View source for World Scout Movement

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.


== Brief history of World Scout Movement ==
Robert Stephenson Smith Baden-Poewll (B.P.) was born in a house near London's Hyde Farm on the 22nd February, 1857. He was the founder of The Scouting Movement known as The Father of Scouts.

{| class="wikitable"
|1907 || B.P. completes the book "Scouting For Boys", Scout troop are formed.
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|1908 || "Scouting For Boys" is published in May.
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|1909 || "Girl Scout: began. B.P. is given a knighthood by King Edward VII. The King agree to have a King's Scouts.
|-
|1911 || Sea Scouting officially begins.
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|1916 || Wolf Cubs officially begins.
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|1920 || The First Jamboree at Olympia in London, 21 countries attended.
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|1926 || Handicapped Branch sarted.
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|1966 || Wolf Cubs renamed Cub Scouts. Venture Scout Section is open for young man of age 16-20.
|-
|1967 || Scouts Diamond Jamboree.
|}


== Sources and References ==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting  Wikipedia - Scouting]


== External Links ==
* [http://www.scout.org/ World Organization of the Scout Movement]