BSA Mission Statement: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

The Aims of Scouting: Every Scouting activity moves young people toward the basic aims of character development, citizenship training, leadership, and mental and physical fitness. Advancement is one of the eight methods used by Scout leaders to help youth fulfill the aims of the BSA.