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SD 3864

BSA 2025 Report on the State of Scouting in Massachusetts

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts Scouting programs empower youth with life skills and civic engagement, supported by extensive volunteer service and significant community impact.

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Bill Summary · SD 3864

Bill Summary: SD 3864 — 194th Massachusetts Legislature

Title

BSA 2025 Report on the State of Scouting in Massachusetts

Purpose and intent

  • To provide a comprehensive 2025 report detailing the current state of Scouting in Massachusetts, including membership, program offerings, community impact, and organizational structure.
  • To illuminate how Scouting programs (as operated under the “Scouting America” framework) empower youth with life skills, civic engagement, and contributions to communities across the Commonwealth.
  • To present data on membership, program participation, volunteer involvement, and economic/community impact generated by Scouting activities within Massachusetts.

Key provisions and content

  • Membership and program statistics (as reported):
    • Total program membership: 19,761
    • Breakdown by program:
    • Cub Scouts (Kindergarten–5th grade): 9,389
    • Venture/Adult programs (ages 14–20): 34
    • Traditional Scouting (ages 11–17): 9,835
    • Maritime program (for all youth ages 10–20): 38
    • General youth leadership and career-path initiatives: 9,389
    • The report emphasizes Scouting as a pathway for youth to lead, learn, and give back in daily life.
  • Community and economic impact:
    • Scouting volunteers contributed 96,479 hours of service.
    • Economic impact to communities is reported at over $1.48 million.
    • Community merit badges and service hours are highlighted as core outputs.
    • Notable figure: 203,738 community service hours earned (specifics of projects implied by the report).
  • Merit badges and service:
    • Community merit badges and the value of service are emphasized, with a stated total of 23,500 hours and a value of $3,056,070 attributed to these efforts.
  • Organizational structure and councils (Massachusetts focus):
    • Councils serving Massachusetts include:
    • Cape Cod & Islands Council (Yarmouth Port) and Narragansett Council (Cranston)
    • Heart of New England Adventure Council (Rutland; Woburn)
    • Mayflower Massachusetts West Council (Milford; Westfield)
    • The report outlines these councils as operating within and serving communities across the Commonwealth.
  • Mission, Oath, and Law (as context for program values):
    • Mission: Prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices by instilling Scout Oath and Law values.
    • Scout Oath and Scout Law are explicitly listed to frame the behavioral and ethical expectations of participants.

Affected parties

  • Youth participants across all Scouting programs (Cub Scouts, traditional Scouting, Venture/older youth, and maritime programs) in Massachusetts.
  • Volunteer leaders and family units involved in program delivery and governance.
  • Local communities and municipalities benefiting from service hours and economic activity generated by Scouting events and programs.
  • Scouting councils operating within Massachusetts (recipients of reporting, oversight, and potential state-level interest or support).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The document is titled as the 2025 report to the Commonwealth, implying annual or periodic reporting requirements for the state.
  • Status: Placed on file as of 2026-04-23, indicating completion of the report submission and formal placement in legislative records rather than passage of new standalone statutes.

Observations

  • The bill appears to be a report rather than an appropriation or regulatory measure.
  • Data points emphasize youth development outcomes, volunteer engagement, and measurable community impact.
  • Specific dollar amounts and hours are provided to quantify impact, aiding accountability and potential policy considerations.

If you’d like, I can format this into a one-page briefing for policymakers or generate a plain-language summary for the public.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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