 While studying for his degree in Education , Goodman first became involved in Boy Scouting in 1911 when only 20 years old , as a volunteer Scoutmaster of Troop 1 , the first Scout troop in Philadelphia . As far as can be established , this would make him the second @-@ youngest Scoutmaster in the history of the BSA . In his four years as Scoutmaster , the troop grew to more than 100 Scouts . A contemporary of Goodman described him in 1912 as " well beloved by the boys , enjoys their confidence and is heart and soul in this phase of the work . " In later years , he would recall with nostalgia his troop , noting that renowned composer Albert Hay <unk> was " one of his boys " in Troop 1 . In April 1915 , he entered full @-@ time professional service in Boy Scouting as a field executive , serving that summer as director of the Philadelphia Scout Council 's summer camp . He was promoted in December 1917 to Scout executive of the Philadelphia Council . 
