"Scouting is based on the principles of human dignity and the rights of individuals, loving and serving God, and recognizing the obligation of all members to develop and use their potential. It is a movement dedicated to bringing out the best in people, one of the few left in the world where the emphasis is not on winning as an end result, but on the far more demanding task of "doing one's best." Educators tell us that an increasing number of young people find they cannot make friends and feel lonely, even in a crowd. They have thousands of words spoken at them by television, and they have never learned to laugh, to develop their imagination, and to express their feelings. If we can help nurture courage and kindness, allow boys to play, to laugh, to develop imaginations, and to express their feelings, then we have helped them grow. Helping a boy learn the value of his own worth is the greatest gift we can give him."
*from the Cub Scout Leader Book, Boy Scouts of America