Scouting for Latter-day Saint Families

Scouting provides many personal growth experiences for boys and girls ages 5 to 20

20 reasons why many LDS families are staying active in scouting past the 2020 LDS church departure.  To find scouting in your part of the world see the List of WOSM Members. 

About Scouting

During a great 107-year partnership the direct influence from the highest levels of the LDS Church helped the Scouting movement achieve exceptional standards of a youth character development program not found anywhere else. These included excellence in learning about your Duty to God, Family Life, Genealogy, Scholarship, Life Preparedness, Citizenship, Doing a Good Turn Daily, the Outdoor Code and many other valuable lessons that cover the four growth areas called for in new youth program of the Church - Social, Emotional, Physical and Intellectual.

It is well documented that youth participating in scouting have increased chances for success in college, job opportunities and the mission field. Many LDS families are active in scouting today where they get to practice on a regular basis the principles of discipleship taught in the Church.

"While the Church will no longer be a chartered partner of BSA or sponsor Scouting units after December 31, 2019, it continues to support the goals and values reflected in the Scout Oath and Scout Law and expresses its profound desire for Scouting’s continuing and growing success in the years ahead." (Official Statement 8 May 2018)

“The Church honors Scouting organizations for their continued goal to develop character and instill values in youth. The lives of hundreds of thousands of young men, along with their families and communities, have been blessed by Scouting organizations worldwide.”

"At the 2018 National Annual Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made the following statements, “This isn’t a divorce. It’s growth. We’re not in any way disavowing any of those virtues of Scouting. It is just the charter part that we are separating from…We are friends now and we will be friends forever. In 18 months when our charters are finished, we hope that many LDS youth who wish to do so will still choose to be in Scouting.”

Scouting Preview

1. Vanguard International Scouting Association - Vanguard Scouting Supports active Scouting by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. Realizing that many Latter-day Saints desire to continue their Scouting experience, the Church has encouraged them to join community Scouting units.
2. BeAScout.org - Find scouting near you (USA Only)
3. Cub Scouts - a grade-specific program where young people (Grades K-5) progress through as they grow older.
4. Scouts BSA - The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides the nation's foremost youth program (ages 11-17) of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life."
5. Venturing is a youth-led program (ages 14-21) all about building adventures with your friends. Choose to do activities that matter to you and develop essential skills like leadership, event-planning, organization, communication, and responsibility while having a blast!
6. Sea Scouts: Sea Scout units– called ships- are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t find anywhere else. Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, find adventure, and build long lasting friendships.
7. List of Scouting by Country - Since its conception in 1907, the Scouting movement has spread from the United Kingdom to 216 countries and territories around the world. There are over 54 million Scouts worldwide, with 172 national organizations governed by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).
8. Saints & Scouts - Latest news about LDS families participating in Scouting worldwide.
9. Scouting is for my Family - YouTube Preview.

Teach Life Skills

Many families turn to scouting to teach their children important life skills not found in the public school system, including personal health and finances, first aid and swimming,

Additional Resources

• Benefits of Becoming an Eagle Scout - BSA NESA YouTube Channel.