Scouting, also known as the
Scout Movement, is a worldwide
youth movement
with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical,
mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles
in society.
Scouting began in 1907 when
Robert Baden-Powell,
Lieutenant General in the
British Army, held the
first Scouting encampment on
Brownsea Island in
England. Baden-Powell wrote the principles of Scouting in
Scouting for Boys (London, 1908), based on his earlier military books, with influence and support of
Frederick Russell Burnham (Chief of Scouts in British Africa),
Ernest Thompson Seton of the
Woodcraft Indians,
William Alexander Smith of the
Boys' Brigade, and his publisher
Pearson. During the first half of the 20th century, the movement grew to encompass three major age groups each for boys (
Cub Scout,
Boy Scout,
Rover Scout) and, in 1910, a new organization, Girl Guides, was created for girls (
Brownie Guide,
Girl Guide and Girl Scout,
Ranger Guide).
The movement employs the
Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including
camping,
woodcraft,
aquatics,
hiking,
backpacking, and
sports. Another widely recognized movement characteristic is the Scout
uniform, by intent hiding all differences of social standing in a country and making for equality, with
neckerchief and
campaign hat or comparable headwear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the
fleur-de-lis and the
trefoil, as well as
merit badges and other patches.
In 2011, Scouting and Guiding together had over 41 million members worldwide. The two largest umbrella organizations are the
World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), for boys-only and co-educational organizations, and the
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), primarily for girls-only organizations but also accepting co-educational organizations. The year 2007 marked the
centenary of Scouting world wide, and member organizations planned events to celebrate the occasion.