U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service  142 FW 1, Policy and Procedures
FWM#:       054 (new)
Date:          December 4, 1992
Series:        Youth Programs
Part 142:     Boy Scouts of America
Originating Office:  Office of Training and Education  
1.1 General. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recognizes that the Boy Scouts of America offers a unique opportunity for the Service to provide information on fish and wildlife resources to a key youth audience. The Service supports the educational programs of the Boy Scouts of America, an organization founded in the United States in 1910. The purpose of the Boy Scouts is to promote, through organization and cooperation with other agencies, "...the ability of boys to perform duties for themselves and others; to obtain training in scoutcraft; and to teach scouts patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues...." There are more than 5 million youth and adult leaders currently registered in the Boy Scouts of America. Nearly 500 Service employees actively assist the Boy Scouts in a variety of ways; for example, serving as merit badge counselors and as members of the Boy Scout National Conservation Task Force.

1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide specific information and to establish uniform guidelines to be used by the Service in all areas related to cooperative activities between the Service and the Boy Scouts of America.

1.3 Scope. The provisions of this chapter apply to all Service employees involved with activities relating to the Boy Scouts of America.

1.4 Policy. It is the policy of the Service to encourage and to support its employees who work with and lend support to the Boy Scouts of America at appropriate local, regional, and national levels. Service employees are encouraged to foster communications with Boy Scout leaders and offer guidance and support for scout programs and activities, especially those related to the conservation and management of our Nation's natural resources. This policy is based on the fact that Boy Scouts and their leaders represent a unique national audience which can favorably impact natural resource management directly and indirectly for many years into the future.

1.5 Objectives. The objectives of the Service's support for Boy Scout programs and activities are to:

(1) Provide guidance to Boy Scout training and program activities, especially those educational programs that pertain to the conservation and management of our Nation's natural resources.

(2) Assist Scouts and their leaders in identifying and locating good sources of science-based natural resource information and to guide Scouts toward practical opportunities to learn about the outdoors, conservation, and the environment.

(3) Encourage Service personnel to serve on appropriate Boy Scout advisory committees and councils and to serve as merit badge counselors to individual Scouts, especially where those activities are related to natural resource conservation and environmental improvement.

(4) Make available Service personnel to serve as consultants regarding development of Boy Scout program requirements, especially those pertaining to activities associated with Service programs, including law enforcement, refuges, fish hatcheries, endangered species, research, and career opportunities.

(5) Make Service lands and facilities available to Scouts and their leaders for traditional outdoor Scout activities (where possible) and to provide opportunities and leadership for Scouts to help fulfill individual and unit conservation-oriented advancement and activity goals.

1.6 Authority. The authorities which guide Service participation in Boy Scout program activities are:

(1) The Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Department of the Interior and the Boy Scouts of America, signed by the Secretary of Interior on September 24, 1985.

(2) The Interagency Agreement on the TRAIL Boss Program signed by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service on September 11, 1991.

(3) 16 U.S.C. 460L-1(d) & (f) - (Powers and duties of the Secretary of the Interior - Technical assistance and advice; cooperation with States and private interests; Research and education)

1.7 Responsibility.

(1) The Director is responsible for overall effectiveness of the cooperative effort to support the activities and programs of the Boy Scouts.

(2) Regional and Assistant Directors share responsibility with the Director for executing an effective, supportive Boy Scout program. Each Regional Office will name and support a Scouting coordinator who will oversee Regional activities which encourage, stimulate, and reward Service employees for their support of scouting programs and activities.

(3) Service supervisors are to ensure that those employees who have an interest in working with Boy Scouts and their leaders are given a reasonable amount of official time to lead, guide, and counsel Scouts.

(4) The Office of Training and Education will provide overall coordination of all Service scouting activities.

(5) Regional scouting coordinators will provide Regional leadership in Boy Scout activities and coordinate with the Office of Education and Training. They will also serve as liaison between Boy Scout leaders and Service personnel within their Region.

1.8 Implementing Considerations. The Office of Education and Training will provide overall coordination of Service scouting activities, and will provide assistance to Regional scouting coordinators and other Service employees, as requested.

For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Krista Holloway, in the Division of Policy and Directives Management, at Krista_Holloway@fws.gov 
Return to the Series 100 Home Page
Visit the Division of PDM Directives Home Page
Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page