Facts About Scouting

What about Scouting?

Of the 293 U.S. astronauts, more than 170 were involved in Scouting, Including 37 Eagle Scouts.

Approximately 36 percent of West Point cadets were involved in Scouting as youth and 10 percent are Eagle Scouts. [Source: Department of the Army, U.S. Military Academy]

Approximately 28 percent of Air Force Academy cadets were involved in Scouting as youth and nearly 10 percent are Eagle Scouts. [Source: Air Force Academy Institutional Research]

In 1998, 1,289,886 adults delivered the Boy Scout programs to 4,757,194 youth.

At the end of 1998, Boy Scouts of America had more than 99.8 million alumni.  If they were all alive today, they would comprise the 12th largest country in population in the world. [Source: BSA Registration and Statistical Service and the 1998 Information please Almanac]

All of the Scouts who have participated in BSA through 1998 could fill the Georgia Dome, site of the 2000 Super Bowl, more than 1,400 times. [Source: BSA Registration and Statistical Service and the Boy Scout Division]

Through the end of 1998, 1,500,787 young men had been awarded the Eagle Scout Award, achieved by only approximately 2 percent of Scouts. [BSA Registration and Statistical Service and the Boy Scout Division]

Philmont Scout Ranch had more than 20,000 participants during 1998, who hiked approximately 1,173,200 miles. [Source: Philmont Scout Ranch]

Through 1998, the top five merit badges most often earned were:

 

First aid: 5,523,290

Swimming: 5,018,176

Cooking: 3,781,448

Camping: 3,638,733

Safety: 2,842,423

 

If the 97,091,780 merit badges earned through the end of 1998 were stacked, they would equal the height of Mt. Everest (29,141 feet) 400 times [Source: 1998 Local Council Index and External Communications Division]

The BSA has awarded 97,091,780 merit badges through the end of 1998.  These badges lined up end-to-end would make a straight line that would stretch from Chicago to Los Angels . . . a line in excess of 2,000 miles! [Source: 1998 Local Council Index and External Communications Division]

Pinewood derby cars made since 1954 (a project for Cub Scouts and their parents) could form a line stretching from Los Angels to New York and back . . . a total of more than 5,000 miles. [Source: BSA Supply Division and External Communications Division]

Nearly 30 percent of Cub Scouts participated in Cub Scout Day Camp or Cub Scout Resident Camp in 1998. [Source: 1998 Local Council Index]

If the 1.5 million Eagle Scouts spent an average of just 20 hours conducting their community service projects, this would equal more than 30 million hours of service.  When multiplied by the total number of other Scouts and leaders assisting the Eagle Scout candidates with their projects, the hours of service escalate into the hundreds of millions. [BSA Registration and Statistical Service and External Communications Division]

If a Boy Scout attends his weekly patrol and troop meeting, participates in a monthly weekend troop outing, and attends long-term summer camp with his troop, he will have spent as much time with scouting in a year as he spends in the classroom. [Source: BSA Council Services]

Virtually every council in America still conducts the Scouting for Food National Good Turn, and it is estimated that more than 600 million cans of food have been collected since 1988. [Source: BSA Scoutreach Division and External Communications division]

As part of America's Promise – The Affiance for youth, the Boy Scouts of America has committed 200 million community service hours through the year 2000.  At the end of 1998, a total of 100,756,046 hours of community service has been completed. [ Source BSA Scoutreach Division]

In 1998, the top five Chartered organizations were:

          1. United Methodist Churches: 421,579 youth, 11,739 units

[Source: BSA Relationships Division]