The Boy Scouts of America has a membership of more than 2.9 million Scouts nationwide, but just 4.5 percent of those Scouts are Hispanic. Compare that to the demographics of the U.S. as a whole, where 15.4 percent of U.S. citizens are Hispanic, and it's clear there's room for the BSA to improve.
The BSA has launched a multifaceted effort to reach this underserved community, as documented in a recent article from the Riverside Press-Enterprise.
It starts with educating the Hispanic community about Scouting, Scout Executive Joseph Daniszewski of the California Inland Empire Council, told the paper.
"We have to do a better job of telling our story and telling people what Scouting is all about," he said. "We can't assume that everyone knows what Scouting is."
In addition to putting people on the ground to discuss the benefits of Scouting, here are just a few of the ways the BSA is reaching out to the Hispanic community:
-
Forming a Hispanic Initiatives team and launching a comprehensive Web site.
- Introducing the ¡Scouting…
Vale La Pena! Service Award square knot. - Releasing a Spanish-language version of the BSA Handbook.
Chime in: In what other ways can the BSA reach underserved youth? Register your opinion in the comments section below.
Inspire Leadership, Foster Values: Donate to Scouting
When you give to Scouting, you are making it possible for young people to have extraordinary opportunities that will allow them to embrace their true potential and become the remarkable individuals they are destined to be.
Donate Today