Scouting Heritage
Scouts who write or visit the National Scouting
Museum receive this patch.
This is the only way a Scout can
authentically demonstrate that he has
contacted or visited the Museum.
Our Fathers
A Victorian World 1837-1907
1845: Brunel built the S.S. Great Britain, the first propeller driven
Steamship.
1867: Disraeli introduces a law giving voting rights to taxpayers. A year later
he becomes Prime Minister.
1874: Within a year of his second term as Prime Minister, Disraeli purchases
part of the Suez Canal. The British Empire begins gaining momentum.
1876: Queen Victoria is given the title “Empress of India”; a title that will
hold until the reign of King George VI
1877: Telephone is made available for the first time, and Thomas Edison
invents the Phonograph.
1879: The electric light bulb is invented by Thomas Edison.
1885: Karl Benz invents the first gasoline powered automobile
1888: Jack the Ripper terrorizes London
Developments of Scouting in
England
1857: Robert Stephenson Smyth Powell is Born.
1876: Leaves school to join the Army.
1899: The Boer War is officially declared in October .
1899: Baden-Powell Publishes Aides to Scouting
1907: Trial campout at Brownsea; the Boy Scout movement is born.
1908: Scouting for Boys is published.
1909: Scouting is started in almost the entire British Empire and the origins of the Boy Scouts of
America.
1910: Sea Scouts is officially created. Austria, Bermuda, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Jamaica,
Kenya, Netherlands, Singapore, United States, and Zimbabwe officially charter Boy Scout programs.
B-P visits North America; consents to the creation of the Girl Guide program but does not recognize
Girl Scouts.
1914: World War 1 starts, the British mobilize Scouts to take over the role of the Coast Guard. Wolf
Scouts and Brownie Guides are started.
1916: Wolf Cub book is published. Lady BP is named Commissioner of Girl Guides.
America: First Decade of the
th
20 Century
1903
First Flight at Kitty Hawk
First Message to Travel Around the
World
First Silent Movie, The Great Train
Robbery
First World Series
First License Plates Issued in the U.S.
1904
New York City Subway Opens
1907
First Electric Washing Machine
1908
Ford Introduces the Model-T
SOS Accepted as Universal Distress
Signal
1909
Plastic Is Invented
1906
Kellogg's Starts Selling Corn Flakes
Upton Sinclair Writes The Jungle
Ernest Thompson Seton
• Born: August 14, 1860 in South Shield, Durham, England.
• Artist, Naturalist, Story-Teller, First Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America
• Founder of the Woodcraft Indians in 1902 and wrote the Birch Bark Roll of the
Outdoor Life in 1906.
• In 1906 Seton met with Lord Robert Baden- Powell during a trip to England.
• Along with Daniel Carter Beard’s Sons of Daniel Boone, and other youth
movements and his own Woodcraft Indians, the Boy Scouts of America were
founded in 1910.
• Seton served from 1910-1915 as a member of the National Council of the Boy
Scouts of America as the Chief Scout.
– He was also the Chairman of the Founding Committee of the BSA.
• Seton was a supporter of Cub Scouts and argued for the adoption of the
program.
• Seton died in 1946.
Daniel Carter Beard
• Born: 1850 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Illustrator, author, youth leader, and social
reformer.
• Founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone.
• Was named one of the first National
Commissioners of the BSA in 1910; he served
for 30 years.
• With Ernest Thompson Seton, their work is
considered the foundation of Traditional
Scouting.
• Seton became President of the Camp Fire Club
of America for his efforts in securing a Federal
Charter for the Camp Fire Girls.
• Considered the founder of the oldest and
longest continuously chartered troop by the Boy
Scouts of America. Troop 1 in Flushing, NY.
• Influential in the development of Boy’s Life
Magazine.
• Illustrator for two books by Mark Twain:
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and
Tom Sawyer: Abroad
• He died in 1941.
Photo Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
James E. West
• Born: May 16, 1876 in
Washington D.C.
• A lawyer by trade, West was also a
children’s rights advocate.
• Became the first Chief Scout
Executive of the Boy Scouts of
America in 1911 and retired in
1943.
• West pushed for a the BSA to
receive a Federal Charter, which
eventually came in 1916.
• Disagreed with Seton about the
need for a Cub program.
