Scouting Organizations

The Scouting America organization is a hierarchical structure from each scout to the top national director. This organizational structure helps keep the program consistent across the country and makes the movement of members from one scout unit to another possible.

• The smallest grouping is a Den for Cub Scouts or Patrol for Scouts BSA.
• The dens of boys or girls are combined into a Cub Scout Pack. Patrols are combined into a Scouts BSA Troop for boys, or for girls. Packs and Troops are called 'units' in the scouting organizational hierarchy.
• Many Packs and Troops form a District.
• Many Districts form a Council.
• Councils are grouped into Areas.
• Areas are grouped into Regions.
• Scouting America National Council is in Irving, Texas.

For detailed information about the organization within each scouting unit see:   Lion Scouts   Tiger Scouts   Wolf Scouts   Bear Scouts   Webelos   Arrow of Light   Scouts BSA  

These Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts units are similar to the organization in other countries, but they may have different names for Cub Scouts and Scouts as well as different age or grade breaks. Another major difference is whether scouting is for girls and boys, and mixed or separate.

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