The Mission of Scouting America National Capital Area Council
To prepare all young people of Scouting America National Capital Area for a lifetime of ethical, moral, and civic leadership by building life skills and instilling in youth the values of the Scout Oath and Law working in partnership with our communities.
Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” The Scouting organization is composed of more than 1 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 21 and more than 628,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories.
Since its inception in 1910, more than 130 million young men and women have participated in Scouting America’s youth programs. More than 35 million adult volunteers have helped carry out Scouting America’s mission.
Scouting America programs are divided by age and activity: Cub Scouting is for boys and girls in kindergarten through 5th grade, Scouts BSA is open to young men and young women in grades 6 through 12, and co-ed Venturing and Sea Scouting are available for young men and young women age 14 through 20. Scouting America also offers career-oriented co-ed Exploring programs to youth age 10 through 20.
Traditional Scouting programs are operated by local chartering organizations, such as religious institutions, clubs, civic associations, and educational organizations, which implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. These units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both volunteers and paid professional staff.
In order to further outdoor activities, which are core to Scouting’s mission, Scouting Americca has four High-Adventure Bases: Northern Tier (Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario), Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Florida), and Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia).
Scout Oath
On my honor
I will do my best to do my duty to God
And my country and 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 and Reverent.
About Scouting America National Capital Area Council
National Capital Area Council prepares youth for life through outstanding programs that inspire, build character and instill the values that young people need to succeed today. That includes everything from camping and hiking, to community service and leadership development.
Each Scout gains experiences that not only help them when they are young, but stay with them throughout their adult lives, helping them grow into adults that respect their family, community, religion, country and themselves.
National Capital Area Council—Number 82—is one of the largest of over 200 local councils chartered by Scouting America. Our members come from 18 districts, spread across northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The Maryland counties we serve include: Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s. The Virginia counties we serve include: Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Culpeper, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg.
Scouting America National Capital Area Council Vision
To be the premier youth leadership training movement in the National Capital Area recognized for character, service, and outdoor adventure that strengthens the diverse communities we serve through Scouting.
Strategic Plans
Our 2023 to 2025 Strategic Plan has concluded. The plan contained five pillars: Grow Cub Scouts, Effective Fund Development, Optimizing Facilities, Organizational Alignment, and Re-establish the Value of Scouting.
The 2026-2028 Strategic Plan was approved by the Executive Board in November 2025. The plan contains five pillars: Join, Deliver, Sustain, Collaborate, and Amplify.
We invite you to become familiar with your Council’s Strategic Plan, especially the five pillars that will guide us as we work together to achieve the mission of Scouting America and the vision of the National Capital Area Council.
Complete Information on our Strategic Plans: Scouting America National Capital Area Council Strategic Plans
