Happy New Year!

Well, it's 2010, and tis year marks the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scouts of America! Let me tell you the history of Boy Scouts.

Scouting really started in London, England with Robert Baden-Powell, a British general.

In 1909, a Chicago publisher named W.D. Boyce was lost in London. An unknown Boy Scout helped him by showing him the right direction. A monument now stands for the Unknown Scout in Gilwell Park in London, England.

When W.D. Boyce returned to the United States, he incorporated the Boy Souts of America on February 8, 1910. James E. West became the first Chief Scout Executive and expanded Scouting across the United States.

In 1911, 57 merit badges were made for scouts to learn life skills. Now, only 11 of those are still around: Architecture, Art, Athletics, Chemistry, First Aid, Lifesaving, Music, Plumbing, Public Health, Scholarship, and Surveying. Here's one of the very first merit badges:

In 1913, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (that's our church!) became one of the first sponsoring organizations of Scouting. Now they have the most scouts than any other organization.

Also in 1913, Norman Rockwell started illustrating covers for Boys' Life, the magazine for Boy Scouts.

In World War I, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts were encouraged to sell war saving stamps.

From 1934 to 1961, merit badges changed in several ways.

1934

1936

1942

1947

1961

1961

The very first Scout Jamboree was held in 1937 at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

In 1952, the Scouting Program wanted to focus "Civics" merit badges, so they made Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, and Family Life.

The 50th Anniversary of Scouting was held in 1960.

In 1981, the Boy Scouts bought Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia for a place to hold Scout Jamborees.

Scouting for Food started in 1986 to help support the local food banks. In 2000, the Service to America was formed to commit the scouts to provide 200,000,000 hours of service! The scouts provided service projects to the National Park Service.

This year, the National Scout Jamboree will be held at Fort A.P. Hill. In 2013, the National Scout Jamboree will be held near Beckley in West Virginia.