The Founding of Scouting

Robert Baden-Powell spent over 30 years in the British military in India and Africa. Upon his return from Africa in 1903, he found that some of his training manuals were being used by teachers and youth organizations. His book, Aids to Scouting had become a best-seller. With some encouragement from friends and family, and working with Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel C. Beard and others, Baden-Powell wrote a manual specific for boys called Scouting for Boys. He organized a camp on an island off the coast of England to test some of his ideas. And the Boy Scout Movement started in England.

In 1909 William D. Boyce found himself lost in a dense fog in London. Not being able to see the landmarks that marked his path back to his hotel, he stood there looking aimlessly around. A young boy approached him, asked if he was lost or needed some assistance. The young boy then escorted him back to his hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, Mr. Boyce offered a tip to the young boy for his assistance and the boy refused the offering. He simply said that he was a scout and he would not accept payment for his daily good turn.

William D. Boyce was impacted by this gesture that he searched for the founder of these “scouts,” Robert Baden-Powell. When Mr. Boyce returned to America, he shared his story with others, and incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. Mr. Boyce also created the Lone Scouts of America which merged with the Boy Scouts in 1924. Lone Scouts was a way to help those who wanted to be involved with Scouting, but there was no organized troop in the area.

Ernest Thompson Seton immigrated to America as a youth in the 1880s. His fascinations with the wilderness lead him to establish a youth organization called the Woodcraft Indians. His knowledge and experience in outdoor skills and helping the youth made him a prime candidate to become the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. As an author, his volumes of Scoutcraft became an integral part of Scouting.

Daniel Carter Beard was also a woodsman, illustrator, and naturalist. He was about 60 years old when the Boy Scouts of America was formed. He was running his own boy’s organization called the Sons of Daniel Boone and merged it with the Boy Scouts. As the first National Scout Commissioner, he helped design the first Scout uniform and introduced the requirements for the First Class Scout badge.
No organization could operate as successful as the Boy Scouts of American without the influence of a financier and legal representation. James E. West was appointed to the scouting organization in 1911. He was a successful attorney and helped the Boy Scouts grow into an effective youth organization. His first role with Scouting was the first Chief Scout Executive.










A CHRONOLOGICAL LOOK

As stated previously, Scouting originated with Robert Baden-Powell. His camp out on Brown Sea Island took the world by storm. The following year, after the event on the island, he completed his book Scouting for Boys, and about 10,000 Boy Scouts attend a gathering at Crystal Palace. In 1911 two years after the event, registered Boy Scouts had almost tripled.

Once the Boy Scouts of American was incorporated on February 8, 1910, a group of citizens volunteered their time and worked to set up the organization. Earnest Thompson Seton became the first Chief Scout of the BSA, Daniel Beard was made the National Commissioner, and James E. West the Execute Officer who continued to lead the Scouting organization for 32 years as the Chief Scout Executive.


History suggests that in 1910 there were only 2,000 Boy Scouts and leaders in America. Today there are millions of scouts and leaders in the organization. The Boy Scouts of America has grown from an organization dedicated to young boys to a diverse group of programs focusing on all youth. These programs include Tiger Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers and Explorers.










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