Doing a Good Turn Daily

Growing up I was very active in a lot of things. I like to be involved and make a difference and the one organization that I was involved in that does that better than anyone is definately the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA started way back in 1910 and is still going strong and still holds true to the values that they have always had. The BSA's goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. The story of how they the boy scouts got started in the United States is one that still amazes me.

In 1909, a publisher from Chicago by the name of W. D. Boyce was visiting london. One night while walking back to the place he was staying, he found himself lost in the fog. A young boy came up to him and asked if he needed some help and the boy led him back to his destination. When Boyce tried to pay the boy for his help the boy refused explaining that he was a boy scout and was just doing his good turn for the day. Soon after, Boyce met with a General Robert Baden-Powell, who was the chief scout and the founder of scouting in England. Boyce learned the basis for what the boy scouts were based on and four months after returning to the United States, founded the Boy Scouts of America.

For me and my troop, we always recited all of the things that we based ourselves of off. The scout motto, slogan, laws, oath, and outdoor code were the first things we did every meeting along with the pledge of allegiance. Each of these things holds the values of a scout. Below i have them all listed.

The Scout Motto: Be Prepared

The Scout Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily

The Scout Oath: On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty, to god and my country, to obey the scout law, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

The Scout Laws: A scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent

The Outdoor Code: As an American, I will do my best, to be clean in my outdoor manners, careful with fires, considerate in the outdoors, and to be conservation minded.

These values are what I have based my life on. I believe in the program and I think it is one of the best programs out there for the youth men of our society. I wouldn't have stuck with it all the way until i reach Eagle Scout if I didn't believe in it. I credit the BSA for making me the person I am today.