BSA Historical Timeline

Highlights from our past

1910 - The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8 under the laws of the District of Columbia by William D. Boyce. On May 10, Troop 5 was formed and active in Syracuse before the existence of a council. It was closely followed by Troop 1 in October

1911 - The National Office was established at 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, on January 2nd with seven employees. The Scout Oath, Law, badges and fundamental policies were adopted. The first awards for heroism were presented by the National Court of Honor. Even though there was no formal council organization, the Scoutmaster's Council was organized as the Syracuse Council. It later went through a name change to become the Onondaga Council. The summer camp program was run at Camp Loyalty on crooked lake in Tully. Membership was - 61,495

1912 - Scouts were in every state. The first in a series of national good turns, "Have a safe and sane Fourth of July" was kicked off. Sea Scouting was started and Boys' Life magazine was purchased.
Membership for year - 97,495 / Total to date - 126,860

1913 - First charters were issued to councils. The country was divided into eight districts to facilitate local supervision. Scouting magazine was started. A plan for Scouting registration was adopted.
Membership for year - 115,364 / Total to date - 188,964

1914 - The first Scout Sunday observance took place. Training for leaders was developed.
Membership for year - 127,685 / Total to date - 275,304

1915 - The merit Badge program was expanded to 57 badges. First Handbook for Scoutmasters was issued. The Order of the Arrow was founded.
Membership for year - 182,303 / Total to date - 409,662

1916 - Scouting was granted a Congressional Charter on June 15. Scouting in rural areas emphasized Pioneer Scouts (later Lone Scouts). The "Boy Scout's March" by John Phillip Sousa made it's debut. The Syracuse Council changed it's name to Onondaga Council.
Membership for year - 245,183 / Total to date - 571,649

1917 - Scouting's full resources were placed at the service of the government under the slogan "Help Win the War". The first winter camp was held by Chicago Scouts.
Membership for year - 363,837 / Total to date - 812,586

1918 - Scouts rendered nationwide service in the influenza epidemic. The first service club sponsorship of troops was inaugurated by Rotary International. National standards were established for Boy Scout Camps. As part of the 1917-18 war effort, Scouts sold 2,350,977 Liberty Loan bonds totaling $147,876,902; war savings stamps totaling $53,043,698.
Membership for year - 418,984 / Total to date - 1,065,495

1919 - Method of cooperation with churches of all faiths was developed. The first gold Honor Medals were awarded for saving life at risk of the rescuer's own, replacing silver and bronze awards. Rams Gulch Camp was purchased by the Onondaga Council.
Membership for year - 462,060 / Total to date - 1,325,878

1920 - First World Jamboree was held in England. The BSA sent 301 members.
Membership for year - 478,528 / Total to date - 1,643,988

1921 - Outstanding civic good turns were rendered in forest conservation and in connection with the Knickerbocker Theater disaster in Washington as well as with flooding in Pueblo, Colo., and San Antonio, Texas. The Watertown Council was formed. Kamp Kamargo was purchased by the Watertown Council.
Membership for year - 513,015 / Total to date - 1,879,471

1922 - The Order of the Arrow became an official program experiment. The St. Lawrence County Council was formed. Camp Vigor was purchased by the St. Lawrence Council.
Membership for year - 534,415 / Total to date - 2,110,973

1923 - The international left handclasp was adopted. Patrol Leader conferences and training courses for Scoutmasters were developed. Camp Syracuse was operated by the Onondaga Council.
Membership for year - 587,578 / Total to date - 2,371,520

1924 - The "Every Scout a Swimmer" program was launched. The Lone Scouts of America merged with the Boy Scouts of America. The 2nd World Jamboree was held at Copenhagen, Denmark.
Membership for year - 696,620 / Total to date - 3,144,300

1925 - Outstanding service by Scouts was rendered in the Illinois tornado, California earthquake, and Louisiana fire. The Watertown Council changed it's name to the Jefferson & Lewis Area Council.
Membership for year - 756,857 / Total to date - 3,436,294

