Asian American Focus

Some Scouters will be particularly interested in the value of Scouting in helping people become a part of the American "mainstream culture." Some Asian American leaders also recognize Scouting as a tool families may use to more easily assimilate into American life.

Scouting can be a bridge; but remember, a bridge is firmly anchored on both shores. Although immigrant families are eager to become a part of American society, they also want to hold on to their traditional values and heritage. Scouting can help people do both.

Within most ethnic groups, people move along a scale of assimilation from total absorption within their ethnic culture to the new culture. This process may take many years or even several generations. Local council and district leaders should recognize that different people will be at different places along this scale. Those with the strongest ties to their cultural backgrounds and who are most comfortable in their own languages will tend to be those who are the most recent immigrants, live in the inner city, and have the lowest income.

Many of the immigrants who have become a part of the American mainstream nonetheless retain some ties to the culture and tastes of their ethnic heritage. Scouters are wise to consider that people can legitimately be bicultural—can be loyal U.S. citizens and still retain elements of their ethnic background. We should not expect people to give up their heritage to be a part of Scouting or to be an accepted part of the American mainstream.

The Scouting program offers countless ways for helping people adjust to American ways. Scouting helps people find out about their community and its resources. Scouting helps children and youth get a good education and provides career awareness through the merit badge program. Scouting helps prepare for good citizenship and teaches healthy and safe practices. Scouting reduces racial tensions by providing a safe haven where Asians and non-Asians can meet and work together. These are all interests and concerns of the Asian American community.

Venture crews may be especially active in service projects in the Asian community, such as tutoring young children with their school work. A computer engineering post can introduce young Asian Americans to the computer engineering field. A Venture crew in Southern California helps collect and distribute canned food for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The local council and/or district and members of the Asian American population can explore these countless opportunities together.

The Scouting program also offers ways to help people preserve their cultural heritage. For example, a Cub Scout pack in San Jose, California, combines the blue and gold banquet with a Chinese New Year celebration. The activities include a Dragon Dance, exchanging gifts, and praying for their ancestors as well as celebrating Scouting Anniversary Week.

Other Scouting activities, such as Cub Scout achievements and Boy Scout merit badges (including Citizenship in the World, Family Life, and Genealogy), provide a wider understanding of family traditions and cultural heritage.

The world jamboree, held once every four years, is another way that Scouts can celebrate the wonderful richness of their own and other peoples' cultural heritage.

Asian American Organizational Endorsement

Resources

The National Council makes available a wide variety of literature, videos, and other support materials.

Materials Available at No Cost

Use the Bin Resources Order Form available at your local council service center.
 

Asian

11-079Asian Clip Art.
11-082 Asian American Emphasis in Your Local Council: a Guide for Council Staff and Volunteers.
11-194 The Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award. The purpose of the Asian Spirit of Scouting Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Asian American youth.
 

Cambodian

11-060 The Aims and Methods of Boy Scouting.
11-068 Be a Boy Scout Today!
11-069 Be a Cub Scout Today!
 

Chinese

11-037 The Aims and Methods of Boy Scouting.
11-045 Cub Scout Highlights. Brochure.
11-053 Scouting: America's #1 Values Program for Youth. Brochure.
11-085 Recruiting Poster.
11-116 Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Viewer's Guide.
11-127 Boy Scout Fast Start Training. Video.
11-161 Recruiting Flyer.
 

Hmong

11-057 The Aims and Methods of Boy Scouting.
11-058 Be a Cub Scout Today!
11-059 Be a Boy Scout Today!
11-151 Recruiting Poster.
11-162 Recruiting Flyer.
11-164 Scouting: #1 Values Program for Youth. Brochure.
 

Laotian

11-073 Be a Boy Scout Today!
11-089 Be a Cub Scout Today!
 

Korean

11-038 The Aims and Methods of Boy Scouting.
11-084 Recruiting Poster.
11-128 Boy Scout Fast Start Training. Video.
11-160 Recruiting Flyer.
 

Vietnamese

11-054 Scouting: #1 Values Program for Youth. Brochure.
11-062 The Values of Men and Boys in America. Brochure.
11-066 Vietnamese Scout Songbook.: Music and lyrics to an original collection of more than 300 Vietnamese Scouting songs. Limit one.
11-101 Scout Games Book.
11-083 Recruiting Poster.
11-115 Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Viewer's Guide.
11-129 Boy Scout Fast Start Training. Video.
11-163 Recruiting Flyer.
11-172 Boy Scout Advancement. Mini-handbook.
11-220 Ta¯i Lie”u ‹o· Vui ‹e HoÔc (Vietnamese Culture Book).

Cub Scout Meeting Plans These valuable program aids for Cub Scout leaders eliminate the time and effort of researching other resources. Each manual contains two months of detailed plans in English and Vietnamese for den, pack, and leaders' meetings.
11-106Cub Scout Meeting Plans—Bobcat and Wolf.
11-107Cub Scout Meeting Plans—Wolf in a Den.
11-108Cub Scout Meeting Plans—All About People.
11-109Cub Scout Meeting Plans—Who Am I?
11-119Cub Scout Meeting Plans—Our Neighborhood.

Boy Scout Meeting Plans
11-110Boy Scout Meeting Plans—Cooking.
11-111Boy Scout Meeting Plans—First Aid.
11-113Boy Scout Meeting Plans—Citizenship.
11-114Boy Scout Meeting Plans—Camping.
11-118Boy Scout Meeting Plans—Conservation.
 

Materials Available for a Modest Charge

Use the standard Supply Division order form, available at your local council service center. (Prices subject to change.)
AV-07V005 Preserving a Tradition: Scouting for Indo-Chinese Families. This video helps Indo-Chinese adults picture themselves in Scouting. It shows how Scouting can help their children preserve their heritage while participating in the American mainstream. Narrated in English, the video includes dramatic testimonies in Lao, Hmong, Cambodian, and Vietnamese. Released 1990. 17:12 minutes. $15.95.
AV-07V016 Scouting in the Vietnamese Community. This video is bilingual, in English and Vietnamese. Testimonials are presented by Vietnamese Scout leaders and parents who have had successful experiences with the BSA program. for presentations to parents, community leaders, and prospective chartered organizations. a companion brochure, No. 11-054, is also available. Released 1997. 13:30 minutes. $15.95.
AV-07V017 Scouting in the Chinese American Community. This video is bilingual, in English and Chinese. Testimonials are presented by Chinese American Scout leaders and parents with successful experiences in the BSA program. For presentations to parents, community leaders, and prospective chartered organizations. a companion brochure, No. 11-053, is also available. Released 1997. 13:54 minutes. $15.95.
AV-07V019 Scouting in the Korean Community. This video will help councils market Scouting in the Korean community. Released 1999. $15.95.
The Boy Scouts of America BSA http://www.scouting.org