At a Glance
The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America—incorporated on Feb. 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in
1916—is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the
responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.
Tiger Cubs is a year-round family- and home-centered program that encourages the ethical decision-making
skills for first grade (or 7-year-old) boys. These boys participate in the program with their adult partners. The
program emphasizes shared leadership, learning about the community, and family understanding.
Cub Scouts is a year-round family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making skills
for boys in the second through fifth grade (or who are 8, 9, and 10 years old). Activities emphasize character
development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.
Webelos Scouts is a year-round family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making skills
for fourth- and fifth-grade (or 10-year-old) boys.
Boy Scouting is a year-round program for boys 11 through 17 designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through
a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys also may
become Boy Scouts if they have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old and
have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old.)
Varsity Scouting is an active, exciting, year-round program for young men ages 14 through 17 that is built
around five program fields of emphasis: advancement, high adventure, personal development, service, and special
programs and events.
Venturing is a year-round program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade)
through 20 years of age to provide positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that
help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills.
Membership and Units
As of Dec. 31, 2008, membership was:
Youth Members Adult Members Units
Tiger Cubs 231,471
Cub Scouts 797,815 Cub Scout leaders 470,400 Cub Scout packs 50,213
Webelos Scouts 636,104
Boy Scouts 844,540 Boy Scout leaders 528,534 Boy Scout troops 41,628
Varsity Scouts 60,940 Varsity Scout leaders 23,392 Varsity Scout teams 8,423
Venturers 261,122 Venturing leaders 65,621 Venturing crews 19,998
Lone Scouts 644 Council Scouters 44,406
Explorers 146,564 Exploring Adults 33,475 Posts 6,857
TOTALS 2,979,200 1,165,828 127,119