The Mid-Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America, is based in Des Moines and serves a total of 27 Counties in Central and Southern Iowa. The Council is divided up into 3 geographic Districts. We serve over 9,000 members. Our programs range from Cub Scouts, serving boys and girls (ages 5-10), Scouts, BSA,  which began serving girls and boys in February of 2019, (ages 11-17), Ventures (boys and girls ages 14-20), Explorers ( boys and girls ages 12-20). The Boy Scouts are a volunteer driven organization. Thousands of adults volunteer their time, knowledge and dollars to support Scouting and provide a safe and proven program that develops leadership qualities in the youth that we serve. Character, citizenship, and physical well being are the aims of the Scouting Program. Scouting is fun with a purpose. Our program is delivered by Chartering Organizations such as neighborhood churches, service clubs and groups of citizens that agree to follow the guidelines and principles of Scouting. The Chartering Organizations agrees to provide a safe place to meet, select and approve adult leaders, and support the Scout Units. Our program provides the opportunity for our youth to learn and lead. The program is flexible enough to meet the needs of the youth in a variety of settings. Rural- urban, poverty- affluent, at risk or in a secure environment, regardless of race or ethnicity. Scouting leaders serve as positive role model for our youth. Scouts are exposed to problem solving, team building, leadership opportunities, experiences in STEM, and healthy living. As a Scout continues in the program they will assume more leadership in the planning, implementation, developing of the individual and group activities.

We serve youth ages 5 to 10 in Cub Scouts, youth ages 11-17 in Scouts, BSA., youth ages 14-20 in the Venture program and Exploring program. We are an all inclusive program that does not turn away any youth that wishes to be part of one of our programs. We served 400  youth in Story County in 2021. We also had over 300 adults registered in Adult leader positions. We currently have Scouting opportunities for all communities in Story county. Currently there are 10 Packs, 9 Troops, 2 Crews and they are chartered to 19 community organizations.

The Scouting Program positively impacts the youth we serve in many ways. A vibrant program that promotes learning while having fun keeps bringing the youth back to meetings and involved. The age appropriate Scout hand books promotes reading and the activities are laced with science, technology, engineering and math. As each Scout finds success in the advancement program, they strengthen their education while having fun. They may think they are just building a pinewood derby car, but they are actually learning about drag, measuring, drawing, friction, gravity and even how to paint a pleasing design. The Scouts who attend a summer camp get to revisit many of the subjects that they experienced in school. From learning to identify animals and insects around a pond,to learning about conservations efforts to keep the pond clean and trash free, they develop a passion for the outdoors and their community. The Scouting program promotes exercise and well being, physical, emotional and mental health are part of the program the Scouts experience.

Based on the Harris Interactive Study titled "The Values of Men & Boys in America", dramatic evidence reveals that if we retain a Scout for 4 years or more their adult life will be significantly improved. Life skills learned by remaining in Scouting equate to on time high school graduation, college graduates, higher paying jobs, community service minded individuals, and improved family and personal lifestyle choices.

A child that participates in Scouting for four or more years is:

• 15% more likely to graduate from high school
• 30% more likely to volunteer their time in the community
• 40% more likely to put the interest of others ahead of their own
• 50% more likely to have a leadership responsibility at their place of employment
• Twice as likely to graduate from college