Boy Scouts of America

A major United States youth-development organization providing character education, outdoor experiences, leadership training, service activities, and advancement programs.

Last updated October 20, 2026

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Overview

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a United States nonprofit youth-development organization established in 1910. Its program combines values-based education with practical activities, outdoor experiences, community service, and progressive advancement. Local councils, units, adult volunteers, families, and national leadership work together to provide programs for young people, historically under names such as Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA. Advancement has traditionally been organized through ranks, merit badges, leadership responsibilities, and culminating achievements such as the Eagle Scout rank. Scouting’s public identity has been built around preparation, responsibility, citizenship, self-reliance, teamwork, and adventure. Typical activities include camping, hiking, climbing, boating, conservation, first aid, skills instruction, service projects, and leadership development. The organization also operates or supports high-adventure facilities and training programs. Its brand system emphasizes recognizable uniforms, badges, outdoor imagery, and the promise that Scouting helps young people become prepared for life. The organization has changed its recruitment and program messaging in response to declining enrollment, changing family expectations, and debates about inclusion. A 2014 “Build An Adventure” recruitment initiative presented Scouting through short videos and local materials focused on active experiences such as fishing, climbing, cave exploration, and motorsports. The organization has also used public-service advertising to describe community benefits, safety policies, and its efforts to create a welcoming environment. BSA’s modern history has been heavily shaped by allegations that some Scout leaders abused young people over several decades. Thousands of survivors brought claims, and the organization filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2020. During the case, BSA used a court-supervised advertising campaign to notify potential survivors about the deadline for filing compensation claims. A restructuring agreement involving the national organization, local councils, insurers, and survivor representatives was later approved. BSA emerged from bankruptcy in April 2023 with a compensation trust intended to address abuse claims while allowing Scouting to continue operating. The BSA remains an active national youth organization with local councils and volunteer-led units across the United States and its territories. Its public mission continues to center on character development and values-based leadership training, while its institutional priorities include youth protection, survivor compensation, program participation, volunteer support, and adaptation to a changing youth-services environment.

History

The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 as a national American Scouting organization. From its beginning, the movement was designed around structured youth activities, moral and civic education, outdoor skills, and adult-guided progression. Its operating model developed through local councils and volunteer-led units, allowing a national program framework to be delivered within communities across the United States. Over time, BSA became associated with camping, hiking, conservation, first aid, citizenship, uniforms, badges, and leadership. Its advancement system gave participants a sequence of ranks and specialty merit badges, while older Scouts could take on unit leadership and pursue the Eagle Scout rank. Cub Scouting provided a younger-age entry point, and high-adventure bases and training facilities broadened the organization’s outdoor and instructional offering. The organization’s public communications have periodically been refreshed to address participation challenges and changing perceptions of Scouting. Recruitment work has increasingly emphasized hands-on learning, physical activity, adventure, family involvement, community service, and preparation for adult life. The 2014 “Build An Adventure” campaign used short-form video, social media, email, web banners, printed materials, and local recruitment assets to direct prospective families to registration information. BSA brand guidance has also sought consistency in uniforms, colors, badges, typography, and national messaging. BSA’s history also includes a major institutional crisis involving allegations of sexual abuse by some adult leaders over multiple decades. Survivors and attorneys brought large numbers of claims against the national organization and related local entities. Facing hundreds of lawsuits and potentially extensive liabilities, BSA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2020. The case sought to create a centralized process for resolving claims while preserving the organization’s ability to continue serving youth. In 2020, the bankruptcy court required a broad notification campaign to inform potential survivors about the compensation process and a claims deadline. The campaign used multiple media formats and both English and Spanish communications. In 2021, BSA announced an $850 million restructuring support agreement with representatives of abuse claimants and other parties. The subsequent plan established a victims compensation trust and incorporated contributions and settlements involving BSA, local councils, and insurers. The bankruptcy court approved the plan in 2022, and a district court upheld the confirmation order in 2023. BSA announced its emergence from Chapter 11 on April 19, 2023, describing the outcome as a way to compensate survivors while preserving Scouting. The restructured organization continued to operate through its national office, local councils, volunteers, and youth programs. Youth protection, survivor accountability, financial sustainability, and the modernization of Scouting remain central to the organization’s public identity.