1926 - Sir Robert SS Baden-Powell traveled throughout the country inspecting Scout centers. The first Silver Buffalo Awards were presented. Exceptional Scout service was rendered in the Florida hurricane and Arkansas flood.
Membership for year - 783,574 / Total to date - 3,749,244

1927 - Eagle Palms were added to the list of awards. Twelve new rural merit badges were added bringing the total to 89. "Scouting Magazine " merged with "Scoutmastership Notes Magazine". The national office moved to larger quarters at 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY. Oswego County Council formed. At the time there were already 10 troops meeting in the area. Camp Twelve Pines was purchased by the Oswego County Council.
Membership for year - 785,633 / Total to date - 4.095,988

1928 - Three Scouts accompanied the Martin Johnson expedition to Africa. Four Scouts participated in the Lincoln Highway covered wagon tour from coast to coast and a Sea Scout accompanied Commander Richard E. Byrd to the Antarctic. In 1927, 1928, and 1929 Camp Onondaga was operated on the island in Crooked Lake in Tully.
Membership for year - 819,791 / Total to date - 4,499,908

1929 - The third World Jamboree was held at Birkenhead, England with 1,300 members of the BSA attending. The Cub Scout program was put into operation on an experimental basis. Camp Woodland was purchased by the Onondaga Council. Onondaga-Cortland Council was formed by merger.
Membership for year - 833,897 / Total to date - 4,779,219

1930 - The Cub Scout program was formally launched. There were 5,102 Cubs at the end of 1930.
Membership for year - 847,501 / Total to date - 5,249,350

1931 - The first Silver Beaver awards were presented
Membership for year - 878,358 / Total to date - 5,658,485

1932 - Schiff Scout Reservation in Mendham, NJ was presented to the BSA by Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff in memory of her son Mortimer. William Hillcourt wrote his first article as "Green Bar Bill" for Boys' Life Magazine. The Jefferson & Lewis Area Council changed it's name to the Jefferson-Lewis Council
Membership for year - 878,461 / Total to date - 6,019,301

1933 - Schiff Scout Reservation was formally opened and dedicated. The fourth World Jamboree was held at Godollo, Hungary with 406 member of the BSA in attendance.
Membership for year - 904,240 / Total to date - 6,389,551

1934 - Boy Scouts performed a national Good Turn by collecting 1,812,284 items of clothing, household furnishings, foodstuffs, and supplies for the needy and distressed. The Order of the Arrow Program was approved. A fire in the spring destroyed all the records of the Oswego County Council.
Membership for year - 973,589 / Total to date - 6,530,330

1935 - Celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Scouting. The proposed national jamboree was canceled because of a national epidemic of infantile paralysis. Membership finally passed one million. The first request to sponsor a Cub Scout Pack in this council came from First Baptist Church in Syracuse.
Membership for year - 1,027,833 / Total to date - 6,945,160

1936 - On February 8 President Roosevelt invited Scouts to a jamboree to be held in Washington in 1937. The new Handbook for Scoutmasters was published.
Membership for year - 1,069,837 / Total to date - 7,376,961

1937 - First National Jamboree held in Washington with 27,232 attending. Fifth World Jamboree was held at Vogelenzang, Holland with 814 members of the BSA attending.
Membership for year - 1,129,841 / Total to date - 7,858,931

1938 - The magnificent donation of 35,857 acres of land in New Mexico, to be known as Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp (later to be known as Philmont Scout Ranch) was made by Waite Phillips.
Membership for year - 1,242,009 / Total to date - 8,399,923

1939 - Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp was opened for advanced Scout camping. The St. Lawrence County Council changed it's name to St. Lawrence Council. Camp Lee, across Kibbe Lake Road from Camp Woodland, was opened featuring programming for Senior Scouts.
Membership for year - 1,357,993/ Total to date - 8,977,696

