Every Scout knows the Scout Promise and the Scout Law. But there is one more powerful phrase that every Scout carries in their heart every single day โ “Do a Good Turn Daily.” This is the Scout Slogan, and it is one of the most important guiding principles in Scouting worldwide, including in India. Simple in words, but powerful in action โ it shapes how a Scout thinks, behaves, and serves their community.
What is the Scout Slogan?
The Scout Slogan is: “Do a Good Turn Daily.” It was introduced by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement, when he started Scouting in 1907. The slogan is sometimes written as DGTD in short form. Unlike the Scout Motto “Be Prepared,” which talks about being ready for challenges, the Scout Slogan focuses on action โ specifically, helping others through small, consistent acts of kindness.
A “Good Turn” means doing something helpful for another person without expecting anything in return. It is not something you do only when someone asks. A true Scout looks for opportunities to help others and acts on them every day โ rain or shine, busy or free.
The Meaning Behind “Daily”
The word “Daily” is key to understanding this slogan. Baden-Powell believed that doing good should not be a once-in-a-while activity. Instead, it should become a daily habit โ as natural as eating, sleeping, or studying. When you do something good every single day, it becomes part of your character. You become a person who genuinely cares for others.
Many great leaders in India, from Mahatma Gandhi to APJ Abdul Kalam, believed in the power of small daily actions. Gandhi called it Seva (selfless service), and it is deeply rooted in Indian culture. The Scout Slogan perfectly aligns with this Indian value of service to others.
A Good Turn can be:
- Helping an elderly person cross the road
- Carrying a heavy bag for someone in need
- Picking up litter from the school ground
- Guiding a lost traveller to the right path
- Offering your seat to someone who needs it on a bus
- Sharing your notes with a classmate who was absent
Good Turns in the Indian Scout Tradition
In India, Scouts have a long tradition of performing Good Turns as part of their daily life. During floods in Kerala, landslides in Uttarakhand, and cyclones in Odisha, Scout teams have been among the first to rush in and help. But Good Turns are not only for big disasters. Indian Scouts perform Good Turns in schools, colonies, villages, and towns every day.
The Bharat Scouts and Guides organisation actively encourages scouts to record their daily Good Turns in a diary or notebook. Many Scout troops conduct Good Turn Week โ a special week when every patrol member plans and carries out community service activities. Whether it is planting trees, helping at a local hospital, or cleaning a public space, every action counts.
Remember: A Good Turn is always done quietly and without boasting. The real reward is the happiness you give others and the character you build within yourself.
Practical Scout Activity: My Good Turn Diary
Here is a simple activity every Scout can start today:
- Get a small notebook โ this will be your Good Turn Diary.
- Every evening, write down one Good Turn you did that day. It does not have to be big โ even a smile given to someone who was sad counts.
- At the end of one week, read through your diary. You will be amazed at how many lives you have touched.
- Challenge your patrol: Who can do the most meaningful Good Turn in a week? Share stories at your next patrol meeting.
- Try to plan a group Good Turn โ visit a nearby old-age home, clean a local park, or help younger students with their studies.
When your entire patrol does Good Turns every day, imagine the positive change you can bring to your community!
Be the Change โ Every Day
The Scout Slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily” is not just a phrase to memorise. It is a way of life. As a Scout in India, you have the power to make your school, neighbourhood, and country a better place โ one Good Turn at a time. Baden-Powell once said, “A Scout is not a good Scout until he is in the habit of doing a good turn to someone every day.”
So wake up every morning and ask yourself: “What Good Turn will I do today?” That one question, asked and answered daily, can transform you from a student into a true leader, and from a Scout into a hero of your community. Be Prepared โ and do your Good Turn every day!
