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Scouting Programs

Scouts BSA

Hiking into Haleakala Crater on Maui. Participating in an exclusive, Scouts-only aviation program at Honolulu International Airport. Spending a week at Summer Camp swimming, enjoying archery, working on a chemistry merit badge, and making new friends. As a member of a Scouts BSA Troop, boys and girls ages 11-17 learn to become leaders as they work toward Scouting’s highest rank: Eagle.

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The Program

Here’s a snapshot of the recent activities of a Scouts BSA Troop:

  • Assisted with major Eagle Scout projects. These included:
    • Digging two lo’i at Papahana Kuaola in Haiku Valley, Kaneohe, allowing for Native Hawaiian farming, land preservation, and cultural education. Clearing out critical water supply channels for existing lo’i and other farming/cultural areas and removing invasive plants to enable native species to thrive.
    • Acquiring, building, painting, and installing three outdoor picnic tables at Nu’uanu Elementary School for student STEM projects that can only be done outdoors.
    • Defining and widening a large section of a hiking trail in the Tantalus/Roundtop area, helping minimize erosion and off-trail hiking, making passage in narrow areas safer.  Installing an informational sign at the trailhead.
  • Attended Scouts-only classes and tours at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
  • Camped and hiked up in the Waianae Mountain, up to a 20 mile hike to Peacock Flats and back from the satellite tracking station.
  • Volunteered at the annual Moiliili Summer Fest
  • Participated in special camps at both Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden and Camp Pupukea with high-adventure, outdoors, Hawaiiana, photography, fishing, outdoor ethics, and water sports.

 

“Scouting matters because the youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. They are our future.  The better we prepare them and shape them and provide them with the tools and skills to face the future, the better for our community, our nation, and our world.

I’ve seen kids come in as lumps of clay, wide-eyed and without direction, turn in to fine leaders and mentors for the whole troop. I’ve seen kids break out of their shell and grow in ways one cannot imagine, not teachable at schools or at home.  It takes a community, and Scouting is the best community there is for youth development.” Assistant Scoutmaster Gary H. 

How it Works

Scouts BSA offers a variety of troop structures to accommodate the needs and preferences of families, providing flexibility for both boys and girls to participate in Scouting. There are three main types of Troops:

  1. Single-Gender Troops: These are all-boy or all-girl Troops that operate separately, following the same Scouting program. Each unit is independent, providing a focused environment for boys or girls.
  2. Linked Troops: In this model, a boy Troop and a girl Troop are chartered under the same organization, allowing them to share resources such as leaders and meeting locations. While they collaborate on activities, the boys and girls are members of separate Troops for advancement purposes, ensuring single-gender programming while benefiting from joint experiences.
  3. Co-Ed Troops: These Troops include both boys and girls within the same unit, allowing them to work together, attend meetings, and participate in activities as one cohesive group. In this type of Troop, all members advance within the same structure, offering a fully integrated, co-educational experience.

Families have the option to choose the unit type that best fits their child’s needs—whether that’s a single-gender Troop, linked Troops, or a co-ed Troop where boys and girls share the full Scouting experience together. This flexibility ensures that all youth can participate and thrive in Scouting in a way that suits their family and individual preferences.

How to Join

Prospective members of Scouts BSA are welcome to join the program at any time throughout the year. Anyone, from any background, is welcome! Please click here.

Special recruitment events are held each year in the fall.

For more information or to speak with a District Executive who can help you, please call 808-595-6366 or email us at AlohaCouncilBSA@Scouting.org.

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