1940 - Boy Scouts served at the New York World's Fair. Troop inventory and roll call and emergency service corps were adopted. The Onondaga-Cortland Council merger was dissolved and we reverted back to the Onondaga Council.
Membership for year - 1,449,412 / Total to date - 9,558,869

1941 - With the declaration of war, the government requested Boy Scout service in many aspects of home service projects. Waite Phillips made another large gift consisting of land, residence and ranch buildings, livestock, and ranch operating equipment, all contiguous to Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp, to the BSA bringing the total acreage to more than 127,000 acres. The area was renamed Philmont Scout Ranch. He also presented the Philtower Building in Tulsa, OK, the income from which was to be used for operating and developing the camp. The first William T. Hornaday gold award for conservation of wildlife was presented. On January 7, Baden-Powell died and was buried in his beloved Kenya.
Membership for year - 1,522,302 / Total to date -10,165,060

1942 - Scouts continued in war service: Twenty-eight new projects were requested by the government. Air Scouts program was developed. The Onondaga Council was incorporated as Onondaga Council Inc.
Membership for year - 1,553,080 / Total to date - 10,769,041

1943 - War service projects continued. First Silver Antelope awards were presented. Long trousers and scout cap were made part of the uniform.
Membership for year - 1,613,783 / Total to date - 11,477,483

1944 - The "Whole Scout Family" was emphasized on the three branches of the Scout program. The World Friendship Fund to help restore Scouting in devastated countries was inaugurated.
Membership for year - 1,866,356 / Total to date - 12,289,614

1945 - Between 1941 and 1945 the BSA rendered 69 service project requests from the government. The "Shirts off Our Back" campaign to help Scouts abroad was launched. Increased emphasis was placed on visual aids as a means of training.
Membership for year - 1,977,463 / Total to date - 13,073,629

1946 - The camping program was improved and camp activities became more troop centered. Scouts carried through three national postwar service projects. Membership exceeded two million.
Membership for year - 2,063,397 / Total to date - 13,882,639

1947 - Basic Boy Scout requirements were authorized - putting the emphasis on Scout spirit, Scout participation, and Scoutcraft skills. The sixth World Jamboree was held in Moisson, France in August with a BSA delegation numbering 1,151. Camp Portaferry was purchased by the Jefferson-Lewis Council. Kamp Kamargo was sold by the Jefferson-Lewis Council
Membership for year - 2,141,984 / Total to date - 14,710,853

1948 - The Order of the Arrow was integrated in the national camping program. 2,275 campers attended Philmont this year.
Membership for year - 2,210,766 / Total to date - 15,538,867

1949 - The "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty" campaign was inaugurated in February. Joining age levels were lowered - Cub Scouting-ages 8 through 10, Boy Scouting-ages 11 through 14, Exploring-ages 14 and up. 543 councils owned 831 campsites with 288,545 acres at an estimated value of $10,525,731 in land and $17,436,306 in equipment. Camp Askenonta, on Moose Island in Lake Placid, was acquired as a gift to the the Onondaga Council.
Membership for year - 2,579,515 / Total to date - 16,686,517

1950 - The second National Jamboree was held at Valley Forge with 47,163 attending. The first Boy Scout stamp was issued by the post office. A total of 1,100 Order of the Arrow members attended a national conference in Indiana.
Membership for year - 2,795,222 / Total to date - 17,843,852

1951 - The three year campaign to "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty" ended with a 33% gain in membership. Two million pounds of clothing were collected for foreign and domestic relief. Seventh World Jamboree was held at Bad Ischl, Austria.
Membership for year - 2,942,779 / Total to date - 18,995,887

1952 - Scouts distributed more than a million posters and 30 million doorknob hangers in a "Get Out the Vote" campaign. Scouts also cooperated nationally in securing blood donor pledges, collected clothing for worthy causes, distributed seeds for Asia, and aided in conservation projects and civil defense. Exceeded three million members. The first summer camp water skiing program for Scouts in the United States was instituted at Camp Askenonta.
Membership for year - 3,183,266 / Total to date - 20,236,331

