The Boy Scouts of America: 101 years and counting

100th Anniversary Cake Photoshopped to say "101"
Yes, this image was Photoshopped to say "101." I call it "recycling."

Every Feb. 8 is special to those of us who are passionate about the Scouting program.

Each year, the anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America’s founding gives us a chance to reflect on the previous year while also looking ahead to the future.

So first, let’s reflect.

A year ago today, I wrote a post about the official start to the BSA’s 100th Anniversary celebration. I think you’d agree that the Year of Celebration that followed was a great success at every level—national, council, district, and unit.

For me, it was awesome. Last summer, I spent an unforgettable five days on a whitewater rafting trip with a troop from California. (You can read about my trip in the May-June 2011 issue of Scouting magazine.)

And then there was the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. I had been to jamborees before, but this one took the cake. I’ll never forget meeting Scouters from across the country. It was my first time meeting such a diverse group of Scouters, and I quickly realized that accents vary, but we all speak the same language when it comes to Scouting.

What’s next for the BSA? Well, let’s continue to show the nation that even though we’ve been around for more than a century, we’re still relevant and vital to today’s youth.

It’s all dependent on you, the volunteer Scouter. The BSA needs your dedication and motivation to succeed. So Happy Birthday, BSA, and here’s to another year of great memories!


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.