Explorer Scouts

[Apache Bob]

In our Council we hear about the Cubs Scouts, the Boy Scouts, and the Venture Scouts all the time. All the activities and news is about them.
We have a large number of Explorer Scouts but not much is heard about them or what they are doing. They are just there but are not part of the main stream of the Council.
What is it like in your Council?

[1st Mate]

Thats because they are no longer Explorer Scouts, they are just Explorers.

Exploring is a program within Learning for Life, a separate but related corporation from the BSA. The BSA scouting program now includes what are known as the 3 "traditional" programs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing (which also includes Sea Scouts).

The Learning for Life program members are not Scouts and they have very different membership requirements than the BSA's traditional programs.

[Apache Bob]

1st Mate - thanks for getting back to me.
The reason for my question goes back to the fact that in the 50's I was an Explorer (that sure dates me, doesn't it). So any time I hear the word explorering my mind makes note of it.
Several days ago I received a membership report from my Council. It showed the number of Learning for Life Explorers in our Council. We have a professional who works with the Explorers and on the Council Committee we have a vice-president of Learning for Life/Explorers. On the Council website under the Scouting programs there is a section on Explorers.
I remember some years back something about a law suit in the Chicago area about where city/country departments sponsered Explorer Posts in areas such as police, fire, and other career areas. The group suited because Explorers used the word "God" in their oath and were sponsered by goverment departments. If I got the story correctly, after a period of time the BSA started the Venture program and the Explorers were moved into a different area.
If I understand your reply to me, then the Boy Scouts of America and the Learning for Life/Explorers are really two seperate organizations but both work together as one? When they give figures on the boys served do they add them together or keep them apart?
I tryed to google up Explorers but could not find a website for them.
Thanks again for helping me. Everything I have heard and been told about the "new" Explorers has been good.

[WB Bear]

Bob the numbers are not reflected in BSA numbers. They are reported in the Learning for Life program. Learning for Life is a corporation affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America that offers career and character education programs.
Here is the link for the program. http://www.learning-for-life.org/