1953 - The third National Jamboree was held at the Irvine Ranch in southern California with 45,401 members participating. Scouter training combined with family vacations plans was expanded at Philmont. Local councils were organized in Germany and Japan to serve the sons of Americans in those countries.
Membership for year - 3,395,884 / Total to date - 21,537,885

1954 - The national "Conservation Good Turn" was conducted. The national office moved to a new building near New Brunswick, NJ. Boys' Life circulation passed the one million mark. The Webelos den was created as a means of maintaining the interest of Cub Scouts 10 years of age and to provide a bridge for crossing over to Boy Scouts.
Membership for year - 3,774,015 / Total to date - 23,037,343

1955 - The eighth World Jamboree was held at Ontario, Canada with 1,500 BSA members attending. Two important marks were passed - units exceeded 100,000 and registered Scouters exceeded one million. As an approved experiment by National, coed summer camping with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts was introduced at our own Camp Askenonta. The Order of the Arrow was approved as a part of the council's program.
Membership for year - 4,175,134 / Total to date - 24,675,358

1956 - The "Onward for God and My Country" program was launched during Scout Week. In another "Get Out the Vote" campaign, the Boy Scouts distributed over a million posters and 36 million doorknob hangers.
Membership for year - 4,526,302 / Total to date - 26,383,479

1957 - The fourth National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA attracted 50,000 Scouts and Explorers. Sabattis Scout Reservation was purchased by the Onondaga Council. Onondaga Lodge #516 was chartered.
Membership for year - 4,751,495 / Total to date - 28,100,000

1958 - The National Safety Good Turn and the continuing Onward for God and My Country program were outstanding successes. An Explorer accompanied the Academy of Sciences team on the International Geophysical Year Arctic Expedition. The new Exploring Program was implemented.
Membership for year - 4,950,885 / Total to date - 29,945,000

1959 - A new edition of the Boy Scout Handbook was published. Scouting Magazine started using full color throughout. Delegations attended both the 10th World Jamboree in the Philippines and the 17th International Scout Conference in New Delhi, India.
Membership for year - 5,043,195 / Total to date - 31,563,809

1960 - During Scoutings Golden Jubilee Year, thousands of Scouts earned the 50th Anniversary Achievement Award. Some 56,378 Scouts and leaders attended the fifth National Jamboree at Colorado Springs, Colo. The post office issued the second Boy Scout Stamp in February.
Membership for year - 5,160,958 / Total to date - 33,076,901

1961 - Indiana University was again the scene of the Order of the Arrow's national conference with 2,000 members present.
Membership for year - 5,210,294 / Total to date - 34,524,815

1962 - The "Fit for Tomorrow" program was launched. More than 3,000 Explorers attended the first National Explorer Delegate Conference at Ann Arbor, Mich. A "GO" roundup was developed around space exploration in cooperation with America's astronauts.
Membership for year - 5,322,167 / Total to date - 36,058,864

1963 - The "Scouting Can Make the Difference" program was launched. Philmont received an anonymous gift of 10,098 acres. Some 621 Scouts and Scouters attended the eleventh World Jamboree held at Marathon, Greece.
Membership for year - 5,446,910 / Total to date - 37,500,314

1964 - The New York World's Fair service corps operated for 18 weeks. Waite Phillips, donor of Philmont, died in January. The "Strengthen America's Heritage" program was launched in cooperation with the Freedom's Foundation. The sixth National Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, PA.
Membership for year - 5,583,700 / Total to date - 39,120,922

1965 - The Inner-city Rural program was launched. The 500,000th Eagle Scout Badge was presented and the 40,000,000th member was registered.
Membership for year - 5,732,708 / Total to date - 40,746,314

1966 - "The Program of Emphasis Breakthrough for Youth" continued. Ground was broken for the Ernest Thompson Seton Memorial Library at Philmont. More than 17,000 Scouts and leaders attended Philmont this year.
Membership for year - 5,831,521 / Total to date - 42,375,467

