The Boy Scouts of America has always had as one of it's core themes a concern and care for America's outdoors. The BSA's national emphasis
program for its conservation and ecology programs is called "SOAR" - an acyromn meaning "Save Our American Resources". While SOAR started
in 1967, there has been conservation programs well before that date.
The William T. Hornaday Awards is one visible aspect of the BSA's concern for care of the outdoors. Merit badges dealing with Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation -- and two required merit badges, Conservation of Natural Resources and Environmental Science
-- is another way that the BSA gives Scouts the opportunity to understand their important role as citizens and caretakers of the outdoors.
But no program brought this fact home any better than the BSA's annual conservation project program.
Started in 1953, the BSA encouraged local Councils to develop conservation projects, first at their local Scout camp; and then outward into the community at large. Those Councils which created and carrried out projects received certificates and starting in 1954, were also able to purchase and distribute special temporary insignia which many Scouts and Scouters wore and cards which many Scouts carried in their wallets.
1954 National Conservation Good Turn pocket card and patch
Unfortunately, the program was short-lived, as in 1955, the number of Councils participating in the program dropped roughly in half; and by 1957, the program all but died.
There were several attempt to bring back the conservation/ecology program in the early 60s. It did not catch on until several public service messages, including the most famous and effective "crying Indian" commerical which hit the airways in the early 70s prompted change -- inside the BSA and outside the program.
Keep America Beautiful's famous 1971 Ad Campaign, featuring Iron Eyes Cody, the "Crying Indian"
The following was copied from Wikipedia: "Keep America Beautiful was founded in 1953 by consortium of American businesses (including founding member Philip Morris, Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola) nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and concerned individuals in reaction to the growing problem of highway litter that followed the construction of the Interstate Highway System, and an increasingly mobile and convenience-oriented American consumer. The original goal of the organization was to reduce litter through public service advertising (PSA) campaigns.
Keep America Beautiful conducted many local PSA campaigns early in its history. One of these early campaigns in Pennsylvania (PENNDOT), some attribute to having coined the term "litterbug", as opposed to the New York Transit Authority. Keep America Beautiful joined with the Ad Council in 1961 to dramatize the idea that every individual must help protect against the terrible effects litter has on the environment.
A popular television campaign theme in 1963, with copy written by Paul B. Gioni who also coined the word "litterbug" in 1947, was "Every Litter Bit Hurts". Another TV campaign theme appeared in 1964 featuring character Susan Spotless. In 1970 KAB began distributing a free brochure; more than 100,000 copies were requested within 4 months."
The BSA was part of the of the nonprofit organizations belonging to Keep America Beautiful. In 1967, the BSA announced "Project SOAR", a take-off on the building space race going on during that time. Earlier Project SOAR patches featured rockets and comets. In 1968, the BSA created an overall "program theme" for Project SOAR which remains as one of the most popular and visable programs -- and something which most if not all local Councils "bought in on".
First Project SOAR patch from 1968
The BSA kept the same design until 1972, changing the lettering to add the years 1970 and 1971.
Project SOAR coffeemug
The BSA also produced other supporting items such as jac-shirt/jacket patches, unit certificates and coffee mugs with the same Project SOAR design.
Project SOAR coffeemug
Local Councils participated in Project SOAR and many Councils either put together special Earth or Arbor Day activities or camporees with a conservation theme as demostrated by these emblems:
Project SOAR camporee patch from a Council in Michigan
Project SOAR Council activity emblem
In 1975, the BSA rebranded the Project SOAR program as "SOAR...for the Better Life!" (after the BSA's national theme used during that time "SCOUTING...for the Better Life!") and created a new design patch. Gone were the lifebuoys.
National SOAR patch from 1975
Although a national program emphais, the SOAR emblem is worn as a temporary item centered on the right pocket of the Scout or Scouter; the large six-inch jacket patch is worn similar to other large jacket emblems centered on the backside of the jac-shirt or jacket. The program continues today as a national program emphasis of the BSA.
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