A study by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that Adults who were in Scouting as kids had 18 percent lower odds of mood or anxiety disorders.

The study also noted the following “Possible Explanations and Implications” that truly show how Scouting prepares youth for career and life:

• Scouting offers a “system of progressive self-education based on: promises (laws), active learning, interactions within small groups and stimulating, individual-driven, self-learning through awards.”
• “Not being purely recreational and unstructured, as a youth sport club might be, [Scouting uses] activities to allow young people to learn ‘to know,’ ‘to be,’ ‘to do’ with adults assisting, rather than directing.”
• Continued self-learning enables former Scouts “to structure and run their adult lives in a way that is relatively more protective against mental ill health.”
• Scouting activities develop traits like “confidence, personality, motivation, charm, that are increasingly recognised as important for achieving adult social position.”
• Scouts spend more time outdoors, and “there is now evidence that exposure to natural outdoor environments is protective of mental health.”
• Physical activity is a big part of Scouting, and the “benefits of physical activity for protecting or improving mental health are well established.”

Starting June 1, 2026, Scouting America is offering a Military Family Fee Waiver for eligible youth.

Who Qualifies

Families with a parent or guardian serving on Active Duty, in the Reserve, or in the National Guard.

What’s Covered

The $85 national youth registration fee is waived during online registration. The Atlanta Area Council fee of $45 still applies, making the total registration cost $45 for new Scouts.

How to Access the Waiver

1. Begin the online registration process at BeAScout.org.
2. Select “Get Military Discount Code” at checkout.
3. Complete the verification process and receive your discount code.
4. Apply the code so the national registration fee is reduced to $0.