• Sought to the downplaying of the
more militaristic parts of Scouting.
• James West died in 1948.
Photo Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
Brownsea Island
• Brownsea Island is located off the coast of Dorset, England.
History of inhabitants of the Island go back as early as the 9th
Century A.D.
• It was on Brownsea Island in the first week of August, 1907 that
Lord Robert Baden-Powell took a group of young men to
Brownsea for an experiment.
• Brownsea Island offered the greatest chance for Powell to put his
theories of scouting for men to the test with boys.
• Following the success of the week long expedition, Lord Robert
Baden-Powell published Scouting for Boys in 1908.
Brownsea Island
Scout Camp Daily Program
The daily program was as
follows:
• 6:00 a.m. Turn out, air bedding,
milk and biscuits
• 6:30 a.m. Exercises
• 7:00 a.m. Notices of day´s activities
with demonstrations
• 7:30 a.m. Clean camp
• 7:55 a.m. Parade
• Flag break followed by Prayers
• Breakfast
• 9:00 a.m. Scouting practices
• 12 noon Bathing
• 12:30 p.m. Lunch
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1-2:15 p.m. Rest
2:30 p.m. Scouting practices
5:00 p.m. Tea
6:00 p.m. Camp games
7:15 p.m. Rub down and change
8:00 p.m. Supper
8:15 p.m. Campfire yarns.
Short exercises ( breathing, etc.)
9:15 p.m. Prayers
9:30 p.m. Turn in
Lights out.
Scout Camp Daily Program
Lord Robert Baden-Powell used the
Koodoo horn (captured in
Matabeland in 1896) to rouse
the camp and for signals; several
shorts notes meant "Rally"; a
long call meant "Ready". This
horn was sounded by Lord
Baden-Powell at the opening of
the Coming of Age Jamboree in
1929.
Boy Scout Handbook
• In 1908 Lord Robert Baden-Powell
published Scouting For Boys, a follow up
for young boys interested in his book
Aides to Scouting For Non-Commissioned
Officers and Men. The book held
information
regarding
citizenship,
outdoor fun, and physical fitness.
• The Boy Scout Handbook is an
important part of all Boy Scouting
programs all over the world.
• In America, the BSA originally published
the Original Edition in 1910. This book
was intended as a temporary handbook
for Boys.
• Since 1911, the BSA has published the
Official Handbook for Boys.
• In it Scouts can find information
regarding rank advancement, outdoor
activities, citizenship, and all other
Scouting activities.
• The Boy Scout Handbook is the guide
for all Scouts.
Photo Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
Boy Scout Handbook
• The Third Edition of the Handbook is
published between 1927-1940. It is the
first handbook with a cover designed by
Norman Rockwell. It is the first major
content revision.
• The Fifth Edition is published between
1949-1959. Contains new advancement
requirements as well as a new joining
age of 11. It introduces Scouts to
lashings and the taut line hitch.
• The Sixth Edition was published
bewteen 1959-1965. Written by
William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt.
The first handbook to contain no merit
badge requirements. And is the only
cover with a painting by Norman
Rockwell specifically designed for a
handbook.
• The Eighth Edition of the Handbook
was published bewteen 1972-1979. It
contained a newly revamped Boy
Scouting Program that contained “skill
awards” similar to the belt loops
earned by Cub Scouts. It is the first
handbook with a cover painted by
Joseph Csatari.
• The Ninth Edition, 1979-1990, was
also written by Hillcourt. It featured a
return to traditional Scouting skills.
• The Tenth Edition, published bewteen
1990-1998, was the first to feature
color photographs and introduced
Scouts to low-impact camping.
• The Eleventh Edition, published
between 1998 and 2009 introduces
GPS to Scouting.
Cub Scouting
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With the guidance of his friend Rudyard
Kipling’s children’s book The Jungle Book,
Lord Baden-Powell developed Cubbing in
1907 for younger boys.
In America, Ernest Thompson Seton
proposed the addition of a Cub program
before his departure from the Boy Scouts in
1915.
The first American Cub Scout packs were
chartered beginning in 1930 with
approximately 8,000 boys. The original
program was simply called “Cubbing” and
was later changed to Cub Scouts of America.
Cub Scouts offers a program for boys 6-10
years old that helps them prepare for
entering the Boy Scout program.
