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District Chairman David Doudney David@doudneysurveyors.com407-322-1451
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 Harvey Francisco
District Commissioner
407-402-8789
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Randy Steil
Sr. District Executive
407-703-0238
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You can use this form to submit a request for additional information on the scouting programs described on this page. We look forward to serving your family's needs for youth programs, and welcome you to our family!
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Cub Scouts
Cub Scouting means "doing." Everything in Cub Scouting is designed to have the boys doing things. Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness. Many of the activities happen right in the den and pack. The most important are the weekly den meetings and the monthly pack meetings.
Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto, and salute all teach good citizenship and contribute to a boy's sense of belonging.
Join Us in Cub Scouting!
To the left you can select the part of Cub Scouting that best applies to you and you will learn how you fit into Cub Scouting and how well it will fit you, too!
Cub Scout Promise
I, (name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
Law of the Pack
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
Cub Scout Motto:
Do Your Best
How old (or young) can a boy be to join Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is for boys in the first through fifth grades, or 7 to 10 years of age. Boys who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting, but they may be eligible to join the Boy Scouting or Venturing program.
How can I become an adult volunteer in Cub Scouting?
Express your interest to the pack leaders—the Cubmaster, chartered organization representative, or members of the unit committee. While there's no guarantee that a specific role or position will be available—and there may be a selection process among several candidates even if the position is currently vacant—there is usually some way in which you can contribute, and most units are glad for any offer of help.
Is there a Cub Scout pack in my area?
In most instances, yes: there are tens of thousands of Cub Scout packs in the United States and its territories, as well as packs that serve the families of U.S. citizens who live overseas. The "find a pack" feature at www.joincubscouting.org will show you a sample of the units in your area. Additionally there is a Unit Map on this website.
Is it possible to be a Cub Scout if there is not a pack in my area?
In rare instances where there actually is no pack in your area—which generally occurs only in rural areas or overseas locations—a single youth can become a Lone Cub Scout, working with an adult mentor to pursue the advancement program, and participating in activities with nearby packs when possible.
Must I be a U.S. citizen to join Cub Scouting?
Citizenship is not required of youth or adult members.
If you live outside the United States and are not a U.S. citizen, it may be more beneficial to join the Scouting association in your own nation. The World Organization of the Scout Movement provides contact information for all national Scouting organizations on its Web site at www.scout.org.
( referenced: http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/faqs/joining.aspx#aa )
Boy Scouts
Note that the Scout badge is NOT considered a "Rank" by BSA.
The Charter and Bylaws in Article X, Section 1, Clause 6, states
"Ranks. There shall be the following ranks in Boy Scouting: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. The requirements shall be those authorized by the Executive Board and set forth in official Scouting publications. Eagle Palms may also be awarded on the basis of requirements authorized by the Executive Board and set forth in official Scouting publications."
Meet age requirements: Be a boy who has completed the fifth grade and be at least 10 years old, or be 11 years old, or have earned the Arrow of Light Award and be at least 10 years old, and be under 18 years old.
Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.
Find a Scout troop near your home. (To find a troop, contact your local Boy Scout Council. The Council name, address and phone number can be found on BSA's Council Locator Page.)
Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.
Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake.
Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot).
Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code.
Describe the Scout badge.
Complete the Pamphlet Exercises. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide".
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
National Eagle Scout Association
The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) is a fellowship of men who have achieved the Eagle Scout rank and who desire to use their efforts and influence toward forming the kind of young men America needs for leadership. The objective of NESA is "to serve Eagle Scout and, through them, the entire movement of Scouting."
Venturing:
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
Venturing is a new "old" program of the Boy Scouts of America. Originally part of the Exploring Division, it finally came into its own in 1998. It has become the fastest growing program of the BSA. Young adults have found through the Venturing program the outlet they have been looking for in their age group.
It has been an exciting time of fast growth and great learning experiences. The Venturing youth cabinet is in a unique position to promote this exciting program through their active involvement in their regions and throughout the United States.
There are continued misconceptions about what Venturing is all about. Venturing is not for young boys and girls but rather for young adults. They are able to do more and go further as a Venturer or Sea Scout in a Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship.
Venturing provides positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing provides the skills needed for young adults to make ethical choices, experience a fun program full of adventure and challenges, acquire leadership skills, and to take advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life, and Sea Scouting.
As part of the national Venturing youth cabinet, you will be able to help advance Venturing as well as promote the idea that the Venturing program is for YOUNG ADULTS who want a broader experience in leadership, vocations, and hobbies. (See age and gender charts in your materials.)
( referenced: http://www.scouting.org/venturing/about.aspx )
Age Requirement Eligibility
Merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms are for boys who are registered Boy Scouts or Varsity Scouts. Any registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout may earn these awards until his 18th birthday. Any Venturer who achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout in a troop may continue working for the Star, Life, and Eagle ranks and Eagle Palms while registered as a Venturer up to his 18th birthday.
Rank Advancement for Venturers
Any male Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue advancement toward the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks up to his 18th birthday.
He must meet the requirements as prescribed in the �official Boy Scout Handbook and the current Boy Scout Require�ments book. The Venturer may fulfill leadership requirements by serving as president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of his crew, or as boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper for his ship.
The Scoutmaster conference will be conducted by the Advisor or Skipper. As the Venturer meets requirements for the Star and Life ranks, a board of review will be conducted by the crew or ship committee. The Eagle board of review should follow the pro�cedures established by the local council.
( referenced: http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/eligibility.aspx#ven )
Sea Scouts:
Sea Scouting is a part of the Venturing program that the Boy Scouts of America offers for young men and women. Along with Cub Scouting for younger boys and Boy Scouting for older boys, Venturing and Sea Scouting provide a program for religious, fraternal, educational, and other community organizations to use for effective character, citizenship, and mental and personal fitness training for youth. As part of this training, Sea Scouts are expected to develop personal religious values, learn the principles of American heritage and government, and acquire skills that will prepare them to become successful adults.
Sea Scouting is the BSA's implementation of the Sea Scout program, initially developed in 1910 by Warington Baden-Powell in England. The founders of Sea Scouting in the United States are Arthur A. Carey of Waltham, Massachusetts and Charles T. Longstreth of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both leaders independently established Sea Scout groups in the summer of 1912. This accomplishment was recorded in the inaugural issue of Scouting.
The advancement scheme for Sea Scouts places an initial emphasis on nautical skills before encouraging the youth to take a major role in planning activities in the unit. Young men and women ages fourteen through twenty-one who are willing to abide by the requirements of BSA membership, including agreeing to live by the ideals expressed in the Sea Promise, Scout Oath, and Scout Law are eligible to join a Sea Scouting ship.[1] Ships are administered by volunteers with the assistance and support of some paid professional staff.
ONLY youth who are members of Sea Scout Ships may earn Sea Scout advancement. Venturers not in Sea Scout Ships can not earn these awards. However, all Sea Scouts may earn any Venturing Awards. Those who entered Sea Scouts as a First Class Scout in the Boy Scouts can work on requirements and merit badges for the rank of Eagle Scout, provided that the youth is under the age of 18 at the time of the completion of requirements.
(referenced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Scouts_(Boy_Scouts_of_America) )
Explorers:
Exploring began as a senior program in early Boy Scout Troops. These older boys carried out high adventure activities an service projects, and gave leadership to young Scouts. In 1912, Sea Scouting was founded for older Scouts and flourished as a program based on traditions of the sea. In 1935 Senior Scouts were called Explorers for the first time, and many were organized in separate Explorer crews in troops, using a Senior Scout program. In 1938, Mr. Waite Phillips, a Tulsa oilman, gave the Boy Scouts of America 35,857 acres of northeast New Mexico, which became the Philmont Scout Ranch and Explorer Base.
In May 1949, the national Executive Board revised Senior Scouting to recognize as Explorers all young men in posts, Sea Scout Ships, Air Scout Squadrons and all Boy Scouts over age 14 in troops. In 1954, the National BSA Executive Board and the University of Michigan made a national study that revealed the needs, desires, and concerns of boys 14 to 16. As a result a completely new Explorer program was developed and put into effect January 1, 1959. This new program included activities, methods, and recognitions that were similar to, but separate from, the Boy Scout program.
After almost ten years of limited progress, a study was made of the special-interest posts being organized by William H Spurgeon III, a businessman from California, and the newly completed research project of the BSA by Daniel Yankelovich. This study indicated that 83 percent of youth surveyed wanted more information on careers than they were getting at home or in school, and 94 percent wanted adult associations. Coed participation, sports, and adult-life recognition were found necessary to attract young adults to Exploring. This study was implemented by a national committee that developed the present Explorer program. As a result, special-interest Explorer posts began to be organized by businesses and professional and trade organizations. The career interest survey of high school students was developed to identify and recruit members. This opportunity to join post that specialize in careers or recreational programs attracted large numbers of young adults to Exploring. Exploring locally and nationally became a separate division of the Boy Scouts of America designed to serve young men who had dropped out or never were Boy Scouts.
In April 1971, young women became eligible for full membership in Exploring, and the upper age limit was increased to age 21. With these new methods came a series of national activities designed and conducted to strengthen the local posts- the safe driving road rally, the Explorers Olympics, and the National Explorer Congress, which led to the organization of the Explorers Presidents’ Association, involving Explorers in planning their program at entry level. By 1981, the rapid growth of Exploring led to the development of national specialty programs in aviation, business, science and engineering, law and government, Law Enforcement, health careers, outdoor, Sea Exploring, sports career education, arts, skilled trades, social service, fire, and rescue and communications. An Explorer Presidents’ Association Congress was designed to train local and national youth leaders. A national Explorer leadership conference was implemented in 1994 on a biennial basis.
What is Exploring?
Exploring is the young adult program of the Boy Scouts of America for men and women 14 to 21 years of age. Local community organizations such as businesses, professional organizations, churches, and civic groups initiate specific Explorer Posts. They do this by matching the interests of young adults with the people and program resources within their own organizations.
The Explorer Code:
As an Explorer…
I believe that America’s strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strength, and traditions of our people.
I will, therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life.
I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it.
I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life.
I will acquire the Exploring attitude that seeks the truth in all things and adventure on the frontiers of our changing world.
( referenced: http://newso.morganga.org/Programs/Explorers/tabid/181/Default.aspx )
additional information regarding Scouting in Florida
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Name: |
South Florida Council |
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Council # |
84 |
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Location: |
15255 NW 82nd Ave. |
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Miami Lakes, FL 33016 |
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Phone |
305-364-0020 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
25.912321, -80.332846 |
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Name: |
Gulf Stream Council |
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Council # |
85 |
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Location: |
8335 N. Military Trail |
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Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410-6329 |
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Phone |
561-694-8585 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
26.799439, -80.106806 |
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Name: |
Gulf Ridge Council |
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Council # |
86 |
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Location: |
13228 N. Central Avenue |
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Tampa, FL 33612 |
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Phone |
813-872-2691 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
27.960817, -82.518136 |
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Name: |
North Florida Council |
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Council # |
87 |
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Location: |
521 Edgewood Ave S |
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Jacksonville, FL 32205-5359 |
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Phone |
904-388-0591 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
30.317711, -81.724061 |
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Name: |
Southwest Florida Council |
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Council # |
88 |
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Location: |
1801 Boy Scout Dr. |
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Fort Myers, FL 33907-2114 |
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Phone |
239-936-8072 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
26.582437, -81.876458 |
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Name: |
West Central Florida Council |
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Council # |
89 |
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Location: |
11046 Johnson Boulevard |
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Seminole, FL 33772 |
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Phone |
727-391-3800 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
27.842563, -82.7907 |
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Name: |
Suwannee River Area Council |
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Council # |
664 |
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Location: |
2032 Thomasville Road, Suite C |
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Tallahassee, FL 32308-0734 |
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Phone |
850-576-4146 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
30.44122, -84.332702 |
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Name: |
Gulf Coast Council |
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Council # |
773 |
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Location: |
9440 University Parkway |
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Pensacola, FL 32514-5434 |
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Phone |
850-476-6336 |
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Website |
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lat/lon: |
30.538252, -87.218735 |
