Robert Tate McKenzie, was a personal friend of Boy Scouts founder Sir Robert Baden-Powell. He shared with Baden-Powell the belief in the program of scouting for boys. He, like Baden-Powell, believed that scouting was a means of developing youth physically, mentally and morally into manhood. Among his many skills, McKenzie was an artist and sculptor. He created this bronze in honor of the program and his belief in it.

This sculpture is at the entrance to the Boy Scouts of America – Heart of America Council building near Holmes Road and Interstate 435. It stands atop a brick pedestal. The original sculpture was created in 1937. This particular sculpture was cast in 1988 and placed here soon thereafter.