Boy Scouting Essay, Research Paper
The History of Boy Scouting
Boy Scouting has effected the lives of many young men between the age of twelve and eight-teen. Over one million boys have been effected in America alone since 1910 when Boy Scouting was incorporated. But the story of Boy Scouting started before 1910.
The Story begins in 1844, when the YMCA was founded in London. The YMCA laid the foundation for the largest organization for boys. Within the next fifteen years three of the most important figures in boy scouting were born. They are Daniel Carter Beard, a great outdoorsmen, Robert Baden Powell, the founder of boy scouting, and Ernest Thompson Seton, who was also skilled in the outdoors. Then in 1876, the First Boy s Club was established. This was America s first version of the Boy Scouts. This was soon followed by a number of organizations from 1902 until 1907. Some of these include Woodcraft Indians, founded by Seton; Sons of Daniel Boone, founded by Beard; the Boy s Club and the Brownsea Island Experiment.
In 1910 Boy Scouts came to America officially. The legendary story goes as follows. One foggy day in 1909 and American Businessman named William D. Boyce lost his way in the fog. So he stopped under a street light to read his map when he was approached by a young British boy. The boy asked the man if he could help and the man said certainly. The boy showed the man to his destination. When the man offered the boy a tip the boy responded that he would not except anything from the man because he was a scout. Boyce became very interested in this and later met with Lord Robert Baden-Powell. He was a famous British general who had founded the scouting movement in Great Britain. He was so impressed with what he learned that he brought the movement home with him. On February 8, 1910, William D. Boyce officially incorporated Boy Scouts of America.
Later in that same year, the first scout handbook was published. It was entitled Handbook for Boys. The next year was a year for firsts for the Boy Scouts in America. Scouts form all every state began to enroll. Boy s Life, a monthly magazine for all boys, was purchased. The Sea Scouting organization became a part of Boy Scouts of America. The First Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, was awarded. Also in 1912 Baden-Powell, the original founder of Scouting, got married to Olave Soames. Later in the year, Girl Scouts, a similar organization for girls was founded.