Evolution of Scouting

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Evolution of Scoutings Outdoor Ethics

• Eric Hiser
• Chair, National Outdoor Ethics TF
• 2014 Outdoor Ethics Conference

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Foundations

• The foundation of all Scouting Ethics is the Oath
  and Law.
• The Oath directs us to do our best to do our
  duty to God and my country reflecting
  Scoutings belief that there is a higher power
  set over us.
• The Oath directs us to do our best to help
  other people at all times reflecting
  Scoutings belief that we are hear to help others
  and not just ourselves.

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Foundations

• The Law directs us to be

• Implying a duty to be

• Helpful
• Friendly
• Courteous
• Kind
• Thrifty
• Clean
• Reverent

• Considerate to those around us
• Conserve resources
• To help where help is needed

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Foundations Outdoor Code

• As an American, I will do my best to be
• Clean in my outdoor manners
• Careful with fire
• Considerate in the outdoors and
• Conservation-minded.

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Development

• From Baden-Powell to the Present

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Outdoor Ethics in Context

• In the late 1800s and early 1900s, United States
  in throes of Conservation Movement
• 1871 Fish Wildlife Service created
• 1872 First National Park (Yellowstone)
• 1891 First National Forest
• 1905 U.S. Forest Service established

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Scouting in Context

• Scouting fell easily into this context
• In 1919, Lord Baden-Powell, observed
• On breaking up camp leave two things behind you
• Nothing.
• Your thanks.

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Scouting in Context

• Scouting in the United States also fell into this
  context, being closely connected with the Nature
  Study/Woodcraft movement
• There was once a boy He wanted to learn to
  camp out, to live again the life of his hunter
  grandfather who knew all the tricks of winning
  comfort from the relentless wilderness.
• To be a good scout one should know something
  about the woods and the animals that inhabit
  them, and how to care for ones self when
  camping. A scout should never kill an animal
  or other living creature needlessly. There is
  more sport in stalking animals to photograph
  them, and in coming to know their habits, than in
  killing them.
• Handbook for Boys (1911)
• Early Scout leaders included
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Ernest Thompson Seton
• Daniel Carter Beard
• Gifford Pinchot

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Scouting in Context

• In the 1930s through 1950s, Scouting evolved with
  the national mood away from nature study and the
  backwoodsman emphasis to a more protective model
• In 1938, the William T. Hornaday established the
  Wildlife Protection Medal, awarded to Scouts,
  among others, for protecting wildlife.
• In 1944-1948, Scouting adopted the Wilderness
  Code of Conduct for use of backcountry

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The Outdoor Code

• Also in 1948, Scouting adopted in the 5th Boy
  Scout Handbook the first, and still current,
  incarnation of the Outdoor Code
• As an American, I will do my best to be
• Clean in my outdoor manners
• Careful with fire
• Considerate in the outdoors and
• Conservation-minded.

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Scouting in Context

• In very next year, Aldo Leopold released A Sand
  County Almanac

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Scouting in Context

• In the 1950s, Scouting rolled out more resource
  conservation programs
• 1952 Wildlife MB Soil Management MB
• 1954 Conservation Good Turn

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Scouting in Context

• In the 1960s and 1970s, Scouting adopted the
  Wilderness Use Policy
• Place a special emphasis on pre-trip training on
  the proper wilderness rules of behavior as
  established in the program of BSA and by the
  managing agency, i.e., use biodegradable food
  containers, to carry out all trash, dig holes for
  latrines only in undeveloped areas if
  permissible, carry all the equipment you need,
  use no natural materials except firewood and when
  cutting dead wood is required, use a small
  folding pack saw, carry only one axe for
  splitting if needed.
• Place special emphasis on the need for
  preserving solitude, and minimizing group impact
  through proper camping practices, sanitation and
  conservation of fuel.
• Develop the WILDERNESS ETHIC in your Troop or
  Post and practice it on the trail.

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Scouting in Context

• 1970s saw some further development in Scouting
  and its relationship to the outdoors
• 1971 Project SOAR Save Our American Resources
• 1972 Environmental Science MB
• 1977 World Conservation Award

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Societal Context 1960-1990

• 1962 Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
• 1970s Federal Land Managers began a
  slogan-based public education campaign
• Wilderness Manners,
• Wilderness Ethics,
• Minimum-Impact Camping, and
• No-Trace Camping.
• 1985 - Tread Lightly!

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Leave No Trace Program

• Leave No Trace (LNT) selected as the name for an
  expanded national program in 1990.
• USFS formed a partnership with the National
  Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to develop LNT
  educational materials and courses.
• NOLS taught the first Master Educator course in
  the Wind River Range in 1991.

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Creation of Leave No Trace, Inc.

• Outdoor Recreation Summit in 1993 recommended
  creation of the non-profit LNT, Inc.
• 1993 MOU by the agencies
• 1993 LNT, Inc. - Nonprofit established.
• Renamed the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor
  Ethics in 2003.

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Scouting Outdoor Ethics

• In 1998, the Boy Scout Handbook added the first
  reference to the Principles of Leave No Trace
• Plan ahead and prepare
• Camp and travel on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
• Minimize campfire impacts
• Leave what you find
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of other visitors
• Venturing Outdoor Bronze and
• Ranger Award have LNT focus

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Scouting Adopts Leave No Trace

• In 2005, Scouting became in in-house provider
  of Leave No Trace training in partnership with
  the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
• Also in 2005, Scouting established the National
  Leave No Trace task force to integrate Leave No
  Trace into Scouting
• In 2010, Centennial Boy Scout Handbook devotes an
  entire chapter (7) to Leave No Trace.
• Rank requirements revised
• Leave No Trace Trainer added to Camp Standards

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Shift to Outdoor Ethics

• Scouting has active partnership with Leave No
  Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
• Scouting has a Memorandum of Understanding with
  Tread Lightly!
• Scouting has its own historic conservation and
  service tradition.

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Shift to Outdoor Ethics

• In 2012 time frame, BSA Leave No Trace Task
  Force, after discussion with Leave No Trace
  Center for Outdoor Ethics, shifts to Outdoor
  Ethics Task Force with new logo to reflect
  broader Scouting outdoor ethic.

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