Imagine an activity that teaches citizenship, community service, outdoor skills, physical fitness, a duty to God, AND exposure to a variety of academic subjects.
Sounds great, huh?
Surprisingly, scouting teaches all these skills and more. Most people hear scouts and think of hiking and camping. That is a part of it, but it is so much more.
Scouting has been a great addition to our homeschool. Both my son and daughter (yes, girls are allowed in Scouts) are learning skills that are important to a well-rounded education.
We are part of the Boy Scouts of America which is now called Scouts BSA. My son is in Cub Scouts (grades K-5), and my daughter is in Scouts BSA (11- 17 years of age). I am a leader for both of them so I have learned all it has to offer.
So you may be wondering why I think Scouts is great for your homeschool. Let me share the many benefits scouting adds to our homeschool so you can see why I like the program so much.
Benefit #1 of Scouts: Leadership
I think besides outdoor adventures, leadership is probably the next thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Scouts.
Everyone has heard of or knows someone that has made their Eagle Rank. Eagle Scouts are well-respected by the community and businesses.
The reason for this?
Scouting teaches leadership. Scouts learn to work with others and take on leadership roles, both big and small, to help do their part. They learn how to take charge and lead no matter the task.
Benefits of Scouts for Homeschoolers
For homeschoolers, scouting allows them to work with other kids and learn leadership skills they may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn and practice. They learn to plan projects, activities, and take active roles in events. Scouting allows homeschoolers to learn these leadership skills and apply them to their homeschool life.
Benefit #2 of Scouts: Citizenship
Scouting does prepare our kids to be good, active citizens. From an early age in Cub Scouts, kids learn about our flag, our country, and being active in their community.
Community service is a big part of scouting. Scouts learn to find ways to help people in their community and actively take part in events that honor those that have helped others.
Early on, kids learn to find ways to be active citizens and help where they are needed. My kids have done clean-up projects, flag ceremonies on Memorial Day, and collected food for our local food pantry.
Benefits of Scouts for Homeschoolers
Homeschoolers learn how to help their community and play an active role as citizens, too.
I know other organizations also provide these opportunities. I think Scouting is another place that homeschoolers can learn citizenship that may better suit some kids.
Citizenship is a major part of scouting and not an added thing like “Hey, we should do a community service project.” It is worked on year after year.
Benefit #3: Character Building
Scouting has a Scout Law with 12 main principles. They are:
- TRUSTWORTHY
- LOYAL
- HELPFUL
- FRIENDLY
- COURTEOUS
- KIND
- OBEDIENT
- CHEERFUL
- THRIFTY
- BRAVE
- CLEAN
- REVERENT
The Scout Law is found in all the Cub Scout and Scout handbooks. It can also be found HERE on the Boy Scouts of America page.
The law is woven into all a scout does to help build good character. Every rank asks kids to reflect on how their work relates to the Scout Law.
Benefits for Homeschoolers
The Scout Law is a great way to help build good character in our children. All 12 points are things that make a good person.
Whether you attend church or not, the scouting program reinforces what we as parents teach our kids about good character and helps our kids work on it.
Benefit #4: Duty to God (and Others)
Scouting encourages kids to reflect on their own family’s beliefs. Every rank requires a child to think about how they do their Duty to God in their lives.
Not all our scouts are religious. It gives them an opportunity, though, to think about how they try to be a good person by living by the Scout Law.
Scouts learn to do their duty to others by helping other people at all times.
Benefits for Homeschoolers
Scouts reinforcing much of the teachings homeschoolers receive in their homes. It is an organization that respects and reinforces others’ beliefs and encourages children to keep their beliefs active in their daily lives.
Benefit #5: Teach Respect for Nature and Outdoor Skills
Scouting does a lot with teaching outdoor skills. Kids learn the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles. They learn how to be respectful of the environment and how to use it wisely. Scouts even study plants and wildlife in their area.
Best of all, they learn how to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and prepared manner.
Benefits for Homeschoolers
As homeschoolers, our children get to spend a lot of time outside. Many homeschool families enjoy doing nature study units and encouraging their kids to be outside playing freely. Scouting teaches kids how to safely enjoy the outdoors and make it a life-long habit.
Benefit #6: Physical Fitness
Throughout scouting, kids are taught how to incorporate physical fitness into their lives. When the kids hit Scout level, the earlier ranks require physical fitness.
I love how Scouts requires kids to develop physical fitness plans and carry them out. Kids must pick a merit badge that is physical fitness related: hiking, swimming, or cycling. It tries to instill these life-long habits in kids.
Benefits to Homeschoolers
Kids learn life-long habits of physical fitness. They learn how to plan it in their lives and monitor their progress. It is perfect for homeschool physical education requirements.
Benefit #7: Life Skills
The whole scouting program teaches life skills. Kids learn cooking, finances, goal setting, first aid, and so much more! Scouting teaches kids all they need to know to be productive and active members of society. Kids learn how to take care of themselves, be good role models, and good leaders.
Benefits of Scouts for Homeschoolers
I have used Cub Scout adventures and merit badges as part of our homeschool. In Cub Scouts, I have worked on art, music, and science adventures with my son that fit nicely in our homeschool.
My daughter is beginning to work on a reading merit badge that has specific reading material she needs to complete and is required to read to younger kids at our local library.
The merit badges at the Scout level are great for career exploration. There is a merit badge for just about anything. They can explore nuclear science, architecture, dentistry, gaming, and agriculture just to name a few.
The merit badges would also make great electives for high school.
As you can tell, I have found Scouts to be a great addition to our homeschool. You may find it surprising that I am NOT a big outdoorsy person. Yet, I am a den leader and Scout Master.
(PSST… You can read more about stepping outside your comfort zone HERE.)
Sound weird?
It isn’t because Scouts is so much more than hiking and camping. It prepares kids for life. Camping is just one small piece of it all.
So go check out Scouts. You’ll be surprised to see how nicely it fits into your homeschool.
As a homeschooler who grew up in the BSA I agree with all your points and love that you are embracing the program for both of your children and using it as part of your schooling. As a girl I was a tag-along Cub and became an auxiliary member of the Troop when I joined Venturing at 14 (older BSA program that has been coed since the 90s). Both my brother and I earned Eagle/Summit (the Venturing equivalent) and not only learned valuable skills, we made lifelong friends. I have even gone on to become a “professional” scouter, helping volunteers as they strive to instill the Scout Law in the next generation of scouts.
P.S. The organization is still the Boy Scouts of America, the specific program (one of many) is what was renamed Scouts BSA.
I loved this article. As an Eagle Scout, with both a son and a daughter who are also Eagle Scouts, I have seen first hand the benefits of the Scouts BSA program. I have worked with troops comprised primarily of home schooled youth, and the opportunities that Scouting offer have filled gaps that some home schooled children (and parents) found hard to address. Please consider this program for your children… you will be glad you did!
Thank you. Scouting does such a great job preparing all kids for life. I wish more kids would take advantage of the program.