Scouting is a movement that all young people are able to be part of, regardless of gender, faith or any disabilities. The Scout Association exists to provide opportunities for young people from 6-25 to take part in adventurous activities and personal development. In Scouting, we believe that young people develop most when they are “learning by doing,” when they are given responsibility, work in teams, take acceptable risks and think for themselves.

There are currently around 480,000 young people benefiting from Scouting in the UK, and more than 28 million worldwide, covering over 216 countries.

Scouting was founded by Robert Baden-Powell, who had first developed the idea during his defence of Mafeking during the Boer War. After returning from Africa, he had the first Scout camp on Brownsea Island, with boys from all social classes. He then wrote Scouting for Boys, which was published in 1908, which formed then the basis for the new Scout movement that was spontaneously developing.

In the hundred years since Brownsea Island and the original Scouting for Boys, it is estimated that around half a billion people have been members of either the Scouts or Guides. Scouting has changed and adapted to meet the challenges of the modern world over this time. First of all, new sections were added and adapted, with Cub and Beaver Scout sections being added for younger children, and Rover and Venture both being added and removed in turn for older members of the Scout family, with Explorer Scouts and Scout Network having replaced Ventures in 2001.

Originally intended only for boys, Scouting is now open to both genders from Beavers on up, and girls and young women already make up 10% of the Movement!

Think You Know Scouting? Think Again! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBo1dwpBEGc