2001: The Year in Review
| Boy Scouts of America |
| 2001 Annual Report |
For the first time in the movement's
history, more than 5 million youth
participated in the programs
offered by the BSA.
High-spirited fun and companionship are natural parts of the Boy
Scouts of America's program of values and leadership. |
2001 Will Be Recalled as a year that celebrated Scouting's many achievements
and a year that challenged and defined the mission and purpose first stated 91
years ago. The Boy Scouts of America owes much of its success in recent years
to decisive leadership and its careful strategic planning. May 2001 saw the
introduction of a new strategic plan developed by the National Executive Board.
BSA leaders including Executive Vice President Roy S. Roberts, chairman of the
Strategic Plan Committee; President Milton H. Ward; and Chief Scout Executive
Roy L. Williams designed the plan to help ensure the continued success of
Scouting in the years to come.
2002-2005 Strategic Plan
Developed with the guidance of the volunteer leadership, the 2002-2005 Strategic
Plan addresses five critical areas: traditional membership and unit growth, the
Scoutreach program, leadership, marketing and strategic positioning, and financial
development. Concentrating on these key areas will enable the Boy Scouts of America
to continue to reach out to an ever-increasing number of young people with an
exciting and engaging program of values and leadership.
For the first time in the movement's history, more than 5 million youth
participated in the programs offered by the BSA. That achievement is testimony
to the enduring values of the Scout Oath and Law, and to the dedication and
commitment of our chartered organizations and 1.3 million volunteers.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make
ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values
of the Scout Oath and Law.
The Scouting movement is a community of volunteers and organizations working
together for the sole purpose of helping young people succeed in life. To enhance
the training of new Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing leaders, the BSA launched
a comprehensive program to teach the basic skills they need to implement the
Scouting program. The advanced leadership training program was enhanced to focus
on team leadership and group dynamics as they apply to Scouting.
For the youth members and participants, Scouting is about having fun and
learning new skills. Scouting is also about values, leadership, and service.
Scouting is people. While statistics cannot capture the impact Scouting has on
millions of young people, the numbers can document a picture of the successes
the organization had in 2001.
Cub Scouting
Membership in Cub Scouting, for boys in the first through fifth grades,
exceeded 2 million. There were 2,043,478 Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos
Scouts at December 31, 2001. An increased emphasis on outdoor programs
resulted in 43 percent of all Cub Scouting members enjoying a day camp,
resident camp, or family camping experience.
Boy Scouting
Membership in Boy Scouting reached 1,005,592 for 11- to 17-year-olds at December
31, 2001. The Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve, was
presented to 43,665 young men. The greatest percentage of Scouts participating in
long-term camping expeditions was reached in 2001, with 60.9 percent of all Boy
Scouts and Varsity Scouts participating in educational outdoor adventures.
The number of Venturing crews increased 9.1 percent in 2001.
The program has been growing without pause since its
introduction in 1998. |
Venturing
Using high-adventure activities, this character-building program reached 276,434
young men and women ages 14 to 20 at December 31, 2001, an 18.2 percent increase over
the previous year. The number of Venturing crews increased 9.1 percent to 19,283
units. This program has experienced continuous growth since its introduction in
1998.
Awards
The National Court of Honor presents the prestigious Silver Buffalo Award
to distinguished citizens for their exemplary national service to youth. In
2001, recipients of Scouting's highest commendation included William F. Cronk;
George F. Francis III; General Robert T. Herres; W. Walter Menninger, M.D.;
Elmer E. Rasmuson; Harold L. "Spike" Yoh Jr.; and members of the Oak Ridge
Boys—Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban.
The Honor Medal With Crossed Palms was presented to eight 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 were presented to 289 Scouts and Scouters.
The Young American Awards recognize excellence in the achievements of young
people ages 15 to 25. The 2001 recipients were James W. Johnson, Jason Wayne
Kemp, Hong-Ly Thi La, Cyrus Jefferson Lawyer IV, and Evan Michael Todd.
The 15th National Scout Jamboree. The 2001 National Scout Jamboree, held in
July at Fort A. P. Hill in Caroline County, Virginia, was the largest single-site
jamboree since 1964, with more than 40,000 participants and an estimated 275,000
visitors. The purpose of the jamboree remains steadfast: to bring Scouts from
across the country and from around the world for fun, adventure, learning,
and brotherhood. There is no better time or place for a Scout to practice those
values set forth in the Scout Oath and Law than among thousands of other Scouts
who share the same principles.
September 11.
"Be Prepared." "Do my best to do my duty ... ." "Help other people at all times
... ." The events of that tragic day drew together Scouts and leaders across the
country as a living example that these words that each Scout recites are more than
words—they are a way of life.
Scouts of all ages pitched in to help in the wake of the
September 11 tragedy. |
President George W. Bush called on Scouts to help the children of Afghanistan
by contributing to the Afghan Children's fund. The Scouts quickly answered the
president's call.
Scouts—not just in Washington, D.C., and New York City, but in communities
all over the United States—quickly mobilized to collect food and other
necessities for the victims, rallied to support rescue workers, and performed
countless acts of service. In the days immediately following:
- Scouts and leaders in New York City collected gloves, socks,
toothbrushes, dog food, and other material requested by
firefighters and rescue workers.
- The Greater New York Council donated 500 cots for relief
workers at the World Trade Center site.
- The South Florida Council set up a community candlelight vigil
just 72 hours after the attack.
- Scouts in Medford, New York, collected over 150,000 bottles of
water and energy drinks for Ground Zero workers.
- The Rochester, New York, council offered its local council
service center to the Red Cross as a community blood donation
center.
- In Atlanta and in Detroit, Scouts distributed hundreds of car
flags.
- In Idaho Falls, Boy Scouts placed flags in the front yards of
one house out of every three.
- Scouts in Long Island placed messages of encouragement and pride
in the hard hats used by rescue workers.
- In Oklahoma, the council launched a "helping hands for heroes"
project for Scouts and leaders to assist military families whose
loved ones were called to duty.
- An assistant Scoutmaster and Air Force major was one of the
first to answer the call for volunteers to enter the Pentagon
building to look for and offer aid to survivors.
As it has for over 90 years, Scouting responded quickly to a national emergency.
That response continues today and for as long as it is needed. It is just part of
an even larger daily Scouting response to America and the needs of the country.