The boy scouts were conceived as a way to overcome the perceived danger of

The Boy Scouts were conceived in Britain by Robert Baden-Powell in 1908 as a way to overcome the perceived dangers of moral decline.  Characterized by a focus on outdoor activities, swearing to an oath of loyalty to God and country, and wearing a uniform, the movement spread to the US in 1910.  The US effort was led by William Boyce who perceived a weakness in American boys due to a changing culture and the decline of patriotism.