Scout and Guides: Worldwide Youth Organizations

The Scouts & Guides is a voluntary, non-political, educational movement for young people, open to all without any discrimination on the origin, race or creed, and sex. It was form to support young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they can play constructive roles in society, with a strong focus on the outdoors and survival skills.

                            Source: Wikimedia

The Scouts movement grew to encompass three major age groups 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) during the beginning of 20^th century.

Genesis of Scouting and Guiding in the World

• The Boy Scouts Movement had a simple start in the year 1907 when a retired Army General Lord Baden Powell conducted an experimental camp in Brown Sea Island in England with 20 boys. The successful conduct of the camp and publication of the Book “Scouting for Boys” in a fortnightly marked the start of the Boy Scout Movement.

• In the year 1910, Crystal palace Rally was held where Girls wearing the Boy Scout uniform appeared and wanted to join the Scout Movement. Lord Baden Powell decided to start a movement for Girls with the help of his sister Agnes Baden Powell.

• The first association outside the British Empire was founded in Chile in May 21, 1909 after a visit to Baden Powell. In most countries of the world, there is now at least one Scouting (or Guiding) organization. Each is independent, but international cooperation continues to be seen as part of the Scout Movement.

• In 1922 the WOSM started as the governing body on policy for the national Scouting organizations (then male only). In addition to being the governing policy body, it organizes the World Scout Jamboree every four years.

• In 1928 the WAGGGS started as the equivalent to WOSM for the then female-only national Scouting/Guiding organizations. It is also responsible for its four international centres: Our Cabaña in Mexico, Our Chalet in Switzerland, Pax Lodge in the United Kingdom, and Sangam in India.

Today, there are two organizations at the international level which are given below:

      1. World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), for boys-only and co-educational organizations.
      2. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), primarily for girls-only organizations but also accepting co-educational organizations.