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.