1967 - The BSA hosted the twelfth World Jamboree in Seattle, Wash. The National Order of the Arrow Conference drew 4,158 members to the University of Nebraska. The updated Cub Scout program was launched, establishing a special Webelos Scout program.
Membership for year - 6.058,508 / Total to date - 44,139,905

1968 - The National Council raised registration fees to $2 for adults and $1 for boys. A total of 1,449,266 Webelos activity badges were earned during the year. Scouts and Explorers earned 28,311 Eagle Awards and 1,743,567 merit badges.
Membership for year - 6,247,160 / Total to date - 45,997,048

1969 - Mergers brought the number of councils to 500. At least two summertime events were conducted by 16,571 Cub Scout Packs. Long term camping reached an all time high with 64.6% of the troops providing this experience to 792,371 Scouts. For the first time ever a drop in membership was recorded. The Hiawatha Council was formed by the merger of the Onondaga and Oswego County Council's. Onondaga Lodge #516 and Aeola Lodge #410 merged to form Nischa Nitis Lodge #410.
Membership for year - 6,183,086 / Total to date - 47,795,216

1970 - BOYPOWER '76 attainment goals were set. Woodbadge courses were attended by 3,108 Scouters. A National Standard Rating Plan for camps was developed. The whole organization mobilized for Project SOAR (Save Our American Resources). Realignment of councils reduced the number to 493. Rams Gulch Camp was sold.
Membership for year - 6,287,284 / Total to date - 49,628,049

1971 - The 4 million acre Maine National High Adventure Area was opened. Scouting "Keep America Beautiful Day" was held on June 5 with some 2 million members cleaning up more than 200,000 miles of highways and waterways and 400,000 acres of land collecting more than a million tons of litter. Nearly 8,000 American Scouts attended the 13th World Jamboree in Japan. The paraprofessional employment program was started.
Membership for year - 6,427,026 / Total to date - 51,484,371

1972 - The improved Scouting program was introduced. Project SOAR continued. A total of 2,086 Explorers participated in the Explorer Olympics held in Fort Collins, Colo. Operation Reach, a program against drug abuse, was launched. The National Eagle Scout Association was created. Troop leader development was tested for the first time at Schiff and Philmont. The BSA reached it's all time high membership this year. Camp Askenonta was sold to the State of New York, the property to remain "forever wild".
Membership for year - 6,524,640 / Total to date - 53,308,308

1973 - For the third consecutive year Project SOAR demonstrated good conservation practices. This year the national jamboree was held at two split sites; Moraine State Park, PA., and Farragut State Park, Idaho with more than 64,000 participants. An updated Cub Scout program was introduced adjusted to be more relevant to boys and their families.
Membership for year - 6,405,225 / Total to date - 55,100,376

1974 - The first National Eagle Scout Association meeting was held at Fort Collins, Colo. Contingents from the BSA participated in jamborees in New Zealand, Quebec, and Surinam. The Cub Scout "Safe Bicycle Driving" and "Physical Fitness" programs were launched.
Membership for year - 5,803,885 / Total to date - 56,626,408

1975 - Preparation for the nation's bicentennial accelerated with the theme "Spirit of '76". The 14th World Jamboree was attended 2,500 members of the BSA in Norway.
Membership for year - 5,318,070 / Total to date - 58,014,193

1976 - The bicentennial year gave 56,712 Cub Scout packs, 61,283 Boy Scout troops, and 22,540 Explorer posts the opportunity to participate in the celebration of the 200th birthday of our nation. Eagle badges were awarded to 27,687 Scouts.
Membership for year - 4,884,082 / Total to date - 59,311,859

1977 - The observance of the nation's bicentennial ended in August with 137,335, packs, troops, and posts completing activities related to the New Spirit of '76. The National Jamboree was held at Moraine State Park, PA with 28,601 attending. Delegations participated in Jamborees held in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and Jamaica. Camp Twelve Pines was sold.
Membership for year - 4,718,138 / Total to date - 60,551,879

