About BSA and Manatee District
Manatee District serves southern Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast, providing the foundation for scouting and service to our community. Manatee belongs to the Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
We believe in the principals of scouting. The Scout Law states that a scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Cheerful, Thrifty, Obedient, Bravem Clean and Reverant.
Scouting provides fitness, promotes family, faith and community service. It is a good thing for our country and our planet. Get involved today, just read through this page and our site for more information, then contact us to get involved.
You can also find a Cub Scout Pack, for boys in first thru fifth grade, or a Troop, for young men from sixth grade thru the age of 18, by clicking out Units page.
The Story of a Good Turn
The Scout Left Hand Handshake
One Hundred Scouts
Some Quick Statistics
A Few "Famous" Eagle Scouts
The Story of a Good Turn
One day in 1909 in London, England, An American publisher from Chicago, 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 about 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. The boy disappeared.
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 8th 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. Hence the Scout Slogan known all over the world: "Do a good turn daily."
The Scout Left Hand Handshake
Our Scout salute and handshake are ancient signs of bravery and respect. During ancient times, men carried weapons for protection. Sometimes when they met one another, there was an uneasy moment as each man watched the other man's right hand. If it went to his sword or his dagger, there might be a fight, but if it went to touch his hat, it was a salute of friendship and respect.
The left handshake comes to us from the Ashanti warriors whom Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, knew almost 100 years ago in West Africa. He saluted them with his right hand, but the Ashanti chiefs offered their left hands and said, "In our land only the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left hand, because we carry our shields in our left hands. To shake left hands we must drop our shields and our protection."
The Ashantis knew of Baden-Powell's bravery because they had fought against him and with him, and they were proud to offer the left hand of bravery. When you use the Scout salute and handshake, remember that they are signs of respect and courage. The left hand is also closer to the heart.
One Hundred Scouts
Of any one hundred boys who become Scouts, thirty will drop out in their first year- but seventy will remain. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but in later life all of these one hundred boys will remember that they had been Scouts and will speak well of the program.
Of the one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of the one hundred will be from families that belong to no church. Through Scouting, these twelve and many of their families will be brought into contact with a church and will continue to be active all their lives. Six of the one hundred will become ministers.
Each of the one hundred will learn something from Scouting that they will take with them the rest of their lives. Almost all will develop good hobbies they enjoy. At least one of the one hundred will use their Scout training to save another person's life and many will credit it with saving their own life.
Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle award above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts.
Seventeen of the one hundred boys will later become Scout leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.
Only one in four boys in America will become a Scout, but it is interesting to know that of the leaders in this nation in business, religion and politics, three out of four were Scouts.
This story will never end. Like the "Golden Pebble" of service dropped into the human sea it will continue to radiate in ever-widening circles, influencing the characters of men down through unending time.
More Scout Statistics from a recent high school & college poll
85% of student council presidents were Scouts
89% of senior class presidents were Scouts
80% of junior class presidents were Scouts
75% of school publication editors were Scouts
71% of football captains were Scouts
64% of Air Force Academy graduates
68% of West Point graduates
70% of Annapolis graduates
72% of Rhodes Scholars
85% of FBI agents
A Few "Famous" Eagle Scouts
Neil Armstrong - Astronaut, first man to walk on the moon (Apollo 11)
William Bennett - Former Secretary of Education
Bill Bradley - Professional basketball star and US Senator
William Devries - MD, transplanted first artificial heart
Gerald Ford - President, 1st Eagle to be President of the United States
James Lovell - Navy pilot and astronaut, (Gemini 7, 12, Apollo 8, 13)
Sam Nunn - US Senator from Georgia
Ellison Onizuka - Astronaut from Hawaii aboard the shuttle Challenger
H. Ross Perot - Self-made billionaire and presidential candidate
William Sessions - Former FBI director
Steven Spielberg - Movie producer
John Tesh - TV celebrity and pianist
