FREE ESSAY ON THE HISTORY FO BOY SCOUTING

THE HISTORY FO BOY SCOUTING

Boy Scouting has effected the lives of many young men between the age of twelve and
eight-teen. Over one million boys have been effected in America alone since 1910 when Boy
Scouting was incorporated. But the story of Boy Scouting started before 1910.
The Story begins in 1844, when the YMCA was founded in London. The YMCA laid the
foundation for the largest organization for boys. Within the next fifteen years three of
the most important figures in boy scouting were born. They are Daniel Carter Beard, a
great outdoorsmen, Robert Baden Powell, the founder of boy scouting, and Ernest Thompson
Seton, who was also skilled in the outdoors. Then in 1876, the First Boy's Club was
established. This was America's first version of the Boy Scouts. This was soon followed
by a number of organizations from 1902 until 1907. Some of these include Woodcraft
Indians, founded by Seton; Sons of Daniel Boone, founded by Beard; the Boy's Club and the
Brownsea Island Experiment. 
In 1910 Boy Scouts came to America officially. The legendary story goes as follows. One
foggy day in 1909 and American Businessman named William D. Boyce lost his way in the
fog. So he stopped under a street light to read his map when he was approached by a young
British boy. The boy asked the man if he could help and the man said certainly. The boy
showed the man to his destination. When the man offered the boy a tip the boy responded
that he would not except anything from the man because he was a scout. Boyce became very
interested in this and later met with Lord Robert Baden-Powell. He was a famous British
general who had founded the scouting movement in Great Britain. He was so impressed with
what he learned that he brought the movement home with him. On February 8, 1910, William
D. Boyce officially incorporated Boy Scouts of America.
Later in that same year, the first scout handbook was published. It was entitled Handbook
for Boys. The next year was a year for firsts for the Boy Scouts in America. Scouts form
all every state began to enroll. Boy's Life, a monthly magazine for all boys, was
purchased. The Sea Scouting organization became a part of Boy Scouts of America. The
First Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, was awarded. Also in 1912
Baden-Powell, the original founder of Scouting, got married to Olave Soames. Later in the
year, Girl Scouts, a similar organization for girls was founded.