Boy Scouts of America

A Scout is Kind…to The Environment  

Service projects related to sustainability and the environment are a great way to engage in the Summer of Service.  Here are a few ideas to get you thinking what might be appropriate for you, your family, your Scouting Unit, or your council.  Whether your opportunity is big or small, get creative!  Make it your own, and make it count!  

Ideas to get you started… 

  • Take a trash bag and gloves with you on your next run or family walk – pick up any trash you see 
  • Beautify the school grounds or community public areas 
  • Adopt a local park 
  • Commit to fewer plastic bags 
  • Plant a rooftop garden 
  • Build a bird habitat or house to attract a specific bird species that is threatened 
  • Perform an energy audit of your home 
  • Set up a recycling system where there isn’t one 
  • Organize a clean-up day at a national or state park 
  • Create rain barrels to conserve water and prevent run-off 
  • Send advocacy letters to school or local officials promoting environmental stewardship 
  • Host a neighborhood recycling forum 

Source:  learningtogive.org,  

What is an appropriate project? 

As you are developing your ideas, please keep the following in mind: 

  • The service should adhere to and follow BSA standards and guidelines (i.e., Cub Scouts should not use power tools, YPT standards must be followed, etc.) 
  • The impact of any project should not benefit Scouting (i.e., trail maintenance at camp) 
  • Although Scouting should not directly benefit from the project, Scouting events can be launch points for serving the community (i.e., days of service as part of summer camp programming) 
  • You have flexibility to define what “service” is to you and identify topic areas that best resonate with you.
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Safety Guidance

Ask 

When in doubt, ask!  If you have questions about the appropriateness of a service project, talk with your unit leader.  Unit leadership will be able to provide guidance as needed. 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.