1978 - Local councils conducted 1,800 Cub Day Camp programs that attracted over 300,000 Cubs. There was a new emphasis on family camping as local council camp properties were made available. Volunteer training was established as a major program function of the movement. A revised God and Country program for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorers was announced and the National Protestant Committee on Scouting was organized. Parent-Teacher Associations continued as the largest single user of the Scouting program.
Membership for year - 4,493,491 / Total to date - 61,898,410

1979 - The national office moved to Irving, Texas after 25 years in New Jersey. A new edition of the Wolf Cub Scout book were published. The 9th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook written by William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt was released. Because the 15th World Jamboree in Iran was canceled, 1,000 Scouts and leaders attended Dalajamb in Sweden.
Membership for year - 4,284,469 / Total to date - 63,388,065

1980 - The 70th anniversary was completed with gains in membership and units. New uniforms, designed by Oscar de la Renta, were announced. Cub Scouting celebrated it's 50th anniversary by registering the 30,000,000th Cub Scout since 1930. A fire destroyed the second floor of the national office in November. The Onondaga District Old Goats hosted their first camporee at Camp Woodland.
Membership for year - 4,326,082 / Total to date - 64,840,661

1981 - The 10th National Jamboree was held at Fort A.P. Hill, VA, with more than 30,000 participants. Murray, KY was picked as the site for the new Boy Scout Museum. Nearly 64,000 Scouts earned their religious award.
Membership for year - 4,355,723 / Total to date - 70,774,443

1982 - The millionth Eagle Award was presented. For the third consecutive year the BSA showed gains in membership. The Tiger Cubs program was field tested and implemented. The Backpacking merit badge was introduced. Jefferson-Lewis Council and St. Lawrence Council merged to form Seaway Valley Council. Adirondack Lodge #357 and Manatoanna Lodge #461 merged to form Gosh Wa Ono Lodge #120.
Membership for year - 4,452,449 / Total to date - 68,140,738

1983 - The Varsity Team concept was pilot tested with the recommendation that it be implemented in 1984. (Webmasters Note: This program was the predecessor of the current Venture/Varsity Program) The 15th World Jamboree was held in Kananaskis Country, a provincial park in the Canadian Rockies. Camp Vigor of the Woods was sold by the Seaway Valley Council.
Membership for year - 4,688,953 / Total to date - 70,014,715

1984 - The third edition of the Fieldbook was introduced. Varsity Scouting, for boys ages 14 through 17, was launched nationwide. The National Eagle Scout Association awarded 30 $3,000 scholarships and 6 $1,000 grants. Varsity Team 50, the first Varsity Team in the council, sponsored by the Lemoyne Citizens Group was chartered.
Membership for year - 4,748,511 / Total to date - 72,014,206

1985 - We celebrated the 75th anniversary with the "Pride in the Past - Footsteps to the Future" theme. The 11th National Jamboree was held at Fort A.P. Hill, VA. with an attendance of over 32,000. Cub Scouting introduced a new emphasis on Cub Scout Sports.
Membership for year - 4,845,040 / Total to date - 73,639,425

1986 - Membership for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts became based on grade rather than age. Two of the crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster were Scouts as a youth. Boys' Life celebrated it's 75th anniversary. The National Court of Honor presented 19 Honor Medals, 71 Heroism Awards, and 189 Medals of Merit. The BSA recorded it's largest percentage membership increase in 30 years.
Membership for year - 5,170,979 / Total to date - 75,686,624

1987 - The BSA began to address the five unacceptables in American society: drug abuse, hunger, child abuse, illiteracy, and youth unemployment. The nations largest anti-drug campaign was launched with the release of 8 million copies of the booklet "Drugs - A Deadly Game". Planning began for a food collection drive for 1988 to combat hunger. Fast Start training was introduced for pack and troop leaders.
Membership for year - 5,347,098 / Total to date - 78,353,590

