THE SCOUTING FAMILY OF OPPORTUNITIES

• Lone Scouting. The Lone Scouts of America was founded by William Boyce to provide Scouting experiences for boys living in sparsely populated areas of the country. Mr. Boyce's organization merged with the Boy Scouts of America in 1924. Today, the Lone Scout plan serves boys who cannot take part in the activities of a Boy Scout troop on a regular basis because of distance, disability, or other unavoidable factors.

• The Direct Service Council was established to make Scouting available to U.S. citizens and their dependents who live in countries outside the jurisdiction of the Transatlantic Council and the Far East Council [the BSA's two overseas councils]. It is administered by the BSA's International Division at the national office in Irving, Texas. More than 4,500 youth members and 1,700 adult leaders belong to over 140 Direct Service Council units or are registered as Lone Scouts in isolated areas of the world. The program of Direct Service Council units is basically the same as that in the U.S., with some modifications when necessary due to circumstances and customs within a given country.

From its beginnings with a Good Turn by an unknown Scout to the present day with millions of members across the nation, the Buy Scouts of America has had an exciting histary. Now that you are a Scout, the future of the BSA depends in part upon you. What you put into Scouting will help shape the organization in the years ahead. In return, Scouting will help you shape yourself into the person you want to become.