BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA COUNCIL 552 PEE DEE AREA COUNCIL

TRADITIONAL SCOUTING - IN THE BSA, SCOUTING IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE MOVEMENT WITH THREE MAIN PROGRAMS: CUB SCOUTING IS THE LARGEST OF THE THREE PROGRAMS, AVAILABLE TO BOYS FROM FIRST TO FIFTH-GRADE OR 7 TO 11 1/2 YEARS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PURSUE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, AND PERSONAL FITNESS. CUB SCOUTING IS DIVIDED INTO AGE-BASED LEVELS OF TIGER CUBS, WOLF CUBS, BEAR CUBS, AND WEBLOS SCOUTS. BOY SCOUTING IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF THE BSA FROM BOYS AGES 10 TO 18. IT USES OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPING, ACQUATICS AND HIKING TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF CHARACTER, CITIZENSHIP AND PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING. VARSITY SCOUTING IS A SUB-DIVISION OF BOY SCOUTING AVAILABLE TO BOYS AGES 14 TO 18; IT ADDS A PROGRAM OF HIGH ADVENTURE AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES. THE ORDER OF THE ARROW IS THE BOY SCOUTING NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR EXPERIENCED CAMPERS, BASED ON NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONS AND IS DEDICATED TO THE IDEAL OF CHEERFUL SERVICE AND BROTHERHOOD. VENTURING IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN 14 (AND WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE)) THROUGH 20 YEARS OF AGE. VENTURING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS. OVER 34,000 SERVED THROUGH 256 CUB SCOUT PACKS, 230 BOY SCOUT TROOPS, AND 92 VENTURING CREWS.

LEARNING FOR LIFE/EXPLORING PROGRAMS:LEARNING FOR LIFE OFFERS SEVEN PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PREPARE YOUTH TO SUCESSFULLY HANDLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION, AND SELF-ESTEEM. THE SEVEN PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER EDUCATION. LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAMS HELP YOUTH DEVELOP SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS, ASSIST IN CHARACTER AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND HELP YOUTH FORMULATE POSTIVE PERSONAL VALUES. IT PREPARES YOUTH TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. EXPLORING IS A WORKSITE-BASED PROGRAM. IT IS PART OF LEARNING FOR LIFE'S CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE 14 (AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE) THROUGH 20 YEARS OLD. EXPLORING'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MATURE AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND CARING ADULTS. EXPLORERS ARE READY TO INVESTIGATE THE MEANING OF INTERDEPENDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITIES. EXPLORING IS BASED ON A UNIQUE AND DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INITIATE A SPECIFIC EXPLORER POST BY MATCHING THEIR PEOPLE AND PROGRAM RESOURCES TO THE INTERESTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RESULT IS A PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES THAT HELPS YOUTH PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW, AND DEVELOP. EXPLORING PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON FIVE AREAS OF EMPHASIS: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, LIFE SKILLS, CITIZENSHIP, CHARACTER EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE. OVER 300 YOUTH SERVED THROUGH 46 LEARNING FOR LIFE GROUPS AND 40 EXPLORER POSTS.