Baden-Powell Scouts' Association
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The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (''B-PSA'') is a worldwide
youth organisation The following is a list of youth organizations. A youth organization is a type of organization with a focus upon providing activities and socialization for minors. In this list, most organizations are international unless noted otherwise. 0 ...
originating in the United Kingdom, with friendly relationships with similar traditional scouting organisations in various countries. Baden-Powell Scouting focuses on the importance of tradition in the scout movement. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association shares the heritage of the youth
scouting movement Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...
, however they believe in a traditional way of scouting which closely follows the programme set out by Lt. General
Robert Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; (Commonly pronounced by others as ) 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the worl ...
in his book: ''
Scouting for Boys ''Scouting for Boys: A handbook for instruction in good citizenship'' is a book on Boy Scout training, published in various editions since 1908. Early editions were written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell with later editions being extensi ...
''. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association was formed in the United Kingdom in 1970 by the Reverend William Dowling when it was felt that the
Scout Association The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was for ...
was abandoning the traditions and intentions set out by Baden-Powell in 1908. The Baden-Powell Scouts retain the belief that the essence of the movement should be based on outdoor activities related to the skills of explorers, backwoodsmen and frontiersmen. It is a voluntary, non-formal educational charity association for young people. It is an independent, non-political, and non-military organisation. The B-PSA believes this programme should be available to everyone. As an independent scout association, they are members of the
World Federation of Independent Scouts The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) is a non-governmental international Scouting organization with over 7 million members in 151 affiliated Scout organizations in 65 countries. WFIS was formed in Laubach, Germany Germany ...
(WFIS). The WFIS was formed in
Laubach Laubach is a town of approximately 10,000 people in the Gießen region of Hesse, Germany. Laubach is known as a ', a climatic health resort. It is situated east of Gießen. Surrounding Laubach are the towns of Hungen, Grünberg, Schotten and ...
, Germany, in 1996 by
Lawrie Dring Lawrence 'Lawrