Adventure, learning, challenge, responsibility -- the promise of Scouting is all this and more. (Official Boy Scout Handbook, Chapter 1, Page 1)

In short, Scouting is a youth organization that uses a fun program to promote character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness for every member.

The Boy Scouts of America makes Scouting available to our nation's youth by chartering community organizations to operate Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Varsity Scout Teams, and Explorer Posts. The chartered organization must provide an adequate and safe meeting place and capable adult leadership, and must adhere to the principles and policies of the BSA. The BSA local council provides unit leader training, program ideas, camping facilities, literature, and professional guidance for volunteer leaders.

Scouting's adult volunteers provide leadership at the unit, district, council, and national levels. Many are parents of Scouts; many entered Scouting as youth members.

The Story of a Good Turn, Boy Scout Handbook, Eleventh Edition, Chapter 19, Boy Scouts of America

How good must a Good Turn be to be good? The answer is best given by telling you the story of how Scouting came to America. It shows that it isn't the size of a Good Turn that counts. What is important is the spirit with which a Scout does a Good Turn.
"Do a Good Turn Daily" is the Scout Slogan.

It happened many years ago on the foggy streets of London, England, when an American visitor, William D. Boyce, lost his way in the dense fog. A boy approached him and asked if he could be of assistance.

Mr. Boyce explained where he wanted to go. The boy led him to his destination, but when My Boyce reached into his pocket for a tip, the boy said "No thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won't take anything for helping."

William Boyce was so impressed by the boy's kindness that he met with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts in Great Britain. He liked what Baden-Powell told him and he knew that boys in the United States would want to be Scouts, too.

On February 8, 1910, Boyce and a group of outstanding leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America. From that day forth, Scouts have celebrated February 8 as the birthday of Scouting in the United States.

What happened to the boy who helped Mr. Boyce find his way in the fog? No one knows. He had neither asked for money nor given his name, but he will never be forgotten. His Good Turn helped bring the Scouting movement to our country.

In the British Scout Training Center at Gilwell Park, England, Scouts from the United States erected a statue of an American buffalo in honor of this unknown Scout. One Good Turn to one man became a Good Turn to millions of American boys. Such is the power of a Good Turn.

Unit registration or membership for youth and adults is not lodged with the Boy Scouts of America. Rather, it resides with the charter partner, such as this local United Methodist Church. The charter agreement gives ownership and responsibility to the local church. This church views its Scouting program as a means of outreach ministry with youth and with the community. The church basically "owns" the unit. Ownership carries with it the intentional responsibility of support by the church. The church is legally responsible for its BSA unit(s), including leadership selection, liability insurance for leaders (same as Sunday School, UMYF, etc..), and spiritual direction and growth development.

Hopewell United Methodist Church has two BSA Units.
      - Troop 79, Chartered in 1975
      - Pack 79,   Chartered in 1993