Scouting Principles

The Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Cub Scout motto give Scouts a shared set of ideals. Cub Scouts learn what these words mean by practicing them at home, at school, in the Pack, and in the community.

Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

The Scout Oath has three main commitments:

• Duty to God and country: Follow your family's beliefs, be a responsible family member and citizen, and respect the law.
• Duty to other people: Look for ways to help, serve cheerfully, and make the community better.
• Duty to self: Care for your body, keep learning, and act with honesty and strong character.

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

• Trustworthy: Tell the truth and keep promises.
• Loyal: Support family, friends, leaders, school, and country.
• Helpful: Look for opportunities to assist others.
• Friendly: Welcome others and be a friend.
• Courteous: Use good manners and respect people.
• Kind: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
• Obedient: Follow appropriate rules and instructions.
• Cheerful: Approach responsibilities with a positive attitude.
• Thrifty: Use time, money, property, and natural resources carefully.
• Brave: Do what is right even when it is difficult.
• Clean: Care for your body, mind, home, and community.
• Reverent: Respect your family's faith and the beliefs of others.

Cub Scout Motto

Do Your Best.

The goal is steady effort and growth, not perfection. Families can help Scouts connect these principles to everyday choices and celebrate when they put them into practice.

See Scouting America's Cub Scout Aims and Methods for the official Oath, Law, and program framework.