Our slogan “Do a good turn daily”
This doesn’t mean just one Good Turn during the day and then you are done. It means, looking all the time for extra opportunities to help others, quietly and without boasting. Remember that a Good Turn is an act of kindness, not just good manners. Good Turns should be done for family, friends, adults, children, and especially for those that are not able to do the task themselves.
Not only should we do a little things every day to help others, we should also look for ways to help in larger aspects of our community.
How Scouting Came to America (from usscouts.org)
The Story of a Good Turn, Boy Scout Handbook, Tenth Edition, Chapter 26, Boy Scouts of America
How good must a Good Turn be to be good? The answer is best given by telling you the story of how Scouting came to America. It shows that it isn’t the size of a Good Turn that counts. What is important is the spirit with which a Scout does a Good Turn.
“Do a Good Turn Daily” is the Scout Slogan.
One Day in 1909 in London, England, an American visitor, William D. Boyce, lost his way in a dense fog. He Stopped under a street lamp and tried to figure out where he was. A boy approached him and asked if he could be of help.
“You certainly can,” said Boyce. He told the boy that he wanted to find a certain business office in the center of the city.
“I’ll take you there,” said the boy.
When they got to the destination, Mr. Boyce reached into his pocket for a tip. But the boy stopped him.
“No thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won’t take anything for helping.”
“A Scout? And what might that be?” asked Boyce.
The boy told the American about himself and his brother Scouts. Boyce became very interested. After finishing his errand, he had the boy take him to the British Scouting office.
At the office, Boyce met Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the famous British general who had founded the Scouting movement in Great Britain. Boyce was so impressed with what he learned that he decided to bring Scouting home with him.
On February 8, 1910, Boyce and a group of outstanding leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America. From that day forth, Scouts have celebrated February 8 as the birthday of Scouting in the United States.
What happened to the boy who helped Mr. Boyce find his way in the fog? No one knows. He had neither asked for money nor given his name, but he will never be forgotten. His Good Turn helped bring the Scouting movement to our country.
In the British Scout Training Center at Gilwell Park, England, Scouts from the United States erected a statue of an American buffalo in honor of this unknown Scout. One Good Turn to one man became a Good Turn to millions of American boys. Such is the power of a Good Turn.
Serving others is a huge part of what we do, there are also some service requirements to earn rank.
Scouts BSA service requirements
Tenderfoot,
requirement 7b: One hour of service
Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout slogan and Scout motto.
Second Class,
requirement 8e: Two hours of service
Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.
First Class,
requirement 9d: Three hours of service
Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement 8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law.
Star,
requirement 4: Six hours of service
While a First Class Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster.
Life,
requirement 4: Six hours of service, at least three of which are conservation-related
While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. At least three hours of this service must be conservation-related.
Eagle Scout: The Eagle Scout service project
While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.)