Who We Are
| The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. |
| Blue Ridge Council, BSA provides scouting programs in the Upstate of South Carolina. |
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| Our Programs |
| There’s a program for every boy and young man from age 6 to 20 and for young woman from age 14 to 20. |
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| Tiger Cubs |
 A school-year program for first-grade (or 6 or 7-year-old) boys and their adult partners that stresses simplicity, shared leadership, learning about the community, and family understanding. Each boy/adult team meets for family activities, then once or twice a month all the teams meet for Tiger Cub group activities. |
| Cub Scouting |
 A family and home centered program for boys in the second through fifth grade (or 8, 9, and 10 years old). Cub Scouting's emphasis is on quality program at the local level, where the most boys and families are involved. Fourth- and fifth-grade (or 10-year-old) boys are called Webelos (WE'll BE LOyal Scouts) and participate in more advanced activities that begin to prepare them to become Boy Scouts. |
| Boy Scouting |
 A program for boys 11 through 17 designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys also may become Boy Scouts if they have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade.) |
| Venturing |
 Venturing is a new program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. |
| Order of the Arrow |
 The Order of the Arrow is the Boy Scout Honor society. Members are selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting and having met minimum requirements of Scout advancement and camping experience. Peer selection to the Order of the Arrow may be different than for other organizations in that the selection is made by all of a prospective member's peers, those already in the OA, as well as those who are not. |
| National Eagle Scout Association |
 The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) is a fellowship of men who have achieved the Eagle Scout rank and who desire using their efforts and influence toward forming the kind of young men America needs for leadership. |
| Exploring |
 Exploring is Learning for Life’s career education program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) or 15 through 20 years old. Adults are selected by the participating organization for involvement in the program. Color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, economic status, and citizenship are not criteria for participation. |
| Learning for Life |
 Learning for Life is designed to support schools and community-based organizations in their efforts to prepare youth to successfully handle the complexities of contemporary society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem. Learning for Life also helps youth develop social and life skills, assists in character development, and helps youth formulate positive personal values. It prepares youth to make ethical decisions that will help them achieve their full potential. |
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| 2007 Year End Quick Facts about the Blue Ridge Council, BSA |
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18,700 youth participated in programs this year. +2% growth |
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3,694 adult volunteers served as role models for our youth members. |
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There were 499 units registered this year – Packs, Troops, Crews, Posts, and Groups. |
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For the second time in Council history, Friends of Scouting exceeded $1,000,000 with $1,198,014 in pledges. |
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The year ended with a surplus on an operating income for 9 consecutive years. |
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Conducted Council's first Golf Classic sponsored by The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, netting $48,00 for the operating budget. |
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Scoutreach, an outreach program targeting at-risk, urban, rural, and other under-represented populations, experienced its ninth successful year of operation. |
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Scoutreach insures that Scouting is for everyone - 29% of Blue Ridge Council members are minority (24% African-American and 5% Hispanic, Asian and other) and 22% are female. |
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9,748 youth members participated in the Scoutreach Program in 2007– 5,350 in urban/rural emphasis and 4,398 in Learning for Life and Exploring. |
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70% of top adult leaders have been completely trained for their position; the National Average is 45%. |
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71% of Scouting units have earned the National BSA Quality Unit recognition, the National Average is 62%. |
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5,189 youth and adult volunteers participated in programs at Camp Old Indian in 2006 (excluding weekend camping). |
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1,942 Boy Scouts and leaders attended week-long Summer Camp sessions at Camp Old Indian. |
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245 Cub Scouts and parents attended Cub Scout Resident Camp at Camp Old Indian. |
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737 Cub Scouts participated in 8 different Day Camp programs across the upstate. |
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3,002 Cub Scouts and their adult partners participated in 6 Cub/Parent Weekends at Camp Old Indian (an all time high). |
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Last updated: Friday, July 04, 2008 - 16:18
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