Scout Law

A Scout is:

Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
Reverent

What Does It Mean?

The Scout Law is the foundatin of Scouting. It is expressed in just twelve simple points, but the standards they set for you are high. Use the Scout Law to guide your actions when you are alone and as a member of your family, community, and nation. The Scout Law will show you how to live as a boy and as a man.

A Scout is Trustworthy ...
A Scout is trustworthy. A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him. A reputation for being trustworthy is important to you now and in years to come. Trustworthiness will help you make and maintain good friendships. But more than that, your honesty is a sign of your character - the kind of person you are inside. Your parents, teachers, and friends expect you to tell the truth and to keep your promises. They know they can rely upon you to do your best in every situation. Of course, there will be times when your judgement fails and you make mistakes. Now and then that happens to everyone. Your baseball might smash a window. You might misread your map and come home late from a hike. If you quickly admit what you have done and make good on any damage, others will soon forget the incident. By learning from your errors, you can do better in the future. You must also have trust in yourself. You know when you have done right and when you have done wrong. Live in such a way that you can respect yourself, and others will respect you, too.

... Loyal ...
A Scout is loyal. A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and nation. Loyalty starts at home. You show through your actions that your family can count on you. The success of your Scout troop and patrol also depends upon your loyalty and that of other Scouts as you support your leaders and pitch in to do your share of the work. Your loyalty to the ideals of your school can make the learning experience good for everyone. Express your loyalty to the United States by respecting the flag and government, and by participating in the democratic process. See where things can be made better and work toward that ideal. Our form of government allows each of us to voice our concerns and act withing the system to make changes. Give real meaning to your loyalty by helping improve your community, state, and nation.

... Helpful ...
A Scout is helpful. A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward. You promise in the Scout Oath to help other people at all times. The Scout motto asks you to be prepared. The Scout slogan reminds you to do a good turn daily. These three ideals work together: you promise to help, you can help because you have learned how, and you do help because you care about people. Scouts want the best for everyone, and act to make that happen. While a Scout might work for pay, he does not expect to receive money for being helpful. A Good Turn that is done in the hope of getting a tip or a favor is not a Good Turn at all.

... Friendly ...
A Scout is friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own. Friendship is a mirror. When you have a smile on your face as you greet someone, you will probably receive a smile in return. If you are willing to be a good friend, you will find friendship reflected back to you. Accept who you are, too, and celebrate the fact that you don't have to be juist like everyone else. Real friends will respect the ideas, interests, and talents that make you special.

... Courteous ...
A Scout is courteous. A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get alone. "A Scout is courteous" is another way of saying "A Scout is a gentleman." Open a door for someone. Offer your seat on a bus or in a busy waiting room to an elderly person, a pregnant woman, or anyone who needs it more than you. Greet others with a firm handshake. Do your share of family chores in a pleasant way. Say "Please" and "Thank you" or "Pardon me" and "I'm sorry" whenever appropriate. Being curteous shows that you are aware of the feelings of others. The habits of courtesy that you practice as a Scout will stay wih you throughout your life.

... Kind ...
A Scout is kind. A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing. Kindness is a sign of true strength. To be ind you must look beyond yourself and try to understand the needs of others. Take time to listen to people and imagine being in their place. It should never be difficult to show kindness to those in need and those who cannot defend themselves. What can be harder is being kind to people you don't know or with whom you disagree. We live in a world that has more than its share of anger, fear, and war. Extending kindness to those around you and having compassion for all people is a powerful antidote to the poisons of hatred and violence. Kindness is not limited to how we feel about people. Be kind to pets and wildlife. Be kind to earth by protecting natural rsources and by using no-trace methods of hiking and camping.

... Obedient ...
A Scout is obedient. A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them. Your famile cares for you and wants you to be safe. Help them out by following the rules set for you by your parent or guardian. There are others bsides family members to whom you owe obedience. When teachers give you homework, it is usually because the assignments will help you learn. When an employer gives you a task to be done, it is usually for the good of the businesss. When your Scout leader asks you to do a job, it is because your efforts will help your patrol and troop. Being obedient also means following city, state, and national laws. Obedience must be guided by good judgement if someone tells you to cheat, steal, or do someting else you know is wrong, you must say no. Trust your own beliefs and obey your conscience when you know you are right.

... Cheerful ...
A Scout is Cheerful. A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy. Some people grumble when they are doing homework or losing a game. They might become upset if the weather turns bad on a Scout hike or if the trail is long and dusty. Others are cheerful. They jump at opportunities, and their sense of joy makes everything easier for them and those around them. You know that you cannot always have your way. Now and then you must do thinks that you don't likve very much. A cheerful attitude can make the time go by more quickly, and can even turn a task you dislike into a lot of fun. YOu have the choce of whether or not to enjoy the experiences and challenges of life. You can complain if you want to and be grumpy all the time, but it is easier and much more enjoyable to decide from the start to be cheerful whenever you can. Cheerfulness is infections - the smile on your face can lif the spirits of those around you.

... Thrifty ...
A Scout works to pay his way and to help others? He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property. On Scout campouts you will leearn to live comfortably with little more than the clothes you are wearing and the gear in your pack. Likewise, you can live other parts of your life simply and well, taking care of what you have and being generous to others. Paying your way with money you have earned gives you independence and pride. When you save your own money to buy a Scout unfiorm or something else you need, you learn the real value of those items. You will also be sure to take good care of them. Even if you only have a few dollars, get in the habbit every month of saving money in a bank account. Share what you have with others, too, and talent is just as valuable as donating money. Another part of thrift is protecting and conserving the earth's natural resources - it's soil, water, forests, wilderness areas, and wildlife. Recycle papers, glas, and metal used in your home and community. Do all you can to minimize waste.

... Brave ...
A Scout is brave. A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him. Since 1910 when Scouting came to America, thousands of Honor Medals have been awarded to Scouts who saved lives at the risk of their own. They proved themselves ready when emergencies arose. They might have been frightened, but each one of them went to the aid of someone in serious trouble. Saving lives is not the only test of bravery. You are brave every time you do what is right in spite of what others might say. You are brave when you speak the truth and when you admit a mistake and apologize for it. And you show true courage when you defend the rights of others.

... Clean ...
A Scout is clean. A Scout keeps his body and mind fit. He chooses the company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home and community clean. You can't avoid getting dirty when you work and play hard. But when the game is over or the job is done, that kind of dirt washes off with soap and water. However, there's another kind of dirt that can't be scrubbed away. It is the kind that shoes up in foul language and harmful thoughts and actions. Swearwords and dirty stories are often used as weapons to ridicule other people and hurt their feelings. The same is true of racial slurs and jokes that make fun of ethnic groups or people with physical or mental limitations. A Scout knows there is no kindness or honor in such tasteless behavior. he avoids it in his own words and deeds.

and Reverent...
A Scout is reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others. Wonders all around the world remind us of our faith in God. We find it in the tiny secrets of creation and in the great mysteries of the universe. It exists in the kindness of people and in the teachings of our families and religious leaders. We show our reverence by living our lives according to the ideals of our beliefs. Throughout your life you will encounter people expressing their reverence in many different ways. The Constitution of the United States guarantees each of us the freedom to believe and worship as we wish without government interference. It is your duty to respect and defend others' rights to their religious beliefs even when they differ from your own.