Boy Scouts of America: Difference between revisions

|image = BSA_universal_emblem.svg.png

|founders = [[William D. Boyce]] (see also [[Ernest Thompson Seton]] and [[Daniel Carter Beard]]

|website = [http://www.scouting.org www.scouting.org]

|members = 2,938,698 youth<br>1,146,130 adults (2005)

The '''Boy Scouts of America''' ('''BSA''') is a [[United States of America|United States]] [[Scouting]] organization, with some presence in other countries.  The BSA is the largest [[youth organization]] in the United States; over one hundred million Americans have been members. Founded in 1910 as part of the [[Scouting|Scout Movement]], it had a registered membership of 2,938,698 youth with 1,146,130 leaders in 122,582 units as of the end of 2005.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.scouting.org/media/review/2005.html | title =Year in Review: 2005 | format = | work = | publisher =Boy Scouts of America | accessdate =2006-07-19}}</ref>  The BSA is administered mostly by committees of volunteers, but employs professionals at the higher levels of administration and for commercial activities.

The BSA sprang from the concerns of the [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive movement in the United States]] from people who sought to promote the [[social welfare]] of young men. The BSA adheres to the [[Scout method]] to teach values such as [[self-esteem]], [[citizenship]], and [[outdoors]]manship through a variety of outdoor activities such as [[camping]], [[aquatics]], and [[hiking]].<ref name="vision">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=mc&c=mv | title =Mission Statement and Vision Statement | format = | work = | publisher =Boy Scouts of America | accessdate =2006-10-10}}</ref><ref name="mbcom">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.meritbadge.com/info/aims.htm | title =Boy Scout Aims and Methods | format = | work = | publisher = Meritbadge.com | accessdate =2006-10-27}}</ref>   

The [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive 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 that young men were no longer learning patriotism and individualism.  The [[YMCA]] was an early promoter of [[social welfare]] and other reforms involving young men.  [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]] started [[Scouting]] in 1907 in [[Great Britain]] and the [[Social movement|movement]] began to grow.<ref name="NT">{{cite journal | first = Jonny | last = Beardsall | title = Dib, dib, dib... One hundred years of scouts at Brownsea | journal = The [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] Magazine  | year = 2007 | issue = Spring 2007 | pages = pages 52-55}}</ref>

In 1909, Chicago publisher [[William D. Boyce|W. D. Boyce]] was visiting [[London, England]] where he learned of the Scouting movement.<ref>{{cite web | last = Peterson | first = Robert | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =2001 | url =http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0110/d-wwas.html | title =The Man Who Got Lost in the Fog | format = | work =Scouting Magazine| publisher =Boy Scouts of America | accessdate = 2006-07-11}}</ref> Upon his return to the US, Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on [[February 8]], [[1910]].<ref>{{cite book | last =Rowan | first =Edward L | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =2005 | title =To Do My Best: James E. West and the History of the Boy Scouts of America | publisher =Las Vegas International Scouting Museum | location = | id =ISBN 0-9746479-1-8 }}</ref>  The YMCA became interested in the nascent BSA program and provided support.  The first managing secretary was John M. Alexander, succeeded by Edgar M. Robinson, both from the YMCA.  [[James E. West (Scouting)|James E. West]] took over as managing secretary and later as [[Chief Scout Executive]], beginning a long relationship with the BSA.