Evolution of Scouting’s Outdoor Ethics

Eric Hiser

Chair, National Outdoor Ethics TF

2014 Outdoor Ethics Conference

Foundations

• The foundation of all Scouting Ethics is the Oath and Law.• The Oath directs us to “do our best” to “do our duty to

God and my country” – reflecting Scouting’s belief that there is a higher power set over us.

• The Oath directs us to “do our best” to “help other people at all times” – reflecting Scouting’s belief that we are hear to help others and not just ourselves.

Foundations

The Law directs us to be:

• Helpful• Friendly• Courteous• Kind• Thrifty• Clean• Reverent

Implying a duty to be:

• Considerate to those around us

• Conserve resources

• To help where help is needed

Foundations – Outdoor CodeAs an American, I will do my best to be:

Clean in my outdoor manners

Careful with fire

Considerate in the outdoors; and

Conservation-minded.

DevelopmentFrom Baden-Powell to the Present

Outdoor Ethics in Context

• In the late 1800s and early 1900s, United States in throes of “Conservation Movement”• 1871 – Fish & Wildlife Service created• 1872 – First National Park (Yellowstone)• 1891 – First National Forest• 1905 – U.S. Forest Service established

Scouting in Context

• Scouting fell easily into this context

• In 1919, Lord Baden-Powell, observed:• “On breaking up camp leave two things behind you:

• Nothing.

• Your thanks.”

Scouting in Context•Scouting in the United States also fell into this context, being closely connected with the Nature Study/Woodcraft movement:

“There was once a boy… He wanted to learn to camp out, to live again the life of his hunter grandfather who knew all the tricks of winning comfort from the relentless wilderness….”

“To be a good scout one should know something about the woods and the animals that inhabit them, and how to care for one’s self when camping. … A scout should never kill an animal or other living creature needlessly. There is more sport in stalking animals to photograph them, and in coming to know their habits, than in killing them.”

Handbook for Boys (1911)

•Early Scout leaders included•Theodore Roosevelt•Ernest Thompson Seton•Daniel Carter Beard•Gifford Pinchot

Scouting in Context• In the 1930s through 1950s, Scouting evolved with

the national mood away from nature study and the backwoodsman emphasis to a more protective model:• In 1938, the William T. Hornaday established the

Wildlife Protection Medal, awarded to Scouts, among others, for protecting wildlife.

• In 1944-1948, Scouting adopted the “Wilderness Code of Conduct” for use of backcountry

The Outdoor Code• Also in 1948, Scouting adopted in the 5th Boy Scout

Handbook the first, and still current, incarnation of the Outdoor Code:

As an American, I will do my best to be:Clean in my outdoor manners

Careful with fire

Considerate in the outdoors; and

Conservation-minded.

Scouting in Context

In very next year, Aldo Leopold released A Sand County Almanac

Scouting in Context

• In the 1950s, Scouting rolled out more resource conservation programs…• 1952 – Wildlife MB; Soil Management MB

• 1954 – Conservation Good Turn

Scouting in Context

In the 1960s and 1970s, Scouting adopted the Wilderness Use Policy:

Place a special emphasis on pre-trip training on the proper wilderness rules of behavior as established in the program of BSA and by the managing agency, i.e., use: biodegradable food containers, to carry out all trash, dig holes for latrines only in undeveloped areas if permissible, carry all the equipment you need, use no natural materials except firewood and when cutting dead wood is required, use a small folding pack saw, carry only one axe for splitting if needed.

Place special emphasis on the need for preserving solitude, and minimizing group impact through proper camping practices, sanitation and conservation of fuel.

Develop the WILDERNESS ETHIC in your Troop or Post and practice it on the trail.

Scouting in Context

• 1970s saw some further development in Scouting and its relationship to the outdoors:• 1971 – Project SOAR “Save Our American Resources”

• 1972 – Environmental Science MB

• 1977 – World Conservation Award

Societal Context 1960-1990• 1962 – Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

• 1970s – Federal Land Managers began a slogan-based public education campaign: • Wilderness Manners,

• Wilderness Ethics,

• Minimum-Impact Camping, and

• No-Trace Camping.

• 1985 - Tread Lightly!

“Leave No Trace” Program

Leave No Trace (LNT) selected as the name for an expanded national program in 1990.

USFS formed a partnership with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to develop LNT educational materials and courses.

NOLS taught the first Master Educator course in the Wind River Range in 1991.

Creation of Leave No Trace, Inc.

Outdoor Recreation Summit in 1993 recommended creation of the non-profit LNT, Inc.

1993 MOU by the agencies

1993 LNT, Inc. - Nonprofit established.

Renamed the “Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics” in 2003.

Scouting Outdoor EthicsIn 1998, the Boy Scout Handbook added the first reference to the

Principles of Leave No Trace:

Plan ahead and prepare

Camp and travel on durable surfaces

Dispose of waste properly

Minimize campfire impacts

Leave what you find

Respect wildlife

Be considerate of other visitors

Venturing Outdoor Bronze and

Ranger Award have LNT focus

•In 2005, Scouting became in “in-house” provider of Leave No Trace training in partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

•Also in 2005, Scouting established the National Leave No Trace task force to integrate Leave No Trace into Scouting

•In 2010, Centennial Boy Scout Handbook devotes an entire chapter (7) to Leave No Trace.

•Rank requirements revised

•Leave No Trace Trainer added to Camp Standards

Scouting Adopts Leave No Trace

Shift to “Outdoor Ethics”

• Scouting has active partnership with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

• Scouting has a Memorandum of Understanding with Tread Lightly!

• Scouting has its own historic conservation and service tradition.

Shift to “Outdoor Ethics”

• In 2012 time frame, BSA Leave No Trace Task Force, after discussion with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, shifts to Outdoor Ethics Task Force with new logo to reflect broader Scouting outdoor ethic.

QUESTIONS?