Scouts earn the ranks of Bobcat, Tiger,
Wolf, Bear and Webelos before going on to
earn their Arrow of Light and bridging into
Boy Scouts.
Cub Scouts is not a mandatory step to
becoming a Boy Scout.
Cub Scouts must earn their Bobcat badge,
but are not required to finish any other rank
before they are allowed to bridge into Boy
Scouts.
Photo Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
Cub Scouting
• 4/1/1911: Boy Scout of America
officially set the age to join Scouting at
12.
– Junior Troops began to be formed
unofficially.
• 1916: Wolf Cubbing is officially
adopted in England.
• 1918: the first Wolf Cub Pack is
established in Montana
– 1920: a Wolf Cub Pack is
established in Paris, Texas.
• Both James West and Dan Beard
opposed the creation of a younger boy
program.
• 1918: West took out a copyright for
the British Wolf Cub’s Handbook.
This book is sold for 10 years by the
National Supply Group.
• 1927: American Cub Scouting
officially receives support. Ernest
Thompson Seton contributes to the
development.
• 1938: Bobcat Pin is introduced, only
to be worn on civilian clothes.
• 1940’s:
– Webelos Rank is introduced for
Cub Scouts age 11 ½ who had
earned Lion and completed
several requirements for
Tenderfoot.
– Cubbing renamed Cub Scouts
– 1948 Den Mothers required to be
registered.
– 1949: membership age dropped to
8. Boy Scouts and Explorers
follow suit.
– Long Trousers are introduced as a
part of the uniform in 1947.
Cub Scouting
• 1950’s:
– Webelos den for 10 year olds
officially introduced.
– 1954: Wolf, Bear & Lion books
revised.
– 1954: Pinewood Derby
introduced.
• 1960’s:
– 2.7 million Cub Scouts at the
start of 1960, 1.8 by years end.
30% drop.
– Webelos overhauled in 1967.
– Grade level, rather than age, is
introduced for membership in
Cub Scouting (3rd grade.) 1967.
– Space Derby introduced.
•
1970’s:
– Emphasis on scouts with disabilities.
• 60,000 youths with disabilities
enroll special units. 150,000
others join main stream units.
• 1978: Age limit for the disabled
are lifted, allowing individuals to
continue working past the age cut
off.
– Cub Scout Promise is changed.
– Advancement program revised to
focus on outdoor activities and family
camping.
– Day Camp Schools start in 1975.
– Role of women in Scouting expanded
in 1975.
Cub Scouting
• 1980’s:
– Golden Anniversary of Cub
Scouts.
– 30 Millionth Cub Scout
registered.
– Tiger Cub Scouts started.
• 1990’s:
– Academics were added to the
Sports program.
– 1991:The Guide to Safe Scouting
introduced in
– 1995: Tiger Cub program revised.
– 1996: Crime Prevention Program
introduced.
– Garfield becomes official
spokescat for the Cub Scouts.
• 2000’s:
– First Tiger Cub handbook
introduced.
– Tiger Badge introduced.
– All Cub Scout handbooks are
revised.
– August 2004: Hispanic Youth
initiative started.
Boy Scouting
-1905: Daniel Carter Beard forms the Son’s of Daniel Boone, an organization that will be
influential in the forming of the BSA.
-1906: Ernest Thompson Seton published the Birchbark Roll of Woodcraft for his Woodcraft
Indians. He sends a copy to Lord B.P, which will be influential in his writing of Scouting
for Boys.
-1910: The Boy Scouts of America is officially incorporated in New York on February 8th; the
first headquarters is at 3 Park Ave., New York City, New York. Seton is named Chief
Scout, Beard becomes the first National Commissioner, West is named Chief Scout
Executive and President Theodore Roosevelt is named Chief Scout Citizen.
- The Founding mission is, “to teach [boys] patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and
kindred values.”
-The BSA issues the Handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life-craft written by Ernest
Thompson Seton and contains much of B.P’s Scouting for Boys.
-14 merit badges are included in the first edition including Ambulance,Clerk,Cyclist,
Electrician, Fireman, Gardener, Horseman, Marksman, Master-of-Arms, Musician, Pioneer
Seaman, Signaler , and Stalker.
-The first National Good Turn is introduced.
-The Scout Handbook contains the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second class and First Class; a Scout
who earns all 14 of the Merit Badges is awarded the Silver Wolf.
