Download the Scouting Anniversary Week Handout

Scout Sunday

The Boy Scouts of America designates the Sunday that falls before February 8 (Scouting Anniversary Day) as Scout Sunday, which is the primary date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. However, each chartered organization can use either of two other options to celebrate this special day.   An organization can adopt a specific Sunday to celebrate. In the instance of the United Methodist Church, Scout Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday in February. It also is permissible for a local church to celebrate on the Sunday most acceptable to the pastor and congregation.   Scout Sunday is: February 6th, 2011

Scout Sabbath

Scout Sabbath offers an opportunity for worshippers to honor Scouts and Scouters, as well as to learn more themselves about the value of Scouting as a youth program chartered to a Jewish organization. It gives a rabbi a framework to address Scouts directly, in addition to speaking about Scouting to the congregation.   Some rabbis use regular liturgy and supplement it with special reading. Others devote the entire worship services to Scouting themes, using Scouts and Scouters as readers. There is no "one right way " to conduct such a service. Most rabbis understand the purpose to be a strengthening of the bonds between the synagogue and the Scouting unit and plan accordingly.   Scout Sabbath is: February 12th, 2011

Regligious Awards

Another feature central to many services is the presentation of religious emblems. Since its inception in 1910, Scouting has been used by synagogues, churches, and many other religious organizations. Approximately 50 percent of all Scouting units today are chartered to religious groups, because religious leaders have long recognized that scouting provides them with exceptional opportunities to draw youth closer to their congregations.

Scouting Anniversary Week Activity Ideas

(this list based on one made by Cascade Pacific Council)

• Conduct a special service project during Scouting Anniversary Week to demonstrate both pride in America and pride in community. Focus on areas of hunger, homelessness, and healthy living and your project qualifies as a Good Turn for America project for which your Scouts can qualify for a Good Turn for America patch (at Scout Shops).

• Conduct a service project for your chartered organization as a way of thanking them for their support of Scouting. Churches often need lawn care and other service. Your local pastor will be very happy to accept service offerings.

• Hold a special flag-raising ceremony at a high-profile location in the community, or make a special presentation to the local school board, mayor, or city council. Invite chartered organizations, supporters, police, fire and rescue personnel, and government officials to participate.

• Have dens create birthday cards or handicraft items to display in school trophy cases, store windows, etc.

• Make appearances at worship services, service club programs, chartered organization events, parades, etc.

• Conduct unit family events such as blue and gold banquets, courts of honor, parents' nights, etc. and use these events to highlight the story of Scouting and the importance it has in a boy’s life, our communities, and our nation.

• Use this opportunity for packs and troops to work together. This will also provide Webelos Scouts with the opportunity to work with the troop they will be moving into.

• Ask parents to write letters to newspaper editors. Samples can be downloaded below.

• Invite your local mayor to make a mayoral proclamation. Samples can be downloaded below.

The Scout Cup

The display could be a “window display” in a school, church, business, a library, town hall, or other public site. Units are free to develop other unique methods to present their information. Each Unit may develop a “window display” of their choice, based on the skills and resources of the unit. Scout Displays be judged by a district volunteer. The Unit with the display that best represents Scouting will receive the “Scout Anniversary Cup”. Baden-Powell first gave the Scout Cup, at the first World Jamboree in 1920, to Scotland for having the best Display. We honor that tradition as we celebrate the anniversary of Scouting. Please register your display by registering online at http://www.downeastdistrict.org/scoutcup