Traditional Scouting for Everyone!
Groups and Associations Contact Us
Traditional Scouting for Everyone!
Groups and Associations Contact Us
Traditional Scouting for Everyone!
Groups and Associations Contact Us

Scouting for Everyone

Scouting is one of the best programs for developing character, improving resourcefulness, and learning responsibility and skills in public service; and BPSA believes this program should be available to everyone, youth and adult, regardless of religious beliefs, gender, or sexual orientation. Make scouting a tradition for your whole family!

Traditional Program

Traditional Scouting is not historical re-enactment, but for the most part an attempt to present Scouting as the game that was played prior to the 1970s; and following principles and practices laid down by Scouting's founder, Robert Baden-Powell. Our aim is to promote good citizenship, discipline, self-reliance, loyalty, and useful skills.

Outdoor Skills

Scouting is an outdoor movement and that is part of its character. The appeal of true Scouting has always been to that element of the vagabond, pioneer and explorer, which is part of our nature, and is at its most evident in youth. The BPSA focuses on this aspect of the program and encourages our Scouts, parents and volunteers to plan programs that take advantage of being out of doors, whenever and wherever possible!

Community Service

Scouting is a community-oriented experience, in that Scouts provide a function of public and community service. Scouting's aims and methods train the youth to put service before self, whether by participating in community service projects with the group, organizing a public service project with their patrol, or even helping out around their school and home.

Welcome to BPSA & Traditional Scouting

The BPSA offers an alternative and community-oriented Traditional Scouting program for youth and adults, boys and girls in the United States. We are not affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts, USA; but are members of the World Federation of Independent Scouts and as such are not in competition with other American scouting associations; we are only their brothers and sisters in scouting. Our association is volunteer run and we have no full- or part-time paid staff—this allows us to keep costs down for parents and youth interested in the scouting program.

How do I get involved with a BPSA Group?

Joining an existing BPSA Scout Group

If there’s a local BPSA Scout Group in your area, you can contact them and join up. You’ll need to talk with the Group’s GSM (Group Scoutmaster) and complete the 1-Year (Adult, Youth) Registration option above. You can use our new online application ScoutFinder to help locate BPSA Groups, Lone Scouts, and others interested in getting involved in the program in your area. If you don’t see a BPSA Scout Group in your area, don’t worry, there are still two more options available to you:

Start a new Scout Group

If you don’t see a group in your area, BPSA can help you start up a new group! Traditional Scouting through the BPSA can only grow if people take up an interest in getting the program active in their local area. Check out our Starting a Group resource and/or Contact Us for ideas, resources and information! Once you’re ready, choose the “Group Charter Application” option above to complete a charter application for a new group in your local area.

Join our Lone Scouts Group

The BPSA Lone Scouts program is for individual Otters, Timberwolves, Pathfinders and Rovers who might live in rural areas or just don’t have the interest locally in starting a new group up; but still want to participate in traditional scouting through BPSA. As part of the Lone Scouts program, you and/or your Scout will be part of the BPSA’s 1st Lone Scout Group, along with many others in our Lone Scout program. This provides an opportunity to participate in scouting without the need for a fully chartered Scout Group.