I'm not "officially" a Boy Scout, rather I am a proud parent of an Eagle Scout from Troop 84 in San Ramon. I am currently that troops Committee Chair, even though our son has aged out and is a Sophmore in college. I began my scouting career before I was born, my father was a Pack Master and a Scout Master, my 2 brothers were Cubs and Scouts, my Mom was a Den Mother, and eventually my Dad worked for the Oregon Trail Scout Council as the Camp Ranger at it's year-round camp, so I literally grew up in a Scout Camp!
Our son started as a Tiger Cub at Walt Disney Elem and went on to earn his Eagle Rank by the time he was 15. We watched him grow from a very shy, introverted, go with flow kid, to someone who has learned many life skills that have enabled him to do the things he wants. The Adult Leaders in the troop as well as other leaders in Scouting have helped him and will always be an important part of our lives. I can honestly state that if it wasn't for Scouting and the values that it teaches, that our son wouldn't be the person he is today....self sufficient, honest, hard working and above all a confident young man.

Terry, Thanks! As far as "skills" learned, it is varied. They learn how to interact with their piers & to work together as a team to accomplish something. They also learn how to be leaders.They have opportunities to go through intensive leadership training that they then bring back to their Troops and use to teach the other scouts. As far as becoming an Eagle, it is the highest and hardest Rank to achieve, it is not an easy task. The scout has to put together a plan, carry it out and do a follow-up. Sounds simple enough, but they do it ALL themselves, with a little guidence from their Adult Leaders. They run the project, have to figure out what to do if something goes wrong or deviates from the plan. These projects take anywhere from 150 to 300 man-hours to do and involve the entire Troop and others from the community. It's basically project planning, all at the age of 15-18, while doing school, sports and various other activities. Many adults don't have these skills.
As far as the environment and why it is beneficial, Scouting teaches the boys to learn to try new things, things that they would normally shy away from. In esscence it is pier pressure, but a positive type. The boys are allowed to try and fail, but in a safe environment. They are never put in harms way, are given positive encouragement, and never "put down" because they fail, they are encouraged to try again and as Adult Leaders we help to guide them along the way.

Terry, Yes I certianly have seen what our son (and other scouts) have learned in Scouting be used in their non-scouting lives. Case in point, our son had to take a course last semester regarding management and conflict resolution, he used his knowledged from his National Youth Leader Training (NYLT) in that course. Also, as stated above, he used to hate to get in front of groups and give presentations, again his time in Scouts and NYLT, gave him the knowledge and confidence to be able to do that. He is now doing presentations and not feeling like he is going to throw up!
As far as other scouts, I have seen the same confidence building in them that I have seen in our son. Many of the young men I have seen grow up in Scouts have gone on to be leaders in the careers and used what they learned in Scouting to attain those careers.
To reference Lord Baden-Powell: "To make the lads disciplined while using their own wits is our aim-much on the principle of the sailor's handiness, & not so much on the machine-like routine life of the soldier." B.-P.'s Outlook June, 1910 This was true in 1910, as much as it is true today. Teach them to try, fail or learn and try again. Scouting gives them a safe place to do that.