Ages 11 – 17
Scouts BSA
The traditional Scouting program — where youth lead, adventure runs deep, and every Scout grows at their own pace.
What is Scouts BSA?
Scouts BSA is Scouting America’s core program for youth between the ages of 11 and 17. For more than a century, it has been the place where young people learn outdoor skills, develop the confidence to lead, and take real responsibility for their own growth. Scouts hike, camp, canoe, cook over open flames, tackle service projects, and pursue interests they may not have known existed — all while building lasting friendships with other Scouts in their troop.
The Scouts BSA program is distinctive because it’s youth-led. Elected Scouts plan the troop’s activities, lead meetings, and take responsibility for their own advancement, with adult leaders serving as coaches and mentors rather than directors. That structure gives Scouts real leadership experience — not simulated, not staged, but genuine responsibility for planning, decisions, and outcomes.
How Scouts BSA Works
Scouts belong to a troop, which is broken into smaller groups called patrols of six to eight Scouts. Troops meet weekly, and each Scout progresses through the program at their own pace with support from patrol leaders and adult volunteers.
Weekly troop meetings
Troops typically meet once a week during the school year, with additional weekend campouts and activities throughout the month.
Youth-led patrols
Scouts are grouped into small patrols led by an elected Patrol Leader. Patrols work together on activities, cook their own meals on campouts, and support each other’s growth.
Troop options for every family
Troops are chartered as all-male, all-female, or family (co-ed) units. Many all-male and all-female troops share a chartered organization and coordinate activities together.
Advancement and Ranks
Scouts BSA has a well-defined progression of seven ranks. The first phase — from joining through First Class — focuses on Scoutcraft skills, self-reliance, and how to be a contributing member of the troop. The upper ranks shift the focus toward leadership, community service, and personal development.
Scout
The joining rank. Earned by learning the basics of Scouting — the Scout Oath, Law, and how the troop works.
Tenderfoot
Focused on outdoor basics like camp setup, knot tying, first aid fundamentals, and personal fitness.
Second Class
Introduces navigation, cooking, more advanced first aid, and swimming skills through real outdoor experiences.
First Class
Completes the core Scoutcraft foundation. A First Class Scout can competently participate in almost any Scouting activity.
Star
Focus shifts to leadership and community. Scouts hold a position of responsibility in the troop and complete service hours.
Life
A Scout continues to lead, serve, and earn merit badges, building the skills and experience they’ll need for the highest rank.
Eagle
The highest rank in Scouts BSA. Requires earning 21 merit badges (including 14 specific required ones), sustained leadership, and completing a significant community service project the Scout plans and leads themselves.
Merit badges
Scouting America offers over 130 merit badges covering everything from traditional outdoor skills like Camping and Wilderness Survival to modern interests like Programming, Robotics, and Game Design. Merit badges are earned by working with an approved counselor and completing hands-on requirements. Beyond the requirement for rank advancement, they’re a way for Scouts to explore possible careers and lifelong hobbies.
Outdoor Adventures
The outdoors is the classroom of Scouting. Scouts BSA troops camp regularly — typically one weekend a month — with additional summer high-adventure trips for older Scouts.
Monthly campouts
Troops plan and execute their own weekend camping trips throughout the year, giving Scouts regular hands-on practice with outdoor skills.
Summer camp at STSR
A week-long resident camp at Spanish Trail Scout Reservation with merit badge instruction, aquatics, shooting sports, high adventure, and traditional camp life.
High adventure
Older Scouts can travel to Scouting America’s national high adventure bases — Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier, and Summit Bechtel — for backpacking, sailing, canoeing, and mountain adventures.
Who Runs the Program?
Scouts BSA troops are led by the Scouts themselves. Youth elect a Senior Patrol Leader who runs meetings and represents the troop, supported by other elected and appointed youth leaders. Adult volunteers — the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters — provide coaching, ensure safety, and mentor Scouts through the program, but don’t run the troop.
Every registered adult completes Safeguarding Youth Training and a background check. All Scouting activities follow strict two-deep leadership and no-one-on-one contact policies to keep Scouts safe.
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