BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

The future of well-managed forests depends on development the next generation of forest stewards. Since 2012, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and SFI have partnered through a signed memorandum of mutual support to promote sustainable forestry, environmental conservation and the wise use of natural resources through education, community involvement and demonstration.

The agreement recognizes certification of BSA-owned lands to the SFI Forest Management Standard and is part of SFI’s commitment to bringing youth outdoors to connect with nature, conservation and forests. Getting kids into forests and helping them learn about sustainability is good for forests and good for youth.

Project Learning Tree (PLT), an initiative of SFI, is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. PLT has collaborated with BSA to correlate PLT activities to eight Cub Scout Adventures and six BSA merit badges. These correlations provide Scout leaders with ideas and hands-on, outdoor activities to help support Scouts, ages 5 to 17, with youth development goals. They also help introduce Scouts to careers in the outdoors, including jobs in forestry and natural resources conservation.

HELPING TO KEEP OUR FORESTS HEALTHY

Keeping our forests healthy means more than just replanting trees. It also means making sure habitats are healthy so the animals we love always have a place to call home. Certification of BSA-owned and managed forests to the SFI Forest Management Standard provides assurances of future forests and demonstrates sustainability to future leaders.

Philmont Scout Ranch and the Summit Bechtel Reserve are both SFI-certified properties, and we are currently seeking interest from all BSA owned and managed properties to learn more about certification to the SFI Forest Management Standard. Overall, more than 100,000 acres of BSA land is certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard.

SFI also works with companies to use responsible practices when collecting or sourcing materials.

FUN SFI & SCOUT FACTS

Did you know?

Philmont Scout Ranch – One of BSA’s four national High Adventure Bases in the U.S achieved certification of 90,000 acres in New Mexico to the SFI Forest Management Standard in 2008 and has maintained certification ever since.

Summit Bechtel Reserve – BSA’s newest High Adventure Base, located in West Virginia, and the new permanent site for the National Jamboree, successfully achieved certification to the SFI Forest Management Standard in February 2016 on approximately 13,000 acres.

Sustainability Merit badge – In 2013, BSA launched its Sustainability Merit Badge highlighting SFI certification. This merit badge was added to the list of required merit badges for Eagle rank.

BSA Magazines and Books –Scouting, for Scout leaders, and Boy’s Life, for Scouts, both carry the SFI on‑product label for the paper these publications are printed on. All new BSA Merit Badge books also carry the SFI on‑product label.