Scouting America has been inspiring generations of leaders since 1910.
Join the movement at BeAScout.org.
NEW YORK, NY (February 7, 2025) — Scouting America is the nation’s foremost youth program providing young people with unique opportunities focused on character development, leadership, fun and outdoor exploration. On February 8, the organization will celebrate its 115th birthday, marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey as it officially adopts its new name, Scouting America. The organization continues to adapt to meet the evolving needs of young people, ensuring that future generations will have the opportunity to benefit from this transformative program.
For more than a century, Scouting America’s mission has remained the same: 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. Whether it’s a camping trip, a pinewood derby car race, or a trail hike, every adventure encourages personal growth by teaching youth how to set goals and achieve them with determination. As we look to the future, Scouting America is dedicated to providing young people with the values, skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
“Scouting America has helped instill timeless values for multiple generations of Americans,” said Roger Krone, Scouting America president and CEO. “In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the values and skills instilled by Scouting are more critical than ever, and the need for strong character, ethical decision-making and effective leadership remains paramount. As we celebrate 115 years of service to our nation, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment where young people can develop these essential qualities, empowering them to reach their full potential, and preparing them to become responsible and engaged citizens.
Scouting America has remained committed to providing youth with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills, create lifelong memories and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. In fact, more than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting America programs since our founding in 1910. Currently, more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country.
From City Island to Coney Island, and all neighborhoods in between, Scouting represents the best of New York City. It is no surprise that we are one of the most diverse Councils in the country and “with nearly a third of our members in NYC being girls and young women, we are proud to continue growing and evolving as an inclusive organization,” Saroya Friedman-Gonzalez explained. Ms. Friedman-Gonzales is the first female CEO in The Greater New York Councils’ history. “As we celebrate the 115th anniversary of Scouting America we remain dedicated to empowering young people across the city to be prepared for life and become the leaders of tomorrow.”
The weeklong birthday celebration will kick off with historic sites from coast-to-coast illuminated in red, white and blue lights in honor of Scouting America — including The Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge, St. Louis’ The Wheel at Union Station, Cleveland’s Terminal Tower, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Louisiana State Capitol, Baltimore City Hall and Capella Tower, and I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis. Scouts and non-Scouts alike can join in the celebration by sharing their favorite Scouting moments on Instagram (@boyscoutsofamerica) and TikTok (@scouting.america). Lastly, Scouting America will raise the redesigned organization flag over its headquarters in Irving, Texas on Wednesday, February 12.
Scouting America invites families, individuals, and communities nationwide to join its mission. Whether you come from a family with a Scouting tradition or are considering Scouting for the first time, we welcome you to be a part of our next 115 years. To learn more, visit www.BeAScout.org.
About the Greater New York Councils
Scouting America, Greater New York Councils has helped over five million young people become “Prepared. For Life.®” The vision of the Greater New York Councils (GNYC) is to serve kids and their families throughout the diverse communities of New York City and to help them to prepare for success in school, career, and life.
GNYC is the New York City chapter of Scouting America. We provide youth development programming starting at the age of five and throughout high school offering a connection with the great outdoors, leadership development, community engagement, and career exploration to prepare New York City youth for success in life. In today’s digital world, there are too few opportunities to be outside, develop hands-on skill mastery, and connect with the community face-to-face.
Our goal is to provide critically important access to these quintessential features of healthy youth development so NYC children and youth can build critical life skills, strengthen their connection to community, and develop their confidence to lead. GNYC’s participants reflect the diversity of New York City: in 2024, nearly 30% of participants identified as girls and close to 60%+ as youth of color. More than 70% of Scouts receive financial assistance to participate.
About Scouting America
Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” Scouting America welcomes all of America’s youth into its programs. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding, and currently more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, or to sign your child up for Scouting, visit www.BeAScout.org.
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Media Contact: Dorothy.Browne@Scouting.org, (347) 528-3889