Boy Scouting: The Early Years
• 1910- Boy Scouts of America is
officially incorporated.
• 1911- Boy Scouts of America establish
permanent headquarters in New York
City.
– The first award for Heroism is
presented by the National Court
of Honor.
– The eagle appears on the BSA
fleur de lis to make it more
American.
• 1913- BSA provides charters for
councils and divides the country into
districts.
– A Scout is given the honor of
reading the Gettysburg Address at
the 50th Anniversary celebration
of the Battle of Gettysburg.
• 1914- The first Hornaday medal is
awarded.
• 1915- The BSA begins publishing
merit badge pamphlets.
• 1916- June 15, Congress gives the Boy
Scouts of America a Federal Charter.
• 1940- Irving Berlin established the
God Bless American Foundation,
which provides proceeds from the sale
of his song God Bless America to the
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of
America.
• 1949- Following the Cub Scout
Division, Boy Scouting changes the
minimum age requirement to 11.
Eagle Scout
A History
• In the June 1911 Handbook for Boys, the highest honor a Scout could earn was the
Silver Wolf Scout.
• Taken directly from the British model, Silver Wolf Scout was changed to Eagle Scout
by August 1911.
• Arthur Eldred became the first Eagle Scout in August 1912 after earning 21 merit
badges by April 1912. He was one of 23 Scouts to earn Eagle in 1912.
• Since the first Eagle was awarded, over 2 million boys have attained the rank.
• Originally, Eagle Scout was awarded to any First Class scout to earn twenty-one merit
badges. Life and Star required 5 each and Eagle required 11. Star and Life were
reversed in 1925 to their present order: Star, Life and Eagle.
• In 1927 service was added to Star, Life and Eagle. To earn Eagle you had to be a First
Class for a year. By the early 30’s that requirement changed to 3 months as a First
Class, 3 months as a Star and 6 months as a Life Scout.
• In 1948 a Life Scout had to show service by participating as a leader in his troop’s
meetings, outdoor activities and projects.
• By 1965 Scouts had to participate in Scoutmaster Conferences. Star and Life Scouts
had to plan and execute two service projects (a conservation and community service
project.) Eagle Scout required you to do just one, but a far more extensive project.
• Eagle Palms were created in 1927 to satisfy those who wanted to create ranks beyond
Eagle Scout.
• Eagle Scout holds the distinction as one of a few civilian honors to be worn on a
military uniform.
Scouting History Photos
Photos Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
Scouting History Photos
Photo Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
Lone Scouting
• Lone Scouting was begun in 1915 by William D. Boyce.
• Boyce was troubled by the fact boys on farms and in the
country could not participate in Scouting.
• Using his own money, Boyce created the Lone Scouts of
America.
• In 1924, Boyce merged the LSA with the BSA.
• In the 1930’s the BSA fully integrated the Lone Scout program.
• Today there exists the Lone Scouts and the Lone Cub Scouts.
• In Lone Scouting, Scouts are able to participate fully in
Scouting while not being a member of a traditional Pack or
Troop.
• It is one of only two programs where a boy can participate in
Boy Scouting while not serving in a Troop.
• Today, Lone Scouting has a membership only in the 100’s.
Varsity Scouting
• Founded in 1984, Varsity was developed to allow boys aged 14-18
interested in sports and high adventure to continue working on
Boy Scout rank through special Varsity units.
• The program faced a number of challenges, which among other
things saw the development of Varsity Patrols and Venturing
Patrols within Troops to address older boy interests in Sports and
High Adventure.
• Today, the Varsity Scouting program is devoted almost entirely to
the interest in Sports. Unlike it’s other Senior Scouting brother
programs, Varsity is for boys only.
• Varsity Scouting offers Scouts an alternative to the traditional
Troop structure, while still allowing Scouts to work on rank
advancement.
Varsity Scouting
• The Varsity Scout Handbook was first published in 1984.
• In the book a Varsity Scout can find information on the Uniform, Organization,
Leadership Positions, Fields of Emphasis, and how to be a model Varisty Scout.
• The Uniform differs from the Boy Scout Uniform in only a handful of ways.
– They wear Orange Epilates.
– Originally they also wore brown pants.
• The Organization and Leadership of a Varisty Team is similar to that of a Troop.
