Scouting for Stronger Futures: Grayling Troop 979 Builds Life Skills with Botvin Lessons

In a proactive effort to empower youth and prevent substance misuse, The Crawford Partnership to End Substance Misuse has been working closely with Grayling Boy Scout Troop 979 by delivering a nationally recognized prevention program: Botvin LifeSkills Training.

Botvin is more than just a substance misuse prevention curriculum—it's a hands-on, skills-based program that gives young people the tools they need to make healthy decisions, resolve conflict, communicate effectively, and confidently say no to substances.

Through engaging lessons and real-world scenarios, the Scouts are learning about the harms associated with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, while also building critical life skills that promote self-esteem, decision-making, and peer resistance.

This collaboration is a strong example of how community partnerships can reinforce positive youth development. By bringing Botvin lessons to Troop 979, the Crawford Partnership is helping to build a generation of confident, informed young leaders who are prepared to navigate peer pressure and life’s challenges with resilience and integrity.