Ozark Trails Council, Scouting America

Scouting has been a cornerstone of youth development in the Ozarks for over a century. Since its beginnings in Springfield in 1912, the Ozark Trails Council has provided meaningful experiences and leadership opportunities for thousands of young people across southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. For 112 years, the Council has delivered proven youth development programs that build character, leadership, and life skills through the following pathways: Cub Scouts (Kindergarten–5th Grade): A fun, family- and neighborhood-centered program focused on social development, family engagement, and foundational life skills. Cub Scouts explore the world around them while building confidence and a love of learning. Scouts BSA (Ages 11–18): A youth-led program that emphasizes outdoor adventure, leadership, personal responsibility, and teamwork. Scouts BSA equips young people with the tools to grow into strong, capable leaders through real-world challenges. Venturing (Ages 14–20): This high-adventure program focuses on physical fitness, character building, and leadership. Venturers take part in exciting outdoor activities that push them to grow mentally, physically, and socially. Exploring (Ages 14–20): A career exploration program that connects youth with professionals in fields of interest. Explorers gain hands-on experience, develop leadership and life skills, and build the confidence needed to pursue future careers. In 2024, the Council served 4,351 youth through its comprehensive leadership and character-building programs, supported by a dedicated force of 1,381 adult volunteers. Together, these leaders and youth continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities we serve. In 2024 alone, Scouts in the Ozark Trails Council camped a total of 8,747 nights, deepening their connection to nature and building resilience and confidence in the outdoor classroom at our three local properties in Marshfield, Pittsburg and Table Rock Lake. They also gave back significantly to their communities, completing 5,747 hours of service—equivalent to a $192,467 value based on national volunteer hour estimates. These service efforts ranged from local clean-ups and food drives to large-scale Eagle Scout projects, with 75 young men and women earning Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout during the year.

The mission of the Ozark Trails Council, Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.    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.