1988 - The largest National Good Turn since World War II was held when "Scouting for Food" began in November. More than 60 million containers of food were collected. The two year Webelos program was introduced. Resident camping for Cub Scouts was approved.
Membership for year - 5,377,493 / Total to date - 80,589,269

1989 - The 12th National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill drew 33,000 Scouts and leaders. Separate patrols for new Boy Scouts was introduced. The 10th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook was scheduled for release in January 1990. The BSA continued it's attack in the "Unacceptables" and the Scouting for Food drive netted 72 million containers of food.
Membership for year - 5,363,593 / Total to date - 82,998,087

1990 - The 10th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook was released and the initial demand for a million copies brought the total circulation of the Handbook since 1910 to 33,860,000. The Onondaga District Old Goats hosted the Old Goat II camporee at Highland Forest. The Adirondack Scout Reservation was organized with Hiawatha and Otetiana Council's paricipating in this joint venture.
Membership for year - 5,445,899 / Total to date - 85,292,09

1991 - More than 1,000 BSA members attended the 17th World Jamboree in Korea. This year the Scouting For Food National Good Turn was the largest food collection effort in the United States.
Membership for year - 5,319,226 / Total to date - 87,158,867

1992 - A new urban emphasis encouraged Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops to form in low income areas. The six BSA regions were restructured into four regions. The Cub Scouts Academic program debuted. Boy Scout Summer camping attracted 70.1% of units and 55.2% of all Scouts -the highest percentage ever recorded. On November 9, William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt ,the greatest of all American scouts, died. He had lived in the council area for many years.
Membership for year - 5,339,660 / Total to date - 88,830,141

1993 - Cub Scout camping drew nearly 573,000 cubs. The National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, VA drew 26,000 Scouts and leaders. The BSA helped produce the first 20,000 copies of the Russian Scout Handbook. The James E. West Award was created.
Membership for year - 5,355,401 / Total to date - 90,525,242

1994 - It was a record year for Eagle Scouts, with 37,438 young men earning the award. The National Order of the Arrow Conference drew 6,000 members to Purdue University. Boy Scout Summer camping drew 55% of Scouts and 76% of all units. More than 5,700 leaders completed Woodbadge training.
Membership for year - 5,377,920 / Total to date - 92,114,035

1995 - Emphasis on traditional unit growth netted a membership increase in every major program area. Exploring membership reached an all time high, Cub Scouting launched "Supplemental Training for Cub Scout Leaders", and Boy Scouting completed a long range plan for maintaining a quality program.
Membership for year - 5,456,617 / Total to date - 94,442,767

1996 - Operation: Tiger Mania produced a 6.8% increase in Tiger Cub membership. New Rural Emphasis materials were introduced.
Membership for year - 5,618,806 / Total to date - 96,057,012

1997 - The 14th National Jamboree drew 35,000 Scouts and leaders. Long term camping reached it's highest level ever with 57.7% of all Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts participating.
Membership for year - 5,835,287 / Total to date - 97,677,373

1998 - 11th Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook was published. With 750,000 copies in the first printing the total circulation of the Boy Scout Handbook since 1911 is nearly 36,000,000. More than 4.4 million Scouts logged 52,908,746 hours of community service as part of "America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth" to provide more than 200 million hours of service by the year 2000. The Adirondack Scout Reservation was dissolved.
Membership for year - 6,186,657 / Total to date - 99,899,932

1999 - The total membership in the BSA passed the 100 million mark. The Seaway Valley Council and the Hiawatha Council merged to form the Hiawatha Seaway Council. Nischa Nitis Lodge #410 and Gosh WA Ono Lodge #120 merged to form Kayanernh-Kowa Lodge 219. The Adirondack Scout Camps was created consisting of Sabattis Scout Reservation, Camp Portaferry, and the ASC Treks.

2000 - The Onondaga District Old Goats hosted the Old Goat III camporee at Highland Forest.