The world of Scouting was conceived and developed by one man, Sir Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, in England in the early years of the 20th century. He tested his ideas out on twenty boys in a camping experiment at Brownsea Island in 1907. The next year, he published his book Scouting for Boys. That book set in motion a movement which quickly spread around the world and continues to this day.
Chicago businessman and publisher, William D. Boyce, after a trip to England brought scouting to the United States in 1909. As the story goes, he was lost in a London fog when a boy appeared and offered to take him to his destination. When Mr. Boyce tried to tip him for his kindness, the boy stopped Mr. Boyce by courteously explaining that he was a Scout and could not accept payment for a good turn. Intrigued, Mr. Boyce questioned the Scout, who took him to Baden-Powel's office, and then disappeared into the fog. The unknown Scout was never heard from again, but he will never be forgotten. At the Scout Training Center at Gilwell Park, England a statue of a buffalo was erected in honor of this unknown Scout. His good turn is what brought Scouting to our country. On February 8, 1910 Mr. Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America, which is why we celebrate Scouting's birthday with Blue and Gold Banquets every February.
By the 1920s, millions of Cub Scout-aged boys and their families were clamoring for a program of their own. After a few years of demonstration projects, Cub Scouting was formally launched in 1930. In 1982 the Tiger Cub> program was added based on shared leadership of boy-adult teams.
The Scouting program is updated periodically to keep pace with a changing world. It isn't the same as it was on Brownsea Island in 1907, but the ideals of Scouting remain the same. Its ideals are still based on the principles Baden-Powell had been taught as a boy. Scouting continues to be sensitive to the needs of young people everywhere.
Contact your local Cub Scout pack by following the link below.