Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (B-P) had a very successful military career, specializing in map-making and reconnaissance. From his experiences he wrote “Aids to Scouting”. Which gained popularity among young readers, so B-P reworked his book and this became “Scouting for Boys”. The book begins with an engaging narrative, highlighting the crucial scouting lesson of “noticing small details and remembering them.” From humble beginnings scouting has become a global movement with millions of members in nearly every country around the world.

In 1907, B-P started organizing scouting camps. In 1910, after retiring from the military to focus on scouting, he started Girl Guides with his sister Agnes. Two years later he married and his wife, Olave St Clair Soames, became World Chief Guide and co-founder of the Girl Guides.

Also in 1910, an American entrepreneur, W. D. Boyce traveling in London was aided by one of B-P’s scouts. After, he went to the Scout headquarters where he gathered information to bring to America. Many scouting groups have been created, and folded or consolidated.

In 1916, Cub Scouts was started for boys under the age of 11 in England, supported by the publication of the “Wolf Cub’s Handbook” and using Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” as a framework. “Cubbing” was started in America in 1918. This also went through a few versions officially chartering packs in 1930.

In 2018, after a long period of deliberation and participant input, the Boy Scouts of America began allowing girls to participate in Cub Scouts. BSA also formally began the Lion program for kindergartners. Along with these changes to the Cub Scout program, girls were able to participate in the Boy Scout program in 2019, and the program changed names to Scouts BSA. Thus making all of the BSA Programs co-ed. These changes increase the opportunities for all children to benefit from the strong programs Scouting offers. To really show its co-ed, as of Feb 8, 2025 the official name is Scouting America.  

Cub Scouts is a year-round family program designed for boys and girls who are in kindergarten through fifth grade. Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouts; promote character development, citizenship training, personal fitness, and leadership. As one mother of a cub said, “In scouts they do all those things you want to do with your kids but never find the time to.” Currently, Cub Scouts is the largest of the BSA's membership divisions.