We Are Succeeding. Scouting Works.

 

Current and former Scouts have always felt that Scouting has made a difference in their lives, and now a study out of Tufts University has found that Scouting does in fact have a measurable, positive impact in the character development of young people.

The study, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and conducted in the Cradle of Liberty Council in nearby Philadelphia, involved nearly 1,800 Cub Scouts and 400 non-Scouts under the age of 12, and was conducted over three years. It sought to measure the difference Scouting makes in young people’s lives as those positive changes were happening.

Participants were assessed at five intervals during the study to see if and how character changes were taking place. At the beginning of the study, there was no statistically significant difference in character between those in Scouting and those who weren’t—ruling out the possibility that Scouting simply attracts people of higher character to begin with.

“After three years, Scouts reported significant increases in cheerfulness, helpfulness, kindness, obedience, trustworthiness, and hopeful future expectation,” said Dr. Richard M. Lerner, who led the study at Tufts University. “In our control group of non-Scouts, there were no significant increases, and in some cases (e.g., religious reverence) there was an observed decrease, which was quite striking.”

In addition, the study found a direct correlation between the amount of time boys spent in Scouting and the positive impact realized—those who spent more years in the program reported higher character attributes. Scouts who were more engaged also reported higher character attributes. And those who attended regular meetings reported higher character attributes compared to those with lower attendance.

“Each and every day we get to see the positive influence Scouting makes in young people’s lives,” said Michael Surbaugh, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America. “And while we weren’t surprised by the study’s results, it is great to be able to quantify the impact of the program and show parents the value of participation.”

With Scouting’s focus on providing prosocial experiences, young people are able to build a foundation of positive character attributes that allow them to embrace opportunity, overcome obstacles, and be better prepared for life. You can learn more about the study at http://www.tuftscampstudy.com/.

Here are three great tools below to further show the value of Scouting established by this study to a variety of audiences. These visual tools will help you engage your audiences with the full breadth of knowledge from the study in an accessible and easy to understand format.

Download these presentation slides (PDF format) for an easy, user-friendly format to present the ideas and findings of the Tuft’s study.

tufts-study-slides

Check out this one-page Does Scouting Work? infographic (click on the image below for a large version) for a quick look at how Scouting builds positive character. This infographic pinpoints the four key take-aways from the study and its statistical findings.

tufts-study-infographic

If you want a deep dive into the study, watch the YouTube video of Dr. Richard M. Lerner’s full presentation from Top Hands 2015. This presentation includes Dr. Lerner’s full slide deck and commentary on his findings

How to Use These Tools

So what can you do with these resources? Share them, of course! Pass along this great news to your fellow leaders, along with current and potential Scouting families. This study can be a valuable resource to be shared in new youth recruiting settings.  And don’t forget to spread the word to our existing and potential chartered organizations.