BSA History

1998

Membership during the year is 6,186,657.

The 11th Edition of the Handbook is a logical continuation of the 10th Edition, continuing trends but not changing anything significantly. Advancement requirements are updated effective April 1, 1999, but changes are minimal. More cooking was placed in Tenderfoot, and the Eagle-required merit badge list dropped Safety and Sports, made Personal Fitness mandatory (it had been optional), and added Hiking and Cycling as options for those who prefer not to earn Swimming. The book also makes slight adjustments to the explanatory wording of the Scout Law.

This is the first Handbook to mention GPS (global positioning system), but still recommends learning map and compass. It also adds BSA's new "Leave No Trace" (low impact camping) outdoor ethic. There is more information on water filters, information and guidance on using the Internet, guidance on being home along and on babysitting ("caring for younger children"), and new first aid precautions (need for goggles, mouth barrier, and latex gloves as part of any first aid kit).

1999

Membership during the year is 6,247,743; total membership to date exceeds one hundred million, at 102,984,116. Youth participation in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing increased for the fourth consecutive year, yielding 4.2 percent membership growth.

A new Venturer Handbook is introduced.

More Boy Scouts and Venturers than ever before received their Eagle Scout Awards, with 47,582 young men attaining the prestigious rank.

Increased emphasis on the outdoors for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts results in 40.6 percent of Cub Scouts participating in an outdoor activity and 58 percent of Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers participating in a long-term camping experience.

About 30,000 Scouts and leaders spend New Year's together in Chile during 11 days that build new friendships and strengthen the global bonds of Scouting. The 19th World Jamboree in Chile - the first ever in South America - takes place at a 7,400-acre site in the foothills of the Andes, some 38 miles south of the capital city of Santiago. For 11 days - from Dec. 27, 1998, to Jan. 6, 1999 - approximately 30,000 Scouts and leaders from nearly every Scouting association in the world assembled for a festival of friendship and Scouting spirit.

More than 4 million Scouts work toward the goal of 200 million service hours by the end of year 2000 as part of "America's Promise—The Alliance for Youth." Scouts logged 55,554,183 service hours, bringing the total to 156,310,229 hours by the end of 1999.

2000

Membership during the year is 4,541,734. The Boy Scouts of America celebrates its 90th anniversary, reaching a larger portion of America's youth than ever before.

Scoutreach's Hispanic marketing emphasis results in 148 volunteers being honored with the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service award, the largest number of recipients in the award's history.

Pack family camping is approved and BALOO training is introduced. The Pack Trainer position is introduced, eliminating the position of Den Leader Coach. Cub Scout Trainer Wood Badge discontinued.

Awards for lifesaving and meritorious actions are given to 234 Scouts and Scouters.

Scouts complete more than 214 million total hours of service for "America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth," surpassing the four-year goal of 200 million service hours by the end of 2000.

2001

Membership in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing is at 3,325,504, with total youth membership exceeding five million.

The 15th National Scout Jamboree, held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is the largest single-site jamboree since 1964, with more than 40,000 participants and an estimated 275,000 visitors.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, Scouts respond to our nation's call for assistance by collecting gloves, socks, toothbrushes, bottled water, and other necessities requested by rescue workers and victims.

Training continuum revised to include New Leader Essentials for all leaders, Cub Scout Leader Specific Training, and Wood Badge for the 21st Century for all leaders in Scouting.

Tiger Cub Handbook, Tiger Cub rank, and achievements and electives for Tiger Cubs introduced. Optional oval Webelos badge created. Tiger Cub den leader replaced Tiger Cub coach position; Tiger Cub Den Leader Award created.

2002

Total youth membership again exceeded five million, with over 1.3 million volunteers helping the youth membership.

The National Scouting Museum reopens in a new 50,000-square-foot facility next door to the National Council office in Irving, Texas. The museum was formerly housed in Murray, Kentucky.

A total of 49,328 young men earn the rank of Eagle Scout--the largest one-year number ever in the history of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Honor Medal With Crossed Palms is awarded to 16 Scouts and Scouters who demonstrated unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a life at extreme risk to self. Other awards for lifesaving and meritorious action are presented to 286 Scouts and Scouters.

In Cub Scouts, age-appropriate guidelines are adopted. Leave No Trace Frontcountry Guidelines and Leave No Trace Award introduced. All Cub Scouts can now earn the Whittling Chip. New caps for all ranks. “Power Pack Pals” comics introduced.

2003

Membership during the year is over 4.7 million.

Venturing introduces the Quest Award for participants to learn about good nutrition, fitness, and sportsmanship.

The Eagle Scout Award, the highest award a Scout can achieve, is earned by 49,151 young men--the second highest annual number in BSA history.

The promise of outdoor adventure continues to attract young men to the Scouting program. 59 percent of all Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts participate in a long-term camping experience.

The Honor Medal With Crossed Palms is awarded to seven Scouts and Scouters who demonstrated unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a life at extreme risk to self. Other awards for lifesaving and meritorious action are presented to 343 Scouts and Scouters.

2004

Membership during the year is 4,318,395 in 126,232 units.

The BSA launches Good Turn for America, a national initiative to address the problems of hunger, homelessness/inadequate housing, and poor health. The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity join as national partners.

The Honor Medal With Crossed Palms is awarded to five Scouts and Scouters who demonstrated unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save a life at extreme risk to self. Other awards for lifesaving and meritorious action are presented to 311 Scouts and Scouters.

Some 200 Scouts come to the aid victims in the wake of Hurricane Charley.

The Boy Scouts of America helps kick off September as National Preparedness Month. Eagle Scout Tucker Barbour of Troop 500, chartered to the Capitol Hill Scouts in Washington, D.C., introduces Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at the kickoff event on the grounds of the United States Capitol.

Updated Outdoor Skills for Webelos Den Leader training introduced. 75th Anniversary Award and Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award introduced. Official Tiger Cub uniform changed to the blue shirt with orange neckerchief and appropriate insignia. A new Cub Scout Hispanic outreach initiative known as Soccer and Scouting is launched.

2005

The Boy Scouts of America celebrates 95 years of Scouting and Cub Scouting celebrates its 75th birthday. Membership in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing is at 2,938,698, with total youth membership at nearly 4.6 million.

Over 31,700 Youth attend the 2005 National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, making up the 883 troops present. Scouters from 26 nations (Including the United States) attend. More than 7,000 adults volunteer to provide support and program services at the Jamboree. Each troop is made up of 36 youth, 4 patrols of 8 and 4 youth leaders (Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Quartermaster and Scribe). For the 10 day event Caroline County goes from the 50th most populated county in Virginia to the 14th. The Jamboree site took up about 14 acres.

2006

It's time to make some history of our own!