Brief History

The founder of Boy Scouting, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, gave an address at the conclusion of the Fourth World Jamboree in Hungary, "You may look on that White Stag as the pure spirit of Scouting, springing forward and upward, ever leading you onward and upward to leap over difficulties." Baden Powell's farewell speech at the Fourth World Jamboree was the genesis of the principle of leadership development by design and the spirit and traditions that sets the White Stag program apart today.

Organized in 1958

Three Hungarian Scouts—Béla Bánáthy, Joe St. Clair, Uncle Paul Sujan, and a fourth American Scout, Maury Tripp—attended the Fourth World Jamboree in Gödöllö, Hungary in 1933. The three Hungarians would later independently emigrate to the United States and coincidentally meet on the Monterey Peninsula, where they met Maury Tripp. Béla was studying educational psychology and conceived of and started White Stag in 1958, assisted by the other three Scouts along with Fran Peterson. All five men were essential to the growth and national recognition that the White Stag Leadership Development program received.

Representing our desire to reach for goals beyond one’s perceived limitations and thus to grow as human being, we take inspiration from the Legend of the White Stag. The White Stag program founded in 1958 has involved and challenged thousands of youth in their personal growth.

A National Model

The White Stag program was the source for the leadership development model used by the Boy Scouts of America for both its adult Wood Badge and its junior leader training programs.

A Program for Youth by Youth

To provide our participants with effective, low-cost insurance, the White Stag program on the Monterey Peninsula operates as Learning for Life program, a Boy Scout Troop, and a Venture Crew on the Monterey Peninsula. It is sponsored by the White Stag Leadership Academy. These youth meet year-round to plan and prepare a week-long leadership program by youth for youth. Youth who attend are camps are automatically enrolled in one of these programs even if they are already a member of another Scout unit. Fees are included in registration.

Our Aims, Principles, Methods and Leadership Skills

We have defined a very specific set of aims, principles, and chracteristics that are unlike any other youth leadership development program. We teach eleven leadership skills in a week-long outdoor camp.

For a detailed background, see White Stag History Since 1933.