Every Scout has heard the words “Do a Good Turn Daily.” This simple slogan is more than a reminder; it’s a way of life that guides how Scouts treat others and care for their surroundings. Understanding where this phrase came from helps explain why it still stands at the heart of Scouting today.
In this article, you’ll discover the real story behind the Scout slogan, from its roots in early Scouting to the lessons it still teaches. We’ll explore the people, moments, and ideas that turned these words into a tradition that continues to inspire Scouts everywhere.
The Origin Story: From London Streets to American Scouting
The Unknown Scout’s Good Turn
In the fall of 1909, American businessman William D. Boyce found himself lost in London’s notorious fog. The 51-year-old newspaper publisher from Chicago was searching for an office in the city center. Lost in the thick London fog, he stopped under a street lamp to get his bearings when a young boy appeared and offered to guide him.
When Boyce reached into his pocket to tip the helpful youth, the boy politely refused. “No thank you, sir,” the Scout reportedly said. “I am a Scout, and I was just doing my good turn.” This simple act of service without expectation of reward would change the course of youth development in America forever.
The encounter led Boyce directly to the headquarters of the British Scout movement, where he met with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting. Baden-Powell explained the principles and methods behind his youth program, which emphasized character development, outdoor skills, and service to others. Boyce was so impressed by what he learned that he decided to bring this transformative movement across the Atlantic.
On February 8, 1910, Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America in Washington, D.C., creating what would become one of the largest youth organizations in American history. The founding story demonstrates how one Scout’s commitment to doing good—without seeking recognition or reward—can create ripples that last for generations.
To understand the full impact of this founding moment, watch this historical documentary that traces the Unknown Scout’s influence on American youth development:
The video explains how Boyce’s London encounter directly inspired the creation of the BSA (0:45-1:09), and shows how his discussions with other youth development leaders led to the organization’s national incorporation (1:30-1:40). The documentary also highlights the enduring impact of the BSA, which continues to serve millions of young people today (2:01-2:15).
The Power of One Good Turn
The Unknown Scout’s single act of kindness demonstrates a fundamental truth about leadership: small actions can have enormous consequences. This nameless boy had no idea that his simple good turn would lead to the creation of an organization that would shape millions of young lives. His story shows how living by Scout values in ordinary moments can create change far greater than we might expect.
At Gilwell Park, the international Scouting training center in England, a bronze statue of a buffalo stands as a permanent tribute to the Unknown Scout. The buffalo, a symbol of strength and service, represents the ripple effect that one person’s commitment to doing good can have on the world. Every time a Scout performs a good turn today, they’re continuing the legacy that began with that anonymous boy in the London fog.
The Unknown Scout’s story also reveals something important about the nature of true service. He didn’t help Boyce because he expected recognition or reward but because it was the right thing to do. This principle of selfless service became one of the cornerstones of American Scouting, embedded in the Scout Oath’s promise to “help other people at all times.”
For today’s Scouts, the Unknown Scout’s example provides a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t always about grand gestures or formal positions. Sometimes the most significant leadership happens in quiet moments when we choose to help someone in need, refuse recognition for doing what’s right, or simply live up to our values when no one is watching. The boy who guided Boyce through the fog couldn’t have known he was helping to launch a movement that would teach leadership skills to generations of young Americans, but that’s exactly what happened.
How “Do a Good Turn Daily” Became the Scout Slogan
The phrase “Do a Good Turn Daily” emerged from Baden-Powell’s fundamental belief that helping others should feel like a natural, joyful part of everyday life, not something forced or burdensome. When Baden-Powell established the Scout movement in 1908, he understood that character develops through consistent small actions rather than grand gestures. The slogan captured this philosophy perfectly, encouraging young people to look for opportunities to serve others as part of their daily routine.
The slogan quickly found its way into early Scouting publications and handbooks throughout the 1910s. By 1913, BSA literature consistently reminded boys to “do a Good Turn daily” to someone in need, emphasizing that these acts of service required no recognition or reward. The 1959 Boy Scout Handbook provided clear guidance on what this meant in practice, explaining that good turns could range from helping an elderly neighbor carry groceries to simply holding a door open for someone.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, the slogan took on special significance through the work of Robert E. Denny, a 1909 Davidson College graduate who served as the first Scout executive of Greensboro Council. As communities struggled with illness and isolation, Denny encouraged local Scouts to live out their slogan by performing daily acts of kindness for families affected by the pandemic. His leadership demonstrated how the simple phrase could guide meaningful action during times of crisis.
The slogan’s power lies in its connection to the broader Scout Oath and Law. When Scouts promise to “help other people at all times,” the daily good turn becomes the practical expression of that commitment. Rather than waiting for organized service projects or special occasions, Scouts learn to recognize everyday opportunities to make a positive difference in their communities.
| Year | Person/Event | Contribution to the Slogan |
|---|---|---|
| 1908 | Baden-Powell | Encouraged daily good turns in Scouting |
| 1909 | Robert E. Denny graduates | Later promotes slogan during 1918 pandemic |
| 1910 | William D. Boyce | Founds BSA, inspired by Unknown Scout |
| 1913 | Early BSA publications | Slogan appears in magazines and handbooks |
| 1959 | Boy Scout Handbook | Defines and explains daily good turns |
The genius of “Do a Good Turn Daily” as a slogan lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Unlike complex philosophical concepts, this four-word phrase gives Scouts a concrete, achievable goal that builds character through repetition and habit. Every Scout can find ways to help others, regardless of age, resources, or circumstances. This democratic approach to service has helped millions of young people develop the mindset that serving others is both a privilege and a responsibility.
The Slogan’s Lasting Impact on Scouts
Building Character Through Daily Acts
The slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily” transforms service from an occasional event into a daily practice that shapes character. When Scouts look for ways to help every day, they develop what researchers call “prosocial behavior patterns”—when we automatically notice needs and take action. This doesn’t require grand gestures or formal volunteer hours. A good turn might be helping a neighbor carry groceries, picking up litter on the walk to school, or simply listening when a friend needs to talk.
Over time, these small daily actions create something much larger than their individual parts. Each good turn strengthens the mental pathways that make helping others feel natural rather than forced. Scouts who practice this slogan consistently report that looking for ways to help becomes second nature. They start noticing opportunities everywhere because their brains are trained to spot them.
The key insight about tracking your daily good turns comes down to honest measurement. Many Scouts find it helpful to keep a simple journal or phone note of their daily good turns. This quiet habit makes it easier to spot patterns, celebrate progress, and inspire new ideas for helping others. When you write down “helped mom with dishes” or “held the door for someone with crutches,” you’re not just recording actions. You’re training your brain to recognize these moments as meaningful.
Tradition and Community
Scout units that embrace the slogan’s spirit focus on frequent, informal good turns rather than waiting for big service projects. This approach keeps the tradition alive in everyday life and creates a culture where helping others becomes the group’s normal behavior. When Scouts regularly share their daily good turns during meetings, it creates what researchers call “positive peer influence.” Hearing other people’s stories makes people want to contribute their own stories.
The most effective Scout units make good turn sharing a regular part of their meetings. Some troops dedicate five minutes at the start of each meeting for Scouts to share recent good turns. Others use a “good turn board” where Scouts can post notes about helpful acts they’ve witnessed from fellow troop members. These practices reinforce that service isn’t something you do occasionally; it’s who you are.
This community approach also helps Scouts understand that good turns don’t need to be dramatic or time-consuming. When one Scout shares that they helped their little sister with homework, it gives others permission to recognize their own small acts of service as valuable contributions.
Modern Examples
Today’s Scouts continue the tradition through both traditional and digital means. They help elderly neighbors with technology problems, organize neighborhood cleanup days, and volunteer at local food banks. Social media has also created new opportunities for good turns. Scouts share positive messages, help classmates with homework through group chats, and organize community events through online platforms.
Many Scouts have adapted the slogan to address modern challenges. During recent years, Scouts have delivered groceries to quarantined neighbors, created care packages for healthcare workers, and organized virtual activities for isolated community members. The core principle remains the same: look for ways to help every day, regardless of the circumstances.
The video below shows how Scouts across the country are living out this timeless slogan in their daily lives, sharing personal examples of how small acts create lasting community impact.
This video features Scout leaders and youth discussing how daily good turns build character and strengthen communities (0:35). The discussion emphasizes how small acts accumulate into significant positive impact, and includes practical advice for Scout units to encourage regular good turn sharing (2:53). The video also covers the importance of documenting service activities to track progress and preserve unit history (10:25).
The slogan’s lasting power lies in its simplicity and universality. Whether a Scout lives in a busy city or rural community, whether they’re dealing with personal challenges or celebrating successes, there are always opportunities to help others. This consistency makes “Do a Good Turn Daily” more than just words. It becomes a framework for building character through action.
Why “Do a Good Turn Daily” Still Matters
A Living Tradition
The “Do a Good Turn Daily” slogan carries the same weight today as it did when Robert E. Denny inspired Scouts during challenging times. The message remains crystal clear: kindness and service are always needed, regardless of what’s happening in the world around us. Whether facing a global pandemic, natural disasters, or everyday community challenges, this simple slogan continues to guide Scouts toward meaningful action.
History shows us that Scouts have consistently answered the call during difficult periods. During the 1918 flu pandemic, Scout troops organized to help deliver supplies and support their communities. More recently, Scouts have stepped up during COVID-19, organizing food drives, making masks, and finding creative ways to help neighbors while maintaining safety protocols. The slogan thrives because it gives Scouts a clear direction when the world feels uncertain.
What makes this tradition so powerful is its adaptability. The specific actions may change with the times, but the underlying principle remains constant. A Scout in 1910 might have helped a neighbor carry groceries, while a Scout today might teach an elderly person how to video chat with family. The technology changes, but the spirit of service stays the same.
Personal Growth and Leadership
Practicing daily good turns creates a feedback loop that builds character in ways that formal training simply cannot match. When Scouts look for opportunities to help others every single day, they develop pattern recognition for spotting needs and solutions. You’re training your brain to think like a leader who takes responsibility for making things better.
The daily practice develops empathy through direct experience. You can’t help someone without understanding their situation, and you can’t understand their situation without listening and observing carefully. Over time, this creates Scouts who naturally consider how their actions affect others, a cornerstone of effective leadership. The Good Turn concept is recognized as a major part of Scouting’s personal growth method because it transforms abstract values into concrete daily habits.
The leadership skills that emerge from this practice are remarkably practical. Scouts learn to assess situations quickly, identify what needs to be done, and take action without waiting for someone else to give permission. They discover that leadership often means doing the less exciting work that others overlook. These aren’t theoretical leadership principles learned from a book. They’re skills developed through hundreds of small decisions to help rather than ignore.
To master the art of daily good turns, be honest about the relationship between your specific actions and their actual impact. It’s not enough to have good intentions; you need to find the inputs that create real positive outputs. If your good turn doesn’t actually help someone, adjust your approach. If you’re struggling to find opportunities, change where and how you’re looking. This mechanical view of service—focusing on what actually works rather than what feels good—builds Scouts who create lasting positive change in their communities.
Quick Takeaways
- “Do a Good Turn Daily” began with the earliest days of Scouting and was brought to America by William D. Boyce. The slogan traces its roots directly back to Lord Baden-Powell’s original vision for the Scout movement in 1908. When Chicago businessman William D. Boyce encountered Scouting during his visit to England, he was so impressed by the character and helpfulness of a young Scout who guided him through London’s fog that he decided to bring the movement to America.
- The slogan is rooted in Baden-Powell’s vision and was promoted by leaders like Robert E. Denny during times of crisis. Baden-Powell believed that daily acts of service would build character in young people while strengthening their communities. This simple yet powerful concept became one of Scouting’s two core mottoes, alongside “Be Prepared,” reflecting the fundamental character-building purpose of the entire program.
- It encourages Scouts to help others every day, building character and community. “Do a Good Turn Daily” makes leadership and kindness accessible. It doesn’t require big gestures or elaborate planning. Whether it’s helping a neighbor carry groceries, assisting a classmate with homework, or simply holding a door open for someone, these daily acts of kindness create a habit of service that extends far beyond the Scout years.
- Keeping a record of daily good turns can help Scouts stay motivated and aware of their impact. Many successful Scouts have found that tracking their good turns in a journal or notebook helps them stay consistent with this practice. Recording these acts of service serves multiple purposes: it creates accountability, helps Scouts recognize patterns in their service, and provides concrete examples they can reference during advancement discussions or Eagle Scout interviews. The simple act of writing down “helped Mrs. Johnson with her yard work” or “tutored my younger brother in math” reinforces the positive impact these actions have on both the Scout and their community.
Frequently Asked Questions About “Do a Good Turn Daily”
What does “Do a Good Turn Daily” mean?
“Do a Good Turn Daily” means actively looking for opportunities to help others every single day, whether through small acts of kindness or larger service projects. The word “turn” comes from an old English phrase meaning a helpful act or favor. This motto encourages you to build a habit of service that becomes as natural as brushing your teeth.
The slogan encourages Scouts to move beyond just avoiding harm and instead actively seek ways to make someone’s day better. This could be as simple as holding a door open, helping a classmate with homework, or volunteering at a local food bank.
Who started the slogan?
The concept originated with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the worldwide Scouting movement. However, it became central to American Scouting after William D. Boyce’s famous encounter with an unknown Scout in London in 1909. That Scout’s good turn—helping Boyce find his way through the fog without accepting payment—directly led to the founding of the Boy Scouts of America.
Boyce was so impressed by this act of service that he sought out Baden-Powell and brought the Scouting program to America. The slogan was formally adopted by the Boy Scouts of America and has remained unchanged for over a century, making it one of the most enduring principles in American youth development.
Why is the slogan important to Scouts?
The slogan serves as a daily reminder to live out the values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law through concrete action. It transforms abstract ideals like being helpful, kind, and trustworthy into a practical daily habit. Rather than just memorizing these values, Scouts practice them through consistent service.
Research from character development studies shows that daily service habits build empathy, leadership skills, and community awareness. For Eagle Scout candidates, this daily practice becomes the foundation for larger service projects and leadership roles. The slogan essentially turns character development into a daily discipline rather than an occasional activity.
Can a good turn be something small?
Absolutely! Some of the most meaningful good turns are simple, everyday acts of kindness. Baden-Powell himself emphasized that good turns don’t need to be dramatic or time-consuming. Opening a door for someone carrying packages, helping a neighbor bring in groceries, or simply listening to a friend who’s having a tough day all count as good turns.
Consistency and intentionality are important. A Scout who does one small good turn every day for a year will have made 365 positive impacts on their community. These small acts often create ripple effects. The person you help may be inspired to help someone else, multiplying your positive impact.
How can I remember to do a good turn every day?
Many successful Scouts use a simple tracking system, such as keeping a daily journal or setting a phone reminder. Some write down their good turn each evening as part of their reflection time. Others set a morning reminder to actively look for opportunities throughout the day.
One effective approach is conducting what leadership experts call a “post-action audit” each evening. Ask yourself: “What good turn did I do today? How could I have been more helpful?” This systematic reflection transforms daily service from a random occurrence into an intentional habit that builds both character and awareness.
Some Scouts find it helpful to identify regular opportunities in their routine, such as helping with dishes at home, offering to carry something heavy for a classmate, or volunteering to clean up after troop meetings. When service becomes woven into your daily patterns, it requires less mental energy to remember and execute.
Do good turns have to be for people I don’t know?
Not at all! Good turns for family members, friends, and fellow Scouts are just as valuable as helping strangers. In fact, it’s often easier to start building the habit by serving people in your immediate circle. Helping your parents with household chores, assisting a patrol member with a skill they’re struggling with, or supporting a friend through a difficult time all qualify as meaningful good turns.
Good turns should be done “without expectation of reward or recognition.” Whether you’re helping a stranger or your best friend, the motivation should be genuine care for others’ wellbeing rather than personal gain.
What if I forget to do a good turn some days?
Missing a day doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it means you’re human. The goal is building a long-term habit of service, not achieving perfection. If you realize at the end of the day that you haven’t done a good turn, you can often still find a small opportunity before bedtime, like sending an encouraging text to a friend or helping clean up around the house.
More importantly, use missed days as learning opportunities. What prevented you from noticing chances to help? Were you too focused on your own concerns? Too busy with activities? This reflection helps you identify patterns and adjust your approach to make service more natural and consistent.
Remember that the slogan is “Do a Good Turn Daily,” not “Do a Perfect Good Turn Daily.” The emphasis is on the daily practice of looking for ways to serve others, which gradually builds the character traits that will serve you well as you work toward Eagle Scout and into adult life.
