July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Richard M. Lerner, Rachel M. Hershberg, Jun Wang, et al. Promoting Character Through BSA Cub Scout Programs: The Sample Case of the Cradle of Liberty Council “Character and Merit Project” (CAMP)

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Acknowledgements

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. IARYD Research Team Brian M. Burkhard, M.S. Robey B. Champine, M.S., M.P.H. Paul A. Chase, Ph.D. Kaitlin A. Ferris, Ph.D. Rachel M. Hershberg, Ph.D. Lacey J. Hilliard, Ph.D. Richard M. Lerner, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator) Caroline Stack, B.A. Jun Wang, Ph.D. Daniel J. A. Warren, M.A.

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Research Aims of CAMP Do BSA programs promote character development among participating youth? If so, how do BSA programs promote such character development?

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Study Design  Measured multiple groups five times between 2012 and 2014  Quantitative and qualitative methods were used  Used the structure of BSA for initial data collection: Council  Adult Leaders  Scouts

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Participating Districts Continental General Nash Lafayette Baden-Powel l Washington Roosevelt ScoutReach Triune Conestoga Minquas Constellation Northern

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. CAMP Participants with Quantitative Data. Total Youth in Study: 2650 Total BSA Youth: 1787 Non-ScoutReach: 1524 ScoutReach: 263 Total Comparison Group Youth: 863

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. We Developed a NEW Measure of Character  The Assessment of Character in Children and Early Adolescents (ACCEA).  ACCEA works well with Scouts, non-Scout boys, and non-Scout girls. Also works well with ethnic minority youth from low-income communities (for example, ScoutReach participants)

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. The ACCEA Measure of Character AttributesDefinitions/Sample Items Obedience Participants’ self-reported levels of positive conduct or behavior (emphasizing behaving in accordance with rules for conduct). “I act the way I am supposed to.” Reverence Participants’ religious activities. “I like to read or listen to stories from my religion.” Cheerfulness How often participants experienced positive feelings. “I am happy.” Kindness A participant’s quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate to others. “When my friends are upset, I try to make them feel better.” Thriftiness Participants’ effective use of goods and services, and restraint in acquiring them, to achieve longer-term goals. “I save my money for something special.” Hopeful Future Expectation Participants’ possession of a positive outlook about their life in the future. “I will have a happy family.” Trustworthiness A participant’s perception of whether others believe they can place their trust in him or her. “I can be counted on to tell the truth.” Helpfulness Participants’ ability to provide assistance or to be useful. “I help people in my family.”

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. DID BSA PROGRAM PARTICIPATION PROMOTE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE FIVE TIMES OF DATA COLLECTION?

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  Time 1: No difference between Scouts and non-Scouts.  Time 5: Scouts reported significant increases in cheerfulness, helpfulness, kindness, obedience, trustworthiness, and hopeful future expectations. BUT  Non-Scout boys reported no significant increases in any of the character attributes.

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. What values do Scouts and non- Scouts consider as the most important?

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  Scouts are significantly more likely than non- Scouts to embrace other- oriented values, including helping others, and doing the right thing.

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. How Does BSA Program Participation Promote Character Development? Intensity Duration Engagement

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Intensity High Intensity = “Almost Always” Participates  “Exemplar Scouts” (54%): “Almost always” participated in weekly meetings and weekend activities  “Non-Exemplar Scouts” (46%): “Sometimes” or “rarely” participated in weekly meetings and weekend activities

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  Time 1: No significant differences in character attributes between Exemplar and Non-Exemplar Scouts.  Time 4: Exemplar Scouts were significantly higher in kindness, thriftiness, trustworthiness, helpfulness, hopeful future expectation, academic competence, intentional self- regulation, and connection to nature. Intensity and Character Development

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  The number of months each participant had been involved in Scouting when data were collected.  Duration represents persistent involvement in a YD program over time. Duration

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  Scouts who have remained in the program longer reported having higher levels of trustworthiness, school competence, intentional self- regulation, and hopeful future expectation. Duration and Character Development

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  Youth interest, enjoyment, and commitment to the program. Individual engagement Pack-level engagement Engagement

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al.  Individual-level engagement was significantly associated with cheerfulness, hopeful future expectation, helpfulness, kindness, and intentional self-regulation.  Pack-level engagement enhanced the effects of individual engagement on character development, especially for highly engaged youth. Engagement and Character Development

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Program Participation and the Character Development of Scouts Intensity Duration Engagement Character development

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Findings about ScoutReach Youth Higher levels of engagement associated with higher religious reverence, cheerfulness, intentional self- regulation, kindness, thriftiness, hopeful future expectation, trustworthiness, and helpfulness.

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. Conclusions and Next Steps  Scouting positively impacts youth character development, particularly for Scouts with longer duration, greater intensity, and higher engagement in the program.  We need to “dig deeper” into the ways in which BSA programs promote character among ScoutReach youth.

July 30, MCEC NTS Richard M. Lerner, et al. THANK YOU !