
Picture this scene: you drive into the parking lot of your local grocery store, and after circling for a bit, you notice an elderly individual struggling with their bags. Ordinarily, you’d stop to help them, but you’re still trying to find a spot and don’t want to leave your car unattended. That’s when you see something remarkable: A young person approaches the elderly person scoops up their bags, and carries them to her car. They don’t linger or wait for a tip or even a thank you — they just do it.
Would you be surprised to learn that this young individual was a Scout? Probably not. In addition to shaping a young person’s character and leadership skills, Scouting also nurtures virtues like compassion and civic engagement. As recent studies have shown, Scouts are now better equipped to thrive in their educational and career pursuits later in life by learning these soft skills. Here’s how Scouting fosters these qualities in young people.
Developing a Lifelong Habit of Compassion
Compassion can take on many forms in Scouting, whether it’s an older Scout mentoring a younger Scout and offering guidance on earning merit badges or simply being a good friend who listens when someone needs to talk. It’s also about recognizing when others need help, like our story about the Scout who helped the elderly woman with her groceries. Through these small acts of kindness, Scouts develop lifelong habits of caring for others.

The Importance of “Do A Good Turn Daily”
Since the formation of the Boy Scouts in America in 1910, Scouting has encouraged young people to “Do a Good Turn Daily,” meaning to perform some kind of helpful act every day, no matter how small. This can mean everything from wheeling a neighbor’s garbage can back up the driveway on trash pick-up day, or helping an elderly neighbor carry groceries into their home.
These may seem like simple, everyday acts — but they matter! For instance, the neighbor with the trash at the end of the driveway may have recently broken an ankle and was instructed by their doctor to stay off it. Or the elderly neighbor may be alone for most days, and the simple act of carrying groceries and connecting with someone is enough to put a smile on their face.
There’s even the story of a Scout who fully embraced the spirit of compassion by helping a 69-year-old man reach the top of Clingmans Dome, which offers stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
Each story has the same plotline — a Scout shows kindness to someone by offering to help. By doing their Good Turn Daily, Scouts are thinking of others, which is just another way Scouting nurtures compassion in young people.

Civic Engagement Brings Out the Best In Scouts
Research shows that youth civic engagement, through activities like volunteering and active participation in communities, has numerous benefits for young people. Some of these benefits include higher levels of education, as well as improved social-emotional well-being. It’s no wonder that one of the 12 points of the Scout Law is to be helpful without expecting something in return.
There are many ways Scouts practice civic engagement throughout their communities, from organizing food drives to assisting with local environmental conservation efforts. At a time when young people are beginning to tune out from their civic responsibilities, the lessons Scouting teaches about playing an active role in one’s community are more important than ever. A 2024 study conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of Scouting America found that Scouts are more likely than non-Scouts to volunteer in their community and participate in charitable organizations.

For most of these Scouts, focusing on civic engagement carries over into adulthood, which is why we see everyone from election poll workers to former Presidents with a Scouting past. By instilling a deep sense of civic responsibility, compassion, and community service, Scouting helps young people develop lifelong habits of engagement that continue to shape their actions long after they’ve earned their badges.
Are you ready to make a difference and develop lifelong skills in compassion and civic engagement? Contact the Scouting America, Montana Council today and find out how you can help create a world where kindness and service are part of everyday life.