– Captain
– Co-Captain
– Program Managers
– Squad Leaders
– Secretary
– Quartermaster
– Treasurer
• Originally, Varsity was established to provide younger boys who were not old enough to
join an Explorer Post a chance to participate in High Adventure.
• In addition, Varsity allows scouts to continue working on Boy Scout ranks, which
Venturing does not.
• In addition to High Adventure, Varsity focuses on Sports as a major part of their program.
Today most Teams are sport oriented.
Exploring/Venturing
• 1912: Sea Scouting is begun in the United States. It is the first older boy program
established by the BSA.
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1928- Sea Scout Paul Siple journeys to Antarctica with Admiral Byrd.
• 1933: BSA introduces Explorer Scouts, a land based version of Sea Scouts.
• 1935: Senior Scouting Service is introduced; it overseas Sea and Explorer Scouts as well
as early alumni organizations like Alpha Phi Omega.
• 1942: Air Scouting is introduced; it is disbanded in 1954.
• 1949: Explorers is formed out of a combination between Explorer Scouts and Senior
Scouting. Any boy registered with the BSA and at least 14 is called an Explorer.
• 1959: After a University of Michigan study revealed boys 14-16 were less interested in
advancement and adopting changes to the Explorer program, the BSA introduced the
Exploring program.
• 1969: Modern Exploring is born after yet another study found that boys were interested
in learning more about career opportunities.
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Girls are permitted to participate in Exploring.
• 1971: Girls are given full membership in the Exploring Scouting program.
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It remains the only fully co-educational program within the BSA.
• 1998: Venturing is formed out of the Exploring program.
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Venturing encompasses the Hobby and High Adventure aspects of Exploring while the career oriented
program moved under Learning for Life.
Exploring/Venturing
• Venturing units allow young adults ages 14-21 to explore high adventure and hobbies in
specially created units. For those who are interested, Venturing allows Scouts to work on
rank advancement on their way to earning the Silver Award.
• Venturers are prohibited from earning Boy Scout rank and awards unless a registered
member of a Boy Scout Troop.
• Venturing has a distinct leadership structure from Scouting.
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Venturing uses more generic club terms such as President, Vice President and Secretary.
• Girls make up around half of the total membership in Venturing.
• Venturers are permitted to attend the National High Adventure bases at Philmont,
Northern Tier and Sea Base.
• In preparation for the 2019 World Jamboree set to be held at the Summit, Venturers
were allowed to attend the National Jamboree for the first time.
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In the past they were allowed to volunteer to work the Jamboree but were not allowed to attend it as
participants.
Learning for Life Exploring
• In 1998 the Boy Scouts of America announced that the Exploring Division was
being renamed Venturing and that the career interest Exploring program was
being removed from the BSA to it’s subsidiary Learning For Life.
• The largest career interest Exploring program is Police Exploring although there
are other career interest fields covered by the LFL programs including Fire,
EMS, et al.
• For more information about the Career Exploring program please visit:
http://exploring.learningforlife.org/
Order of the Arrow
• The Order of the Arrow was founded
in 1915 but did not receive official BSA
sanction until 1948.
• Founded by E. Urner Goodman in
1915, the Order of the Arrow focuses
around Native American traditions and
legends in an effort to help Scouts
become better campers.
• Through it’s three stages (Ordeal,
Brotherhood and Honor Vigil) Scouts
and select Scouters learn how to give
back to Scouting and their community
through camp related service.
• Only registered Boy Scouts (and
leaders) are allowed membership.
• The Order of the Arrow is the Boy
Scouts of America most prolific
community service organization.
Photo Provided by National Scouting Museum Archivist
Steven Price
Created by Joe Connole
National Scouting Museum
• Resources:
– Ernest Thompson Seton:
http://www.etsetoninstitute.org/BIOBYDEE.HTM
– Lone Scouts: http://www.sossi.org/lonescout/lshistory.htm
– Boy Scout Timeline: http://www.virtualscoutmuseum.com/
– Brownsea: http://www.thescoutingpages.org.uk/first_camp.html
– Cub Scouting- Special thanks to Burts Kennedy for supplying
information about the evolution of Cub Scouts.
– Exploring/Venturing/Learning for LIfe- Thanks to Bill
Taylor in Learning for Life for supplying the History of Exploring.