Becoming a Boy Scout

About Boy Scouts

Requirements for joining

1. Meet age Requirements.  Be a boy who has completed the fifth grade or is 11 years old, or has earned the Arrow of Light Award but is under 18 years old.
2. Complete a Boy Scout Joining Application and Health History signed by your parent or guardian.
3. Find a Scout Troop Near your Home.
4. Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance
5. Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake.
6. Demonstrate tying the square knot
7. Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, Motto, and Slogan, and the Outdoor Code.
8. Describe the Scout Badge.
9. 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. (Inside the front cover of the Boy Scout Hand Book)
10. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.  Turn in your Boy Scout Application and heath history form signed by your parent or guardian, and then participate in a scoutmaster conference.

When you have done these things, the Scoutmaster will give you a certificate of membership, and you can proudly wear the badge and uniform that shows you are a member of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Joining requirements were taken out of the Boy Scout Handbook 11th edition.

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Finding a Scout Troop near your home

If you don’t know of a troop in your area, look for the Boy Scouts of America in your telephone directory, or contact the national office at the following address and telephone number:

You can also use the Internet to find your Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local council. The web site of the BSA national office is:

http://www.scouting.org

If you live in a remote area where there is no troop, you can still take part in the Scouting program by becoming a Lone Scout. For more information on the Lone Scouting Program, contact the national office at the address listed above.

Last update June 15, 2008