Scouting Ideals

Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan

Boy Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best: To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Boy Scout Law

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

Boy Scout Motto

Be Prepared!

Boy Scout Slogan

Do a Good Turn Daily!

Boy Scout Oath

On my honor . . .

By giving your word, you are promising to make every effort to live by the high ideals of the Scout Oath. Your success is a measure of your honor. AS a Scout, you must hold your honor sacred.

. . . I will do my best . . .

You have many talents, skills, and interests. Do your best with them, and use them for good purposes. Don't be satisfied with less than your best effort even when less is required of you. Measure your achievements against your own high standards, not against the performance of others. As a Scout and through-out your life, you will have opportunities to learn and to help many people. You will also be faced with challenges that may severely test you. Use your abilities to do your very best. That is what Scouting requires.

. . . To do my duty to God . . .

Your family and religious leaders teach you to know and love God and the ways in which God can be served. As a Scout, you do your duty to God by following the wisdom of those teachings in your daily life, and by respecting the rights of others to have their own religious beliefs.

. . . and my country . . .

As you study our country's history, you learn about the men and women who toiled to make America great. Most contributed in quiet ways. Others sacrificed their lives for our country. All of them did their part to build the nation we have today. Help keep the United States strong by obeying its laws. Learn about our system of government and your role as a citizen and future voter. Do all you can to help your family and neighbors live happy, productive lives. The land itself is an important part of our national heritage. Work for the conservation of our natural resources. Teach others respect for the land. Your efforts really will make a difference.

. . . and to obey the Scout Law; . . .

The twelve points of the Scout Law are the rules of Scouting. They are also rules you can apply to your whole life. The Scout Law sets forth ideals to live up to. By using the Scout Law as a guide, you will know you are always doing your best. Others will respect you for the way you live. Most importantly, you will respect yourself.

. . . To help other people at all times; . . .

There are many people who need you. Your young shoulders can help them carry their burdens. A cheerful smile and a helpful hand will make life easier for many who need assistance. By helping whenever aid is needed and by doing a Good Turn daily, you prove yourself a Scout. You are doing your part to make this a better world.

. . . To keep myself physically strong, . . .

Take care of your body. Protect it and develop it so that it will serve you for an entire lifetime. That means eating nutritious foods and being active to build strength and endurance. It also means avoiding drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and any other practices that can destroy your health.

. . . mentally awake, . . .

Develop your mind. Strive to increase your knowledge and make the greatest use of your abilities. Be curious about the world around you. Learn all you can both in class and beyond school. With an open attitude and the willingness to ask questions, you will get the most out of your life.

. . . and morally straight.

To be a person of strong character, guide your life with honesty, purity, and justice. Respect and defend the rights of all people. Your relationship with other should be honest and open. Be clean in your speech and actions, and faithful in your religious beliefs. The values you follow as a Scout will help you become virtuous and self-reliant.

Boy Scout Law

A Scout is Trustworthy.

A Scout tells the truth. He keeps his promises. Honesty is a part of his code of conduct. People can always depend on him.

A Scout is Loyal.

A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, Nation, and world community.

A Scout is Helpful.

A Scout is concerned about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

A Scout is Friendly.

A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs that are different from his own.

A Scout is Courteous.

A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that good manners make it easier for people to get along together.

A Scout is Kind.

A Scout understands there is strength in being gentile. He treats others as he wants to be treated. He does not harm or kill anything without reason.

A Scout is Obedient.

A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them.

A Scout is Cheerful.

A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.

A Scout is Thrifty.

A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.

A Scout is Brave.

A Scout can face danger even if he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

A Scout is Clean.

A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He goes around with those that believe in living by these same ideals. He helps keep his home and community clean.

A Scout is Reverent.

A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

Boy Scout Motto

Be Prepared.

That's the motto of the Boy Scouts.

Someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, "Be prepared for what?" "Why," said Baden-Powell, "for any old thing." The Scout motto means that you are always ready in mind and body to do your duty and to face danger, if necessary, to help others.

The more Scouting skills you have, the better able you are to live up to the motto. When someone has an accident, you are prepared because of your first aid training. Because of lifesaving instruction, you can save a child who has fallen into the water. If a building catches fire, you are ready to help because you have practiced what to do. Proper training prepares you to do your best in the face of an emergency.

But Baden-Powell wasn't thinking just of being prepared for accidents. His idea was that every Scout should prepare himself to become a useful citizen and to give happiness to other people. He wanted each Scout to be prepared to work for all the good things that life has to offer and to face with a strong heart whatever may lie ahead.

Be prepared for life - to live happily and without regret, knowing that you have done your best. That's what the Scout motto means.

Excerpted: page 562, "The Boy Scout Handbook", cpyrght 1990 by BSA, ISBN 0-8395-3229-6

Boy Scout Slogan

Do a good turn daily

This is the slogan of the Boy Scouts. Some Good Turns are big; saving a human life, rescue work in floods, service in hurricane stricken areas, recycling community trash, working with your patrol on a backcountry conservation project.

But Good Turns are more often small, thoughtful acts; helping a child cross the street, doing the shopping for an elderly neighbor, cutting back brush blocking a street sign, making a new student feel at ease in your school.

A Good Turn is more than simple good manners. It is an extra act of kindness. Answering the question of a driver about reaching an address is not really a Good Turn. That is common courtesy. But if you take time to draw a map for him or to lead him to his destination, that extra effort makes it a Good Turn.