Scouting Supports Home Schooling

Definition

Home schooling is defined as the practice of teaching one's own children at home. - Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Significance

An estimated 1,096,000 children were home schooled during 2002-2003 in the United States, which represents 2.2 percent of the school-age population.

Why Home Schooling

In a recent National Household Education Surveys Program study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, nearly two-thirds of parents listed either concern about school environments or a desire to provide religious or moral instruction as their primary reason for home schooling.

Scouting's Educational Programs

Cub Scouting activities involve the parents, adult leaders, and friends of the Cub Scouts in home-centered programs that teach life skills, habits, values, and positive attitudes. Cub Scout activities encourage character development, physical coordination, family unity, and enthusiasm for learning.

Boy Scouting encourages boys to develop physical, mental, and emotional fitness and to adopt and live by meaningful personal standards as a cornerstone for success in life. The values include the basic principles in the Scout Oath and Law. Activities include fitness and leadership training, wilderness adventures, and merit badge incentives for boys mastering hobby and career skills.

Venturing is an effective coed young adult program designed to improve character, citizenship, and fitness. Venturing offers a variety of challenging activities to teach real-world meaning of values, ethical decision making, and life skills. It teaches leadership and problem-solving skills to help youth mature into confident, successful young adults. Venturing crews organize around a special vocation or interest of the group.

Benefits of Scouting to Home Schooling

  1. Provides socialization with people of varied age groups.
  2. Provides a resource and support system for home schooling.
  3. Incorporates small group interaction with hands-on learning approaches.
  4. Encourages creativity and critical thinking.
  5. Provides many exciting introductions to curriculum that can match the youth's abilities and learning styles.
  6. Promotes real-world experiences.
  7. Enriches the family.
  8. Provides a fun learning atmosphere.
  9. Provides service learning opportunities.
  10. Scouting experiences are welcomed at colleges and universities.

Boy Scout Skills As They Relate to Sample Math Curriculum

Merit Badge NameRequirement As It Relates to Math Curriculum
Citizenship in the CommunityStudy the local government budget.
ComputersLearn about programs.
ComputersShow how different things can be stored in computers.
Dog CareTell how much it costs to care for a dog for two months.
ElectricityRead an electric meter and figure out the bill.
OrienteeringLearn how to determine distances.
Personal ManagementDiscuss a financial goal with your family.
Personal ManagementPrepare a personal budget.
Personal ManagementPlan a personal financial goal or a spending/savings plan for living on your own.
Personal ManagementComparison shop for an item you want.
RailroadingLearn how to plan a trip using a train timetable.
SalesmanshipKeep track of money earned from a benefit or for yourself.
SurveyingMeasure out a plot of land.
SurveyingDetermine elevation.

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.