2023
Emergence from Chapter 11
[3]BSA announcement of emergence from Chapter 11scoutingnewsroom.org
BSA announced completion of its restructuring and emergence from bankruptcy.
2022
Plan of reorganization approved
[2]BSA restructuring milestonesbsarestructuring.org
The bankruptcy court approved BSA’s plan to establish a compensation structure for survivors and allow Scouting to continue.
2021
Restructuring support agreement announced
[4]Associated Press report on the $850 million agreementapnews.com
BSA announced an $850 million agreement involving representatives of abuse claimants and other bankruptcy constituencies.
2020
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[4]Associated Press report on the $850 million agreementapnews.com
BSA sought bankruptcy protection amid extensive sexual-abuse litigation and claims involving historical conduct by Scout leaders.
2020
Court-supervised survivor-notification campaign
[5]Washington Post report on the survivor-notification campaignwashingtonpost.com
BSA conducted a nationwide advertising effort to notify potential abuse survivors about the bankruptcy claims process.
2014
“Build An Adventure” recruitment campaign
[7]“Build An Adventure” recruitment campaignmediapost.com
BSA launched a multimedia recruitment effort presenting Scouting through active, hands-on experiences and directing families to enrollment information.
1910
Boy Scouts of America is established
[1]Scouting America official websitescouting.org
The Boy Scouts of America is founded as a national United States youth organization.

Products and positioning

Youth development and character education organization

Youth program
Cub Scouting
A younger-youth Scouting program centered on age-appropriate activities, family participation, outdoor learning, teamwork, and advancement. It serves as an entry point into the broader Scouting program.
Youth program
Scouts BSA
The organization’s core youth program for older children and teenagers, combining patrol or unit activities, outdoor experiences, leadership opportunities, service, merit badges, and rank advancement.
Advancement distinction
Eagle Scout
The highest advancement rank in the BSA program. It represents completion of an extended progression of requirements involving merit badges, leadership, service, and personal development.
Outdoor education
High-adventure programs
Advanced outdoor experiences and facilities associated with Scouting, offering activities such as backcountry travel, aquatic adventure, conservation, and other challenging group experiences.
Education and advancement
Merit badge system
A structured learning and recognition system through which Scouts explore subjects, develop practical skills, demonstrate knowledge, and receive badges as part of advancement.

Controversies

2020
Historical sexual-abuse allegations and bankruptcy litigation
BSA faced extensive allegations that some Scout leaders sexually abused young people over several decades. The resulting lawsuits and claims contributed to the organization’s February 2020 Chapter 11 filing and subsequent compensation plan.
Source

2020Survivor claims notification campaign
United States
A bankruptcy-court-approved advertising campaign informed people who may have experienced abuse in Scouting about the claims process and the deadline for seeking compensation.
Outcome. The campaign ran across television, radio, print, and online media in English and Spanish to broaden notice to potential claimants.
Source
2014Build An Adventure
United States
A national recruitment campaign used short videos and coordinated print, digital, social, email, billboard, and local-market materials to show families the physical and adventurous experiences available through Scouting.
Outcome. The campaign directed prospective families to BeAScout.org and was intended to counter declining enrollment and an outdated public image.
Source

Brand decisions

2022
Approval of reorganization planStrategy
Background
The bankruptcy process required a structure for compensating survivors while maintaining the organization’s ability to operate.
Action taken
The bankruptcy court approved a plan of reorganization supported by major survivor constituencies and other parties.
Aftermath
The plan was upheld on appeal to the federal district court, and BSA announced its emergence from Chapter 11 in 2023.
Source
2020
Chapter 11 restructuringOther
Background
BSA faced hundreds of lawsuits and a large volume of historical abuse claims while seeking to preserve its youth programs and local-council network.
Action taken
The organization filed for Chapter 11 protection and pursued a court-supervised global restructuring and claims process.
Aftermath
The case led to a survivor-notification campaign, negotiations with claimants and insurers, and a later compensation trust.
Source

Recent events

2020-02-18
Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy protection[8]美国童子军申请破产保护cnbc.com
Reported: 2020-02-18
The Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid legal costs from lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of boys. The organization said the process would support a proposed victims compensation trust and allow it to continue its mission.

Sources16 sources

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