Scouting and the Ozark Trails Council
The Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910, was based on the principles of duty to God, country, family and self. Today, the Ozark Trails Council continues that mission. The Council serves more than 16,000 youth and volunteers throughout 31 counties in South Central and Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas.
The Council is guided by a volunteer Executive Board composed of leading business professionals and community leaders. The Executive Board employs a Scout Executive, who in turn hires and directs a staff of 9 professionals, 10 support staff, and 2 camp rangers to carry out the day-to-day management of the Council.
The Council charters over 400 local organizations to conduct the Scouting program. These include churches, civic, community, service, fraternal, labor, business, and industrial organizations, schools and facilities for the handicapped.
Scouting strives to instill values in our young people - values that are essential to the future of our communities, nation, and world. Our members are trying to do their best to live by the promise and oath they recite at each meeting. These are not just words, they are a way of life.
The Ozark Trails Council is committed to providing the best possible Scouting experience to all of our members. Our mission is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my countryand to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.
A family and home-centered program for boys in the first through fifth grade (or 7, 8, 9, and 10 years old). Cub Scouting's emphasis is on quality program at the local level, where the most boys and families are involved. Fourth and fifth-grade (or 10-year-old) boys are called Webelos (WE'll BE LOyal Scouts) and participate in more advanced activities that begin to prepare them to become Boy Scouts. 
A program for boys ages 11 to 17 designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys also may become Boy Scouts if they have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade.) 
Venturing is for young men and young women ages 14 to 20. It includes challenging high-adventure activities, sports, and hobbies for teenagers that teach them leadership skills, provide opportunities to teach others, and give them an opportunity to learn and grow in a supporting, caring, and fun environment. 
