Facts About Scouting

• In 2005, 1,146,130 adults delivered the Boy Scouts of America program to 2,938,698 youth. [Source: 2005 Local Council Index]
   
• The nearly 1.2 million volunteers donate an average of 20 hours per month to the BSA, which totals 280 million hours of time during one year. Independent Sector projects the average value of volunteer time to be $17.55 an hour. Given this hourly rate, the approximate value of the time given by Boy Scout volunteers is $4,914,000,000. [Source: Research Service, Volunteer Outcomes Study]
   
• Of the 312 U.S. astronauts, 180 were involved in Scouting, including 40 Eagle Scouts. [Source: BSA Fact Sheet: "Astronauts and the BSA," 2006]
   
• Through the end of 2005, 1,835,410 young men had been awarded the Eagle Scout Award, achieved by only approximately 5 percent of Scouts. [Source: BSA Registration and Statistical Service and the Boy Scout Division]
   
• Approximately 35.5 percent of West Point cadets were involved in Boy Scouting as youth, and 14.3 percent are Eagle Scouts. [Source: Department of the Army, U.S. Military Academy]
   
• Approximately 30.5 percent of Air Force Academy cadets were involved in Boy Scouting as youth, and nearly 14.3 percent are Eagle Scouts. [Source: Air Force Academy Institutional Research]
   
• At the end of 2005, the Boy Scouts of America had more than 110 million alumni. If they were all alive today, they would compose the 11th largest country in population in the world. [Source: BSA Registration and Statistical Service and the 2005 Information Please Almanac]
   
• During 2005, Philmont Scout Ranch had 31,633 participants, who hiked approximately 1,750,829 miles. [Source: Philmont Scout Ranch]
   
• Through 2005, the five merit badges most often earned were
  • First Aid: 6,194,413
  • Swimming: 5,626,004
  • Camping: 4,123,108
  • Cooking: 4,025,878
  • Citizenship in the Community: 2,973,491
  [Source: 2005 Local Council Index]
   
• If the 109,829,417 merit badges earned through the end of 2005 were stacked end-to-end, they would equal the height of Mount Everest (29,141 feet) 453 times. [Source: 2005 Local Council Index and Marketing & Communications Division]
   
• The BSA has awarded 109,829,417 merit badges through the end of 2005. These badges lined up end-to-end would make a straight line that would stretch from Chicago to Los Angeles, a line in excess of 2,500 miles! [Source: 2005 Local Council Index and Marketing & Communications Division]
   
• More than 34 percent of Cub Scouts participated in Cub Scout day camp, Cub Scout resident camp, or family camp in 2005. [Source: 2005 Local Council Index]
   
• Pinewood derby cars made since 1954 (a project for Cub Scouts and their parents) could form a line stretching from Los Angeles to New York and back — a total of more than 5,500 miles. [Source: BSA Supply Group and Marketing & 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 District and Council Resources]
   
• In 2005, the top five chartered organizations were:
  1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 396,152 youth, 35,512 units
  2. United Methodist Churches: 376,472 youth, 11,864 units
  3. Catholic Churches: 308,378 youth, 9,555 units
  4. Parents' Clubs in Schools: 237,243 youth, 6,154 units
  5. Public Schools: 146,737 youth, 3,881 units
  [Source: BSA Relationships Division]
   

Fact Sheets

The Merits of Marketing (marketing.scouting.org) is a resource for local councils, developed by the Marketing & Communications Division of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America.