provide the Scouting program. Colonel Cody's Boy Scouts were formed in 1909 and continue as theAmerican Cadet Alliance.[19] The Michigan Forest Scouts were organized in 1911 as auxiliaries for forest fire service[20] and was a model copied by New York. These Forest Scouts were considered affiliated with the BSA.[21]
The ABS changed their name to the United States Boy Scouts in 1913 after pressure from the BSA.[22]
Boyce created theLone Scouts of America in 1915 and merged them into the BSA in 1924. TheBoy Rangers of America, an organization for younger boys, was created with help from the BSA and mainly merged in 1930.[6]
Seton restarted Woodcraft after departing from the BSA in 1915, but the program faded after his death in 1946. After helping to create the BSA and seeing it grow into a successful rival, the YMCA began the Indian Guides in 1926 using some of Seton's material.[1]
After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the BSA's rights to the "Scouting" service mark, several Scouting organizations were forced to change their names. In 1918, the Life Saving Scouts changed its name to LifeSaving Guards-Boys which led to many Life Saving units transferring to the BSA. LifeSaving Guards leader began to press for affiliation with the BSA.[9] United States Boy Scouts then changed its name to American Cadets in 1919.[23] The ABS survived for a few more years under various names before fading away.
TheColumbian Squires, run by theKnights of Columbus were formed in 1925.[7] In 1929, a special charter was granted to the Life Saving Guards-Boys from the BSA to join the two organizations together.[9]
John F. Kennedy was the first president to have been a Boy Scout.[24]
In the 1930s, a leader in theChurch of the Nazarene launchedBoy's Works and Girl's Work in the church's Southern California district, which pick it up as a district wide program in 1934.[25] While another set of Caravan forerunner programs, "Bluebirds" for young children and "Pioneers" for older children were also developed and promoted by a minister and anEagle Scout.[26] All Nazarene Scouting organizations were merged intoCaravan in 1946.[27]
TheCalvinist Cadet Corps was officially founded in 1952 inChristian Reformed Church in North America.[7] TheRoyal Rangers was founded in 1962 as a program of theAssemblies of God.[7]
In 1975, the Camp Fire Girls of America changed its membership policy to being co-ed and its name toCamp Fire.[7]
In 2001,SpiralScouts International was formed at the WiccanAquarian Tabernacle Church inIndex, Washington.[7] Although it serves a Wiccan community, it is open to members of any faith or no faith.[7] The group is small and co-ed, claiming a membership of 150 adult volunteers and 350 scouts in 2013.[7] With BSA membership controversies, the SpiralScouts offered their highest rank to those Eagle Scouts that turn in their badges to the BSA in protest.[7]
In 2003, a Boy Scouts troop in New York City'sEast Harlem neighborhood and sponsored by the Unitarian Church of All Souls broke away from the BSA over the exclusionary membership policies to start theNavigators USA, a co-ed scouting group.[7]
In 2008, theBaden-Powell Service Association was found after a Cub Scout Pack leader, David Atchley, in Washington, Missouri fought over adopting a nondiscrimination policy for the pack. The group reported 19 units in 2013.[7]
Scouting for girls began when theCamp Fire Girls were incorporated in 1910 with help from the BSA. Again, Seton's influence was established with the use of his awards scheme and Indian ceremonies.[28][29]
Other local girls groups formed in 1910, includingGirl Scouts inDes Moines, Iowa and Girl Guides formed by David W. Ferry inSpokane, Washington.[30] In 1911, these two groups planned to merge with the Camp Fire Girls and form the Girl Pioneers of America,[31] but relationships fractured and the merger failed.[30]Grace Seton quit the group over the reject of her committee's draft of a handbook followed by Linda Beard in September 1911 over difference with the Gulicks.[30] However, there was an organizational meeting held by Lina Beard on February 7, 1912, in Flushing, New York of a Girl Pioneers of America group.[32] Lord Baden-Powell had authorized an American version of the Girl Guides manual through the Henry Holt Publishing Company, who then approached Lina Beard to write the manual.[30]
The Girl Guides of America, later the Girl Scouts of the United States and finally theGirl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), were founded byJuliette Gordon Low in 1912 and were granted a congressional charter on March 16, 1950.[33] They are ayouth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. Founded byJuliette Gordon Low in 1912, it was organized after Low metRobert Baden-Powell, the founder ofScouting, in 1911.[34] Upon returning toSavannah, Georgia, she telephoned a distant cousin, saying, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"[35]
Membership is organized according to grade, with activities designed for each level. The GSUSA is a member of theWorld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). A 1994Chronicle of Philanthropy poll showed that the Girl Scouts was ranked by the public as the eighth "most popular charity/non-profit in America" of over 100 charities.[36][37][needs update] It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls".[38]
The main national Scouting organizations in the U.S. are theBoy Scouts of America and theGirl Scouts of the USA. The BSA is a member of theWorld Organization of the Scout Movement while the GSUSA is a member of theWorld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the two main international Scouting associations. "Scouting"[39] in the United States is the exclusive[40] trademark[41] of theBoy Scouts of America. On February 18, 2020, the Boy Scouts of America filed for a Chapter 11 financial restructuring due tosex abuse lawsuits.[42]
There are a number of other youth programs in the U.S. that are not recognized by any international Scouting associations, but use many methods of Scouting. Some of these programs are explicitly religious, while others are breakaway organizations which disagree with the policies of the BSA and GSUSA.
TheInternational Scout and Guide Fellowship is an alumni association open to former members of theWorld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, theWorld Organization of the Scout Movement and to adults who believe in the Scouting ideals; the ISGF has a number of members in the U.S.[43]
Navigators USA is an Americannon-aligned Scouting organization. It has over 90 affiliated chapters in the United States and the United Kingdom.[44]
TheBaden-Powell Scouts' Association, a UK Scouting organization and part of theWorld Federation of Independent Scouts, have had a small presence in the U.S. since 1998.[45]
In 2006, the Baden Powell Scouts were formed, operating groups in Florida, Missouri and Connecticut,[46] with lone Scouts supported by them in 12 states. They are members ofWFIS and claim to be affiliated to the "Baden-Powell Scouts' Association of England".[47]
The Canada-basedFederation of North-American Explorers (FNE) — a candidate association of theInternational Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe[48] — has 19 active groups in the US, the oldest of which is the North Star Group located in the Philadelphia area.[49]
TheIsraeli Scouts Movement operates 18 units in the U.S. and one in Canada to reach out to Israeli youth and operates a special programme for reimigration to Israel.[50][51][52]
TheZwiązek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting Association) also has some presence in the U.S.Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség (Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris) has also some presence in the U.S.[53][54]There are also some other Scouts-in-Exile groups in the U.S.:Organization of Russian Young Pathfinders,[55]Latvian,[56][57]Lithuanian[58][59]Estonian[60] andUkrainian groups. Some of them are also members of the Boy Scouts of America.
After much success, theYMCA Indian Guides program declined until it was dissolved in 2001 and reformed as the YMCA Adventure Guides, no longer using American Indian themes. The Indian Guides program was reformed outside the YMCA as the Native Sons and Daughters in 2002.[62]
The Camp Fire Girls are now a co-ed organization known asCamp Fire with about 300,000 youth members.[7]
Another Scout-like organization is the Club de Exploradores with groups in the United States, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.[63]
Other new organizations with inclusive policies include:
In response to the BSA membership policies that limit participation by girls and avowed homosexuals, and exclude atheists, agnostics, some youth organizations using Scouting principles have formed.
The BSA converted its In School Scouting program toLearning for Life in 1992. LFL uses no Scout emblems and has no policies on religion, gender or sexuality. The BSA's career-orientedExploring program was moved to LFL in 1998 and returned to the Boy Scouts of America in 2016.
There are several organizations related to but not part of any Scouting organizations.
Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed service fraternity organized to provide community service, leadership development, and social opportunities. It was founded by students who were formerBoy Scouts and Scouters as a way to continue participating in the ideals of Scouting at the college level.Epsilon Tau Pi is fraternity whose membership is open only toEagle Scouts.
Scouting for All and The Inclusive Scouting Network were formed to promote tolerance and diversity within the BSA in the face of its policies that excluded non-theists and "open or avowed" homosexuals from membership or leadership positions.[71][72] ScoutPride is a similar organization. Scouting for All appears to have been mostly inactive since around 2009 as evidenced by the last copyright day on the now offline website and referencing a March 3, 2009Fox News article as itsLatest News.[73]
In response to opposition to the BSA's policies, several organizations were formed to support the BSA. These included now-defunct organizations such as theAmerican Civil Rights Union's Scouting Legal Defense Fund, and Save Our Scouts.
There are several organizations that offer resources for Scouting—theU.S. Scouting Service Project is one of the largest.
In my latest book [He-who-sees-in-the-dark] I have treated of Frederick Burnham, that famous American scout who was commissioned by the British Army to help them in their engagements with the Boers. There is an especial significance for those of us in Scouting in this man's list, for he was engaged for this work by Lord Baden Powell, who was then connected with the British Army in Africa, and who had unbounded admiration for the scouting methods of Frederick Burnham. So these two pioneers, each of whom was to have such immeasurable influence in restoring the old traditions of American youth, met in Africa, years before the Scouting movement was ever thought of.
Burnham is the sufficient and heroic figure, model and living example, who inspired and gave Baden-Powell the plan for the program and the code of honor of Scouting for Boys
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