For those of you wondering "Why should I (or my son) join Scouting? What could the Boy Scouts offer me (or my son)?" Well, here are some statistics to consider, which speak to the strength, impact, and integrity of the Boy Scouts of America. Please, read on...

What happens to a Scout? For every 100 boys who join Scouting, records indicate that:

• RARELY will one be brought before the juvenile court system
• 2 will become Eagle Scouts
• 17 will become future Scout volunteers
• 12 will have their first contact with a church
• 1 will enter the clergy
• 5 will earn their church award
• 18 will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life
• 8 will enter a vocation that was learned through the merit badge system
• 1 will use his Scouting skills to save his own life
• 1 will use his Scouting skills to save the life of another person

Scouting's alumni record is equally impressive. A recent nation- wide survey of high schools revealed the following information:

• 85% of student council presidents were Scouts
• 89% of senior class presidents were Scouts
• 80% of junior class presidents were Scouts
• 75% of school publication editors were Scouts
• 71% of football captains were Scouts

Scouts also account for:

• 64% of Air Force Academy graduates
• 68% of West Point graduates
• 70% of Annapolis graduates
• 72% of Rhodes Scholars
• 85% of F.B.I. agents
• 26 of the first 29 astronauts

Note: Since this was written the percentage of Eagle Scouts has climbed to nearly 4%. The Eagle Scout Service in 1997 announced that the figure was 3.89%.