In the weeks ahead, communities across Montana will gather to invest in something that has never mattered more: the character and leadership of our young people.
We are raising a generation with unprecedented access to information. Artificial intelligence can draft essays, solve equations, and generate answers in seconds. But information is not the same thing as resilience.
AI can produce content.
It cannot produce character.
Growth happens when a young person attempts something difficult, struggles, adjusts, and hears a steady adult voice say, “Try again.”
That is where Scouting thrives.
Scouting has always been about formation, not just information. Youth lead. Youth make decisions. Youth experience consequences. Adults guide — but they do not take over. In that space, confidence is built. Judgment is formed. Leadership is practiced.
Across Montana, volunteer leaders are standing beside young people long enough for them to become capable. As employers consistently tell us, the young people who have experienced real mentorship show up differently. They problem-solve. They take responsibility. They lean into hard things.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
As we enter our fundraising season, we are not simply supporting programs. We are investing in resilience, integrity, and leadership for the next generation of Montanans.
Technology will continue to accelerate. But character will always be the differentiator.
Thank you for believing in young people — and for ensuring that mentorship remains strong in Montana. For those of you who donate your time and treasure, I heartily salute you. YOU are making a difference!
Jory A. Dellinger
Scout Executive & CEO
