Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America

The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

For more than 100 years, Scouting has helped build future leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun and adventure in the outdoors. We care passionately about what is happening to kids and our communities – and are dedicated to supporting an exciting, quality program that builds better young people and our future leaders.

Here in Orange County, Scouting continues to improve families and our community by serving more than 30,000 youth. The Orange County Council is divided into 7 geographical areas called districts. Each district is made up of local Scouting units called Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, and Exploring Posts that are chartered to a local school, religious organization, or community center. Scouting activities happen all year-long in your local neighborhood or at one of our beautiful Scout camps.

Scouting America is one of the best youth organizations in the country because, put simply, young people in Scouting programs excel. When one is reminded of the global impacts of Scouting – that the only people to walk on the moon were Scouts, that the founder of Microsoft was a Scout, or that one of the few people to climb all seven of the world’s highest peaks was also a Scout, and that 38,000 youth a year are in Scouting programs in Orange County – it is easy to offer financial support to the programs that develop the type of confidence needed to scale peaks and walk on the moon. It is just as easy to support the program needs of a young person who lives five miles from the beach but has never been kayaking, or has never spent an entire day outside or never feels the pride during the applause of an entire elementary school upon the dedication of new bookshelves for the school library. These success stories occur everyday in Scouting.

As parents, leaders, and volunteers with Scouting America, we know that the program works. We have seen firsthand all of the benefits of Scouting and have witnessed the positive changes and development within the youth we serve. But don’t take our word for it, check out some studies that have been done on the impact of Scouting on today’s youth. These studies – not surprisingly – put on paper what we’ve been saying for years; Scouting is still relevant and produces outcomes that no other youth serving organization can deliver.

Today's young people face real challenges. Many spend more time on screens than outdoors, and rising rates of anxiety, isolation, and loneliness are affecting youth across Orange County. At the same time, fewer young people have access to hands-on opportunities to build confidence, practice leadership, and connect with mentors and their community.

Scouting addresses these needs directly. Through outdoor adventure, service, and positive adult mentorship, Scouts develop resilience, character, and practical life skills that last a lifetime. But the cost of participation, including registration, uniforms, camp fees, and equipment, puts Scouting out of reach for many Orange County families, especially in underserved neighborhoods

Right now, you can continue to help shape the future of our youth in our community by supporting Scouting. It costs about $500 a week to provide a summer camp experience to one Scout. Would you join me in sponsoring Scout at $500, or possibly a Patrol at $4,000 or even a Troop at $12,000?

Help us provide a life changing experience for one or more Scouts. Please make your most generous gift possible online today— whatever level of support is right for you.

Thank you for making a difference!

Orange County, Los Angeles County

Scouting America Orange County Council is an organization that has been changing lives for over one hundred years right here in Orange County, California. Scouting is a values-based organization that teaches young people to be participating citizens and leaders through experiential learning. It starts out with our youngest members learning to be safe and to take on responsibilities in the home. A few years later, community service becomes an integral part of the program. By the time they are middle school aged, they are given opportunities to practice leadership and apply the character traits embodied in the Scout Oath and Law into their everyday lives. Along their path to the Rank of Eagle Scout, candidates must demonstrate their leadership by planning and carrying out a significant service project for a community organization. Typically, the project spans well over one hundred hours of service in benefit to an organization outside of Scouting. Today we serve all children from kindergarten through the age of twenty. Our programs are outdoor-based and have continued to evolve to meet the needs of today’s youth. While our programs continue to adapt to societal change, the Scout Oath and Law that forms the basis for our character development has been unchanged since our founding.