Film Review: "Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America" (2023).

From the director of Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet comes Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America. This documentary film directed by Brian Knappenberger. Survivors, whistleblowers and experts recount the Boy Scouts of America’s decadeslong cover-up of sexual abuse cases and its heartbreaking impact.

In 1910, The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts), was founded. It is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about seven-hundred and sixty-two thousand participants. Since then, about one-hundred and ten million Americans have participated in BSA programs. BSA is part of the international Scout Movement and became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. The stated mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law." Youth are trained in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking. To further these outdoor activities, the BSA has four high-adventure bases: Northern Tier (Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario), Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Florida, US Virgin Islands, and Bahamas), and Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia), as well as nearly one hundred separate camps and reservations specifically dedicated to scouts. The main Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for ages five to eleven years, Scouts BSA for ages ten to eighteen, Venturing for ages fourteen through twenty-one, and Sea Scouts for ages fourteen through twenty-one. The BSA operates Scouting by chartering local organizations, such as churches, clubs, civic associations, or educational organizations, to implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. Units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both paid professional Scouters and volunteers. Additionally, Learning for Life is an affiliate that provides in-school and career education. In 2019, the Boy Scouts of America renamed its flagship program, Boy Scouts, to Scouts BSA to reflect its policy change allowing girls to join separate, gender-specific troops.

Netflix is ensuring that the BSA's disturbing story will be known by millions – and while some may be hesitant to watch due to the disturbing nature of its conflict, it’s a show that demands to be seen. Driven by a litany of talking heads from all corners of the justice world - not to forget to mention from the organisation itself, the film is an exposé about institutional failure. As a true journalistic effort, the film doesn't shy away from the messiness of the truth, especially when efforts to prevent another incident like the scandals with the BSA prove not enough.

Simon says Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America receives:

Also, see my review for Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet.