How to live it
- 1Know the slogan — "Do a Good Turn Daily."
- 2Do one Good Turn each day — a real, helpful act.
- 3Expect nothing — no reward or pay.
- 4Go beyond courtesy — a Good Turn is extra, not just manners or chores.
- 5Scale up sometimes — a patrol or troop Good Turn (a service project).
The unknown Scout
- The slogan shaped Scouting's arrival in America. The story goes that an unknown Scout helped American publisher William D. Boyce find his way in a London fog (1909) and refused a tip — "I'm a Scout; I won't take anything for helping."
- It so impressed Boyce that he brought Scouting to the U.S., founding the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.
- Good Turns can be individual or collective — a personal act, or a whole group's service project.
Notes
- A Good Turn should be safe and appropriate — help within your ability, and don't put yourself in danger to do it.
- Freely given — the point is helping without reward; never expect payment.
- Good judgment — a Good Turn is kind and wanted, not intrusive or unsafe.
Going deeper
- A Good Turn is extra. Not a chore, not mere politeness — a deliberate, unrewarded kindness each day.
- The unknown Scout. A single Good Turn in a London fog is why Scouting came to America — the most famous Good Turn in Scouting history.
- Slogan vs. motto. The slogan is about helping others daily; the motto ("Be Prepared") is about readiness — two different ideals.
Official source
Scouting ideals — Scouting America →The slogan reflects the Oath's "help other people at all times." The unknown-Scout / William D. Boyce story is standard Scouting history — confirm the details against a history source.