A 2005 study by Harris Interactive found that 83 percent of men who were
Scouts in their youth agree that the values they learned in Scouting continue
to be very important to them today—helping improve their relationships,
their work and family lives, and the values by which they live.
Eighty-seven percent of men who remained in Scouting five or more years
attribute some of their self-confidence in their work to their Scouting experience.
Half of the group say Scouting had a positive effect on their career
development and advancement, and 83 percent say there have been real-life
situations where having been a Scout helped them be a better leader.
- Trustworthy: The majority of Scouts agreed that Scouting has taught
them always to be honest (75%) and to be a leader (76%).
- Loyal: Eighty-eight percent of Scouts are proud to live in the USA and 83
percent say spending time with family is important to them.
- Helpful: Eight out of 10 Scouts surveyed believed that helping others
should come before their own self-interest.
- Friendly: Eighty percent of Scouts say that Scouting has taught them to
treat others with respect and (78%) to get along with others.
- Courteous: Almost nine of 10 Scouts (87%) believe older people should
be treated with respect.
- Kind: Most Scouts agree (78%) Scouting has taught them to care or other
people, while 43 percent say their skills in helping other people in need
are “excellent.”
- Obedient: Boys in Scouting five years or more are more likely than boys
who have never been in Scouts to reject peer pressure to hang out with
youth they know commit delinquent acts (61% vs. 53%).
- Cheerful: Overall, Scouts are happy with their schools (78%) and their
neighborhoods (79%). However, since Scouting builds high ideals in
youth, Scouts are less satisfied than non-scouts with the state of the world
today (47% vs. 52%).
- Thrifty: More than eight out of 10 Scouts (82%) say that saving money
for the future is a priority.
- Brave: Eighty percent of Scouts say Scouting has taught them to have
confidence in themselves, and 51 percent rate their self-confidence as “excellent.”
- Clean: Nearly the same number of Scouts (79%) agrees that Scouting has
taught them to take better care of the environment and that Scouting has
increased their interest in physical fitness.
- Reverent: Scouting experience also influences religious service attendance.
Eighty-three percent of men who were Scouts five or more years
say attending religious services together as a family is “very important.”
versus 77% of men who had never been Scouts.