Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell, Lieutenant General in the British Army, held the first Scouting encampment at 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 Seton of the Woodcraft Indians, 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 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 head wear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as merit badges and other patches.
In 2007, Scouting and Guiding together have over 38 million members in 216 countries.
2007 also marks the centenary of Scouting world wide, with member organizations planning events all over the world in order to celebrate this event.
Brownsea Island - the birth of the movement
I doubt that Baden-Powell (BP) would imagined that the first camp on Brownsea Island would have had the impact on the world that he then thought. 100 years on and the movement he created from that first camp is still going strong with over 28 million members wordwide.
Bp was 50 at the time he set out on the ferry, with 20 lads, to Brownsea Island and was still a serving lieutenant general in the army. BP picked the lads from a wide variety of different backgrounds, some of which came from public schools whilst others from less privileged upbringings. This was a feat unheard of at the time.
They were split into 4 patrols – The Wolves, Bulls, Curlews and Ravens and each had a colour blue, green, yellow and red to identify them. It was great fun as he taught them stalking and tracking, how to build shelters, put up tents and cook over open fires.
He used to wake the lads up each morning at 6am with a blast on his Kudu horn. At the time BP was a national hero told them all about his days in India and South Africa.
BP never intended to start a youth movement. He hoped the Boys Brigade and the YMCA would pick up and use his methods. However a year later in 1908 he published his book ‘Scouting for Boys’. This set down the ideas that he taught on Brownsea Island.
Boys all over the country had other ideas though and were forming themselves into patrols and doing the things he taught. In 1908 without much fanfare BP launched the scout movement.
