Timeless Values Then and Now

Healthy Youth Development

The Miami Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America has a history of helping to shape and mold the values and character of youth. The movement continues to help strengthen youth, families, and communities through comprehensive programs for its members. The extensive nature of BSA's Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing programs allows the movement to address six critical elements of healthy youth development:

• Strong personal values and character
• Positive sense of self-worth and usefulness
• Caring and nurturing relationships with parents, other adults and peers
• A desire to learn
• Productive/creative use of time
• Social adeptness

Strong Personal Values and Character

Specific character-related values that parents see communicated through Scouting to their children include:

• Respecting the environment
• Staying away from drugs
• Helping at home
• Learning moral values
• Learning self-reliance
• Become involved in community service
• They help meet important physical and emotional needs
• They communicate the value and importance of other people
• They allow young people to develop empathy with other people in need

A Positive Sense of Self-Worth and Usefulness

Scouting provides youth with:

• A safe, friendly environment
• A sense of belonging
• Involvement in community service
• Improved self-esteem through goals setting
• An atmosphere of teamwork

Caring and Nurturing Relationships with Parents and other Adults

Scouting programs addresses this element by providing positive role models and encouraging family togetherness. Scouting, parents and their children:

• Do projects together
• Read together
• Scouts receive encouragement to do their best by a leader
• Scouts talk to their parents about what they learn

A Desire to Learn

Scouting programs provide youth the opportunity to:

• Help develop new interests
• Help build reading skills that are the foundation for higher learning
• Do something they have never done before

Productive/Creative Use of Time

Scouting allows youth to constructively use their time in child-centered learning activities such as art, music, theater, and religion. Boys overwhelmingly cite the Scouting program activities as the key reason for joining scouting. A clear majority of parents of scouts say that Scouting is:

• A positive alternative to watching TV
• A positive alternative to playing video games

Social Adeptness

Scouting helps youth develop social skills and competencies by providing opportunities for them to plan and lead activities, work in groups, and interact with youth of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. In a year's time, a majority of parents report that the program helped their children:

• Respect the feelings of others
• Learn social skills
• Learning to be a team player
• Participate in democratic decision making
• Resolve conflicts with peers

We help meet these needs through making the right types of investment in youth

The Programs of Scouting

TIGER CUBS are boys in the first grade. Boys with their adult partner "Search, Discover, & Share", working together on home-based projects to strengthen family values and communication.

Services Provided by the Miami Valley Council

The Council provides a wide array of necessary services to the youth and units within our Council. Most families realize that it costs $20 - $50 to keep their son in Scouting for a year. The Council spends an additional $125 to $175 per year in support of each youth in our council. Services such as:

• Professional staff and office support staff services
• Two service centers
• Liability insurance for adults and accident insurance for youth
• Training for adults
• Two camps
• Summer camp programs
• Cub Scout day camp
• Recognition and awards
• Maintain Trading Post inventory
• Printed materials
• Recruiting materials
• Maintain advancement and training records.
• Program equipment for camps
• Special activities

Your Investment

Your investment in Scouting will reap dividends for you and your family for years to come. Every dollar invested gives youth the opportunity to become better citizens and prepares them for tomorrow. Whatever you give is gratefully accepted and wisely used.

The Right Choice

Choose Scouting. Support the area's biggest and best program for youth. Tens of thousand of our valley's families believe in the power and worth of scouting. Your tax-deductible contribution to our Friends of Scouting campaign will help support and keep our community strong and viable.

Council Income

Council Expenses