BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ALAMO AREA COUNCIL

THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA (BSA) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST PROMINENT VALUES-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE BSA PROVIDES A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT BUILDS CHARACTER, TRAINS THEM IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP, AND DEVELOPS PERSONAL FITNESS. FOR OVER A CENTURY, THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA HAS HELPED BUILD THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY BY COMBINING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND LIFELONG VALUES WITH FUN. THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BELIEVES - AND, THROUGH OVER A CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWS - THAT HELPING YOUTH IS A KEY TO BUILDING A MORE CONSCIENTIOUS, RESPONSIBLE, AND PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY. THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND LEARNING FOR LIFE CARRIES OUT THEIR MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:CUB SCOUTING IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADES, OR 7 TO 10 YEARS OF AGE. THOSE WHO ARE OLDER THAN 10, OR WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE FIFTH GRADE, CAN NO LONGER JOIN CUB SCOUTING, BUT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO JOIN THE SCOUTS BSA. CUB SCOUTING IS A FAMILY ORIENTED PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUNGER BOYS AND GIRLS.SCOUTS BSA IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 11 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE. BOYS AND GIRLS ALSO MAY BECOME SCOUTS IF THEY HAVE EARNED THE CUB SCOUTING ARROW OF LIGHT AWARD AND ARE AT LEAST 10 YEARS OLD OR HAVE COMPLETED THE FIFTH GRADES AND ARE AT LEAST 10 YEARS OLD. SCOUTS BSA IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF SCOUTING THROUGH A VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL OF AN ADULT SCOUTMASTER.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. VENTURING PROVIDES POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THROUGH EXCITING AND MEANINGFUL YOUTH-RUN ACTIVITIES THAT HELP MEMBERS PURSUE THEIR SPECIAL INTERESTS, GROW BY TEACHING OTHERS, AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS.LEARNING FOR LIFE OFFERS SEVEN PROGRAMS, K-12, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PREPARE YOUTH TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION, AND SELF-ESTEEM. THE SEVEN PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHARACTER EDUCATION AND CAREER EDUCATION. LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAMS HELP YOUTH DEVELOP SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS, ASSIST IN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND HELP YOUTH FORMULATE POSITIVE PERSONAL VALUES. IT PREPARES YOUTH TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.