Pilot Program Launches in 198 Councils Nationwide, including in Bucktail Council, to Introduce Younger Boys to Cub Scouting as More Parents Seek Wider Variety of Activities for Younger Boys
DUBOIS – The Bucktail Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), has announced the success of several sign-ups in the month of September to an innovative, new pilot program called Lion.
Lion will introduce kindergarten-age boys and their families in the counties of Elk, Jefferson, Clearfield and the western portion of Centre County to cub scouting through “fun adventures that build character and leadership and teach them more about the world around them.”
Bucktail Council is among 198 local councils nationwide participating in this pilot program in the fall. The new Lion pilot program will introduce families to the adventures available through scouting and culminate for boys in the new Lion badge.
Designed as an introduction to cub scouting, the Lion badge will serve as a precursor to the Tiger rank. The kindergarten-age boys participating in the program will be members of the Cub Scout pack; attend pack meetings; and learn the Cub Scout sign, the Cub Scout salute, and the Cub Scout motto.
The Lion pilot program responds to parents’ desires to involve their kids in after-school programs that provide an environment for them to make friends, explore their surroundings, and further their learning and development.
Research shows nearly one-third of all parents of children age five years or younger enroll their children in after-school activities where they can make friends, explore their surroundings and further their learning and development.
Millennial parents, in particular, are even more likely to engage their young children in after-school activities than older parents. By engaging their children in scouting, parents can instill in them a strong foundation for which to build their character.
In fact, a study conducted by Tufts University found that youth who participate in scouting exhibit positive character attributes, allowing them to embrace new opportunities, overcome obstacles, and become better prepared for future success.
“Combined with the beginning of formal education, the Lion pilot program helps cultivate positive character-building experiences that are vital for young boys at this stage in their childhood development,” said Michael Surbaugh, chief scout executive, Boy Scouts of America.
“We believe families nationwide will see the value of this pilot program—and the value of scouting—as it builds a solid foundation of character, leadership, values and education that stays with a child for a lifetime.”
As children progress through the pilot program, they will learn new skills by completing at least five of the 12 Lion adventures to earn the Lion badge. These adventures help children learn respect for their peers, the importance of family, building courage, and making good choices.
Once children complete these adventures, with the help of their parents and adult leaders, they will graduate to Tiger and advance through traditional Cub Scouting.
“The Bucktail Council, Boy Scouts of America, is proud to introduce this program to families in fall 2016,” said Gregg Bennett, scout executive.
“By expanding the scouting program to kids in kindergarten, we’re able to introduce them to the fun experiences of Scouting at an earlier age and help families understand more about what scouting has to offer. Initial sign-ups during the month of September have surpassed expectations.”
For more information about the Lion pilot program, visit http://scoutingwire.org/lion/.