Scouting Facts

Cub Scout Colors

The Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. They have special meaning, which will help boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to its ultimate goals.

The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the sky above.

The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness.

Can Scouting Make a Difference?

Astronauts and the BSA

The Boy Scouts of America teaches young people to be good citizens and trains them to become leaders. These qualities are also found in the U.S. astronaut program. Of the 294 pilots and scientists selected as astronauts since 1959, more than 180 were Scouts or have been active in Scouting: 37 Eagle Scouts, 25 Life Scouts, 13 Star Scouts, 27 First Class Scouts, 16 Second Class Scouts, 13 Tenderfoot Scouts, three Explorers, 29 Cub Scouts, 16 Webelos Scouts, and eight with unknown ranks.

Of the 12 men to physically walk on the moon's surface, 11 were involved in Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of America is proud of America's astronauts.

For Every 100 Boys Who Scouting, Records Show That:

· RARELY will one be brought before a juvenile court system.

· 2 will become Eagle Scouts

· 17 will become future Scout volunteers

· 12 will have their first contact with a church

· 1 will enter the clergy

· 5 will earn their church award

· 18 will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life

· 3 will enter a vocation that was learned through the merit badge system.

· 1 will use his Scouting skills to save the life of another person.

· 1 will use his Scouting skills to save his own life.

Scouts Also Account For:

· 64% of Air Force Academy Graduates.

· 70% of Naval Academy Graduates.

· 72% of Rhodes Scholars.

· 85% of F.B.I. Agents.

· 26 of the first 29 US Astronauts.

· Of the 12 men to physically walk on the moon's surface, 11 were involved in Scouting.

· Uncounted Religious and Community Leaders.

· 94% of the men who were members of the Scouts as youth agree that Scouting helps develop character.

· Boys who are scouts for 5 years or more are more likely to graduate from college (40% to 16%) than boys with no scouting experience.

A recent nationwide survey of high schools revealed that:

· 85% of student council presidents were scouts

· 89% of senior class presidents were scouts

· 80% of junior class presidents were scouts

· 75% of school publication editors were scouts

· 71% of football captains were scouts

The Fleur-de-lis

· The fleur-de-lis symbolizes the fact the a Scout can always point himself to the best direction in life.

· The three upper petals of the fleur-de-lis stand for the three points to the Scout Oath: Duty to God and Country, Duty to Others, and Duty to Self.

· The two stars stand for truth and knowledge.

· The Eagle stands for the freedom of the United States.

· The shield on the Eagle represents a Scout's readiness to defend that freedom.

· The scroll is the smile on a Scout's face as he does a good turn.

· The knot reminds a Scout to "Do a Good Turn Daily."

The World Scout Emblem

The Scout emblem which has been worn by an estimated 250 million Scouts since the Movement was founded and is today still used by 16 million Scouts in 150 countries and territories, is one of the world's best known symbols. But Scouts and members of the public often ask how the emblem originated.

Lord Baden-Powell himself gave the answer, "Our badge we took from the 'North Point' used on maps for orienteering them with North". Lady Baden-Powell said later, "It shows the true way to go."

So, the emblem helps to remind Scouts to be as true and reliable as a compass in keeping to their Scouting ideals and showing others the way.

In Scouting, we take the three tips of the emblem to represent the three main points of the Scout Promise. The two decorative five-pointed stars are taken in some countries to stand for truth and knowledge.

In the World Scout Emblem, the basic motif is encircled by a rope tied with a reef or square knot symbolizing the unity and brotherhood of the Movement throughout the world. Even as one cannot undo a reef knot no matter how hard one pulls on it so, as it expands, the Movement remains united.

The colour of the World Scout Badge is a white on a royal purple background. These, too, are symbolic. In heraldry white represents purity and royal purple denotes leadership and helping other people.

History of the Design

The basic design was in use for centuries before it came to indicate North on a compass. The Chinese are known to have used it as a direction symbol as early as 2000BC. The Larousse Encyclopedia notes that some Etruscan bronzes and Roman ornaments carried the design, and it has been found on ancient monuments in Egypt and India.

Its use as a navigation aid in Europe probably dates from the end of the 13th Century when Marco Polo brought back a compass from Cathay. The Grand Encyclopedia credits an Italian marine pilot, Flavio Gioja of Amalfi, for drawing it as a North Point on a primitive compass he built.

The Encyclopedia Britannica gives another interesting version of the origin of the design. This is that it derives from the "Wind Rose" which is much older than the magnetic compass and first appeared on the charts of Mediterranean sea pilots. The eight main wind directions were shown by Greek letters and the North Wind marked "T" for Tramontana. In time, the "T" was embellished or combined with an arrowhead so that it was no longer recognisable as "T".

The design is much used elsewhere. It appears in ornate versions on heraldic coats of arms, and in many decorative designs. Sometimes it is meant to represent a lance or spearhead, a lily (Fleur de Lys) and even a bee or a toad.

So, today, as the symbol continues to point the way for navigators so, all over the world, it points the way to service and brotherhood for all members of the Scout Movement.

From SCOUT FACTS, World Scout Bureau, World Organization of the Scout Movement, June, 1985

Boy Scouts of America - National Council Fact Sheets