Who We Are
We are the Scouts (youth), Volunteer Scouters (adult leaders) and Professional Scouters (BSA employees) of northern DeKalb County, Georgia. We are members of the Boy Scouts of America, a member national organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
About Scouting
BSA Mission Statement: "The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law."
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."
Scout Law: "A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent."
The Boy Scouts of America — incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916 — provides an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness. As a result, more than 100 million Americans have experienced the traditional, values-based program offered by the BSA.
Scouting is based on life skills education, leadership development, citizenship, and values training. Its unique methods of program presentation are designed to help build youth with strong character who are physically fit and prepared to be good citizens.
"In the 30 years that I've been doing this for a living, I've never had a parent say to me, 'I regretted the time I spent with my son or child in Scouting.'"
Roy L. Williams
Chief Scout Executive 2000-2007
Boy Scouts of America
What is the District and How Does It Function?
District Functions
Scouting in the Atlanta Area Council's districts is administered through a voluntary association of citizens which includes members at large and representatives of the organizations chartered by the Boy Scouts of America to use the Scouting program. Four major functions are involved in achieving the purposes of the district: finance, membership, and program, (all administered through a volunteer District Chairman), and direct unit service (under the volunteer District Commissioner).Finance
Each district within the council has finance goals based on a fair-share formula. Financing within the district is by participation in the campaigns conducted by the fundraising committees of the council. Successful financing of the council is the direct result of conducting the fundraising programs within each district.
Membership
The Federal charter from Congress charges the Boy Scouts of America to make its program available to all who are eligible, while recognizing that young people must become members in order to derive the benefits available from the Scouting program. Those who administer this program serve by actively recruiting new chartered organizations (our partners) and new members
Program
Volunteers who work within the program function concentrate on one or more specific areas including camping/outdoor activities and civic service, training, and advancement and recognition.
Unit service
The primary objective of the Commissioner's staff is to make good Scouting happen in the lives of youth members. As friends and counselors of unit leaders, unit commissioners provide the resources of the district and council to the units they serve and the chartered organizations which operate those units through charters from the Boy Scouts of America. Service to units is critical to unit success and longevity
Monthly District Committee Meetings
The Hightower Trail District Committee meets on the first Thursday of every month from 7:30-9:00pm at Briarcliff United Methodist Church, in the rear building on the top floor.
A Message from Our District Chairman
Greetings Scouts, Scouters, Parents and Friends of Scouting:
The Hightower Trail District (marked in red on the map at right) is part of the Atlanta Area Council. As your District Chairman, I’d like to say it is an honor and a privilege to lead the District. I have been a Scouter for many years, and now having my own young children in the program underscores for me the importance of the many dedicated adult volunteers who give of themselves each week night, and on many, many weekends. To those of you who give so many hours of your time and your resources to this program sincere “thank you!” Scouting is certainly a passion for me. I want each and every eligible boy and young person in our District to be able to participate to the fullest in a robust and meaningful program.
