Scout Sunday 2015 is Feb. 8 — here’s how to celebrate

scout-sunday-2015-programScout Sunday is already one of the highlights of the BSA year. But Scout Sunday 2015 promises to be even more special.

That’s because this year’s Scout Sunday falls on Feb. 8, the BSA’s birthday. (The Boy Scouts of America was founded on Feb. 8, 1910.)

The last time Scout Sunday fell on Feb. 8 was in 2009. It won’t happen again until 2026.

So there’s extra incentive to make this year’s celebration even more meaningful. On Scout Sunday, uniformed Scouts and Scouters across the country will greet the congregation, participate in worship services, receive religious awards and conduct service projects to benefit their place of worship.

The goal: Thank the religious institution for their service as the unit’s chartered organization.

Some religious institutions and the Scout units they serve have a Scout Sunday plan that’s been in place for years. If so, great.

If not, here are some ways to make this year’s Scout Sunday extra special.

Ways to celebrate Scout Sunday 2015

These come from our friends on the Scouting magazine Facebook page.

  • “Lowes UMC has asked us to hold an Eagle Ceremony during the church service for a very deserving young man. As Scoutmaster, I was unsure at first, but now I feel this a wonderful way to celebrate Scout Sunday and thank the church for their many years of support.” – Derick S.
  • “We’re celebrating our troop’s 75th anniversary! We’re having a dinner with all of our troop’s past Eagle Scouts and then celebrating eight new young men earning their Eagle Scout.” – Seth C.
  • “We have a member from the troop reading the Scout Law while members of the Webelos 2 light an eagle that has 12 candles on it (1 for each part of the law). I also have a guest speaker lined up that will talk about what Scouting means to them. Our service is usually really meaningful. I try to use as many of the Scouts in the service from greeters to readers to ushers to members of the color guard.” – Amy Q.
  • “All the boys in our troop and pack and their leaders are encouraged to attend services that day in their ‘Class A’ uniforms. The following week, photos taken of the Scouts with their clergy are published in the local paper.” Mary L.
  • “The youth in our pack, troop and crew will serve as greeters and gift bearers in Mass and then have an information booth at Coffee & Donuts.” – Linda C.
  • “Our church has invited Scoutmaster Brian Wallace (recently featured in Scouting magazine) to be our guest preacher at First United Methodist Church of Germantown.” – Ann P.
  • “My Scouts have earned their Light of Christ religious medal and they will be receiving it at church on Scout Sunday.” – Lorie T.
  • “We established a Scout Sunday service where we invite all Scouts — Boy, Girl, Cub, Venturer, Life (past and present). We collect food for our local food pantry, have special guest speakers such as local leaders and Eagle Scouts, show photo slideshows of Scouts in action, play videos, share refreshments, display awards and projects, and of course have a very special sermon. It’s a great event!” – MJ N.
  • “Our troop attends the first service on Sunday. Between the services we host a pancake breakfast for the parishioners. The Scouts serve and bus tables as needed.” – Heidi B.
  • “Being the only BSA member within 100 miles, I’ll wear my dress blazer with Catholic International Awareness medal and Silver Beaver to Mass at the chapel here in the mountains of México.” – Dean W.

Find more great responses here.

Yes, Scout Sunday is on Feb. 8

Let me clear up some confusion about the date of Scout Sunday this year.

By official BSA designation, Scout Sunday is always the Sunday that falls before Feb. 8, Scouting Anniversary Day.

However, in years when Feb. 8 falls on a Sunday, such as 2015, the BSA’s birthday and Scout Sunday are combined into one glorious day.

Feb. 8 won’t fall on a Sunday again until 2026, so make the most of it this year!

NOTE: Though the BSA has designated Feb. 8 as Scout Sunday this year, some religious institutions celebrate the occasion on a different date. Your chartered organization representative should be able to confirm the Scout Sunday date for your religious institution.

Scout Sabbath is Feb. 14

Scout Sabbath, for Jewish Scout units, is always the Saturday after Scout Sunday. This year, it falls on Feb. 14, 2015.

Learn more about this special day here.

NOTE: Though the National Jewish Committee on Scouting has designated Feb. 14 as Scout Sabbath this year, some councils will celebrate the occasion on other days. Check with your council or local Jewish Committee on Scouting to check the date.

Where to get Scout Sunday “stuff”

Visit your local Scout shop or ScoutStuff.org to grab the official Scout Sunday patch/emblem, Scout Sunday neckerchief and Scout Sunday program cover.


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