Scoutreach

What is Scoutreach?

Scoutreach gives special leadership and emphasis to urban and rural Scouting programs. Scoutreach is the Boy Scouts of America's commitment to making sure that all young people have an opportunity to join Scouting, regardless of their circumstances, neighborhood, or ethnic background.

Mission of Scoutreach

To recruit strong adult leaders and to develop solid relationships with schools, churches, and other community organizations in urban and rural communities nationwide to ensure that culturally diverse youth have the opportunity to join the Scouting program.

Message from National Director

Baden-Powell said, "Our aim is to give equal chances to all and to give the most help to the least fortunate." Scoutreach targets ethnic, economically underprivileged, and at-risk communities. Often, these communities must deal with barriers to assimilation and acceptance such as skin color and language.

The values of the Scouting program, as embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and the aims of Scouting dovetail with the lifetime values of most families. For this reason communities can use a well-organized, neighborhood-oriented Scouting program to help youth participate in America's most successful youth program that teaches leadership, character, and citizenship responsibility.

The intent of bringing the values of Scouting into communities is to strengthen those values that youth normally learn at home, school, and their place of worship. Bridging the differences between cultures may be the most important objective Scouting can have in the struggle to eliminate prejudice and unite culturally diverse populations into stronger local communities and a stronger nation.

Community Partnerships

How Community Organizations Use the Scouting Program

With the help of the Boy Scouts of America, schools, community and religious organizations organize Cub Scout packs, Scouts BSA troops, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships for boys and young men and women. The community partners manage these units and control the program of activities to support the goals and objectives of their organization.

How the BSA Supports the Community Organization

To support approximately 124,000 Scouting packs, troops, and crews owned and operated by community partners, more than 300 BSA councils throughout the nation provide professional counseling and administration, commissioner service, training for leaders, camping and outdoor facilities, program materials and literature, planning tools, and other program aids. Councils also maintain records on units and their membership, provide rank certificates and merit badge cards, and maintain service centers where badges, insignia, literature, and other helps can be obtained.

Sample Community Partners

African American Cultural Center
Auburn Boys and Girls Club
Belfair Boys and Girls Club
Children of Incarcerated Parents
El Centro Mahanaim
Highland Park United Methodist
Holy Family Catholic Church and School
May Valley Alliance Church
Neah Bay VFW
North West Urban Ministries
Quillayute Tribal Center
Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club
Safe Futures
Salvation Army
Sequim Boys and Girls Club
Skyway Boys and Girls Club
Union Gospel Mission
White Center Boys and Girls Club
Zion Preparatory Academy

How to get Involved

If you, or your organization would like to become a community partner contact a Scoutreach Executive at 206-725-5200 for more information.

Current Initiatives

The Chief Seattle Council and the Scoutreach Foundation recognize the need to extend Scouting's benefits to those who may not traditionally participate. In the effort to reach all demographics, we have created specific programs to meet the unique needs of individual families.

Soccer and Scouting

Now starting its 5^th year, Soccer and Scouting began as an outreach to Hispanic youth and families. It teaches soccer skills and the traditional, life-long values of Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA.

Summer Lunch Program

This initiative works with other non-profit organizations to provide a Scouting experience to youth ages 6-14 in conjunction with the summer free lunch services they provide. The plan is to introduce the fun of Scouting in the summer and transition them to year round programs either at their apartment complex, after school care site or in a traditional Scouting unit at their school or church. The program covers the Rainier Valley, Kent, Auburn, Renton and the Olympic Peninsula.

Words to Live By

This curriculum is offered at six elementary schools in South Seattle by a program leader and teaches the 12 points of the Scout Law to each class. Youth also have an opportunity to attend summer camp and long range plans include having a traditional, volunteer-run Scouting program in each school community.

Children of Incarcerated Parents

This program is designed for youth of incarcerated parents to attend weekly Scout meetings with a local pack or troop and participate once a month with their parent at the prison. The goal of COIP is to enhance the parent/youth bond through the monthly Scout meetings, which are designed and conducted by the incarcerated parents and led by Chief Seattle Council staff and program leaders.

Agency partnerships

The Chief Seattle Council partners with Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and Housing Authorities around the Puget Sound to continue the mission of providing Scouting opportunities for all. Council program leaders work with agency staff to offer the values of Scouting. Advancement, outdoor experience and transition to traditional, volunteer-run units are the long-term goal.

National Service Awards

Whitney M Young Jr. Service Award

The purpose of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds, as this is in fulfillment of Dr. Young's dream of justice and equality for all.

¡Scouting ... Vale la Pena! Service Award

The purpose of the ¡Scouting ... Vale la Pena! Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic American/Latino youth.

Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award

The purpose of the Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Asian American youth.