“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.”

That is the Scout Oath, a vow taken by every Scout who joins a troop, and regularly thereafter. The oath makes reference to the Scout Law, which lists 12 character traits every Scout must uphold: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

The Scouts lay that foundation through a number of activities, especially outdoor activities, that build other skills such as survival, cooking, automotive care, and more, according to a recent story on local Scouts by News Lifestyles Editor Darby Hinkley.

The Scouts have gone through a number of changes in recent years, but we believe the values spelled out in the oath, the character built through the law, and the skills developed through Scouting activities, remain strong in troops throughout the nation.

For Scouts who actively participate with a troop, all of those values will stay with him or her throughout his or her entire life. They’ll affect their work, their relationships, their activism in their community.

A signup event for local troops happens at 6:30 p.m. today at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 727 2nd Ave. Scouting is open to first- through 12th-graders.

We encourage everyone to give it a try.