GO SCOUTING

Year Published: 1970s

Creator: Boy Scouts of America

Format: 16mm

Description: Produced by Boy Scouts of America, this short, color promotional film acts as recruitment material to encourage young boys to enroll and join the organization. The film uses a combination of historical footage and clips of different boy scouts and troops engaged in a diverse array of experiences and activities to entice the viewer. Narration is featured throughout the film in order to further underscore the endless possibilities and important passions and skills that can be taught, learned, and nurtured through the Boy Scouts of America organization. While there is no official copyright date, based off of the footage it seems the film is from the early 1970s, post Apollo 11 moon mission. Scouts scale rocks and boulders while wearing backpacks of survival gear (0:07). Narration begins and scouts stop and admire the view - valley of trees (0:14). Boys horseback riding in the valley (0:20). Boy Scout attempts rock climbing (0:30). Two boys canoe on whitewater (0:47). Two Scouts race down the mountain side on skis (0:58). Scout leader supervises scouts through swimming drill off of lake dock (1:10). Target practice with rifles (1:25). Boy Scout practices archery (1:29). Boy scout casts fishing rod into lake (1:40). Group of Boy Scouts examines catch of the day and cooks the fish over fire pit (1:43). Close-up of badge being placed on scout uniform (1:50). Boy scout runs across frozen lake to rescue someone (2:03). Historical footage of the launch of what may be NASA’s Apollo 11 (2:28). Montage of photos of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon landing (2:36-2:50). Buzz Aldrin climbs ladder of the lunar module (2:37). Montage of clips of Boy Scouts learning different STEM skills (2:51). Archeology (2:57). Electrical engineering (3:01). Aeronautics (3:07). Troop of Boy Scouts camp in snow-covered woods (3:27). Fast-paced montage of clips of all activities encompassed by "scouting" - scenes from a fair of different games, competitions, and awards ceremonies (3:36). Boy Scout wears a jacket that says "New Shopper’s Mart Tachikawa" on the back (3:38). Knowledge about wild animals: chipmunk, rodents, deer, wolves (3:53). Group of buffalo in a field (4:05). Young man water skis on lake (4:18). Montage of various water and land endurance competitions (4:21). Boy scouts doing endurance test on ropes and obstacle course (4:23). Shirtless and sweaty young Scouts in a game of tug of war (5:07). Canoeing competition (5:15). Watermelon eating competition (6:00). Late night pow wow, Scouts wearing Native American traditional headdress around a bonfire (6:20). Montage of clips that summarize the film’s message: Boy Scouts involved in sports, friendly competition, science, and nature (6:33). Group of Scouts visit the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. (6:56). Two wheelchair using Scouts do homework together (6:59). African American Scouts (7:05). Montage of clips showcasing Scouts involved in community service (7:12). Lifeguard duty (7:13). Neighborhood clean up (7:20). Scenes from some sort of Boy Scout ceremony - Boy Scouts wear red jackets and march while bearing the Scout flag and the American flag (7:34). Closing credits (8:00). *Film incorrectly IDs the astronaut in the photo as Neil Armstrong when it was actually Armstrong who took the photo of fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. Founded in 1910 and still in operation today, the Boy Scouts of America aims to "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling them the values of the Scout Oath and Law" with scouts trained in character development, self-reliance, and survival skills.

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