BOY SCOUT SERVICE

SERVICE TO OTHERS has always been a central part of Scouting. During World War I, Boy Scouts throughout the country collected paper and metal for recycling, and sold bonds to raise money for the war effort. In 1916, the United States Congress showed its thanks by granting the Boy Scouts of America a speciaL congressional charter. Scouts today carry on this tradition of service in their homes, communities, and nation by gathering food and clothing for needy neighbors, building playgrounds, and repairing parks and public buildings. They assist fire and police departments, aid disaster victims, and clean up after storms.

Many Scouls also complete conservation work that protects and restores the land. The servIce projects required for different BSA ranks remind Scours of the importance of contributing their rime and energy to worthwhile efforts.

And in support of the President's Summit for America's Furure held in 1997, the Boy Scouts of America committed each youth member to provide a minimum of twelve hours of community service annually rhrough the year 2000, This will result in a total of two hundred million hours of community service rendered by rhe BSA and its youth,

The BSA National Crime Prevention Program was created to use the collective resources of our youth, adult membership, law enforcement agencies, and the community to address the problem of crime in OUR communities