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The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth
organizations in the United States, with over four million youth
members in its age-related divisions. Since its founding in 1910 as
part of the international Scout Movement, more than 110 million
Americans have been members of the BSA
HOW SCOUTING CAME TO AMERICA
The Story of a Good Turn, Boy Scout Handbook, Tenth Edition,
Chapter 26, Boy Scouts of America
How good must a Good Turn be to be good? The answer is best given
by telling you the story of how Scouting came to America. It shows
that it isn't the size of a Good Turn that counts. What is
important is the spirit with which a Scout does a Good Turn.
"Do a Good Turn Daily" is the Scout Slogan.
One Day in 1909 in London, England, an American visitor, William D.
Boyce, lost his way in a dense fog. He Stopped under a street lamp
and tried to figure out where he was. A boy approached him and
asked if he could be of help.
"You certainly can," said Boyce. He told the boy that he wanted to
find a certain business office in the center of the city.
"I'll take you there," said the boy.
When they got to the destination, Mr. Boyce reached into his pocket
for a tip. But the boy stopped him.
"No thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won't take anything for
helping."
"A Scout? And what might that be?" asked Boyce.
The boy told the American about himself and his brother Scouts.
Boyce became very interested. After finishing his errand, he had
the boy take him to the British Scouting office.
At the office, Boyce met Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the famous
British general who had founded the Scouting movement in Great
Britain. Boyce was so impressed with what he learned that he
decided to bring Scouting home with him.
On February 8, 1910, Boyce and a group of outstanding leaders
founded the Boy Scouts of America. From that day forth, Scouts have
celebrated February 8 as the birthday of Scouting in the United
States.
What happened to the boy who helped Mr. Boyce find his way in the
fog? No one knows. He had neither asked for money nor given his
name, but he will never be forgotten. His Good Turn helped bring
the Scouting movement to our country.
In the British Scout Training Center at Gilwell Park, England,
Scouts from the United States erected a statue of an American
buffalo in honor of this unknown Scout. One Good Turn to one man
became a Good Turn to millions of American boys. Such is the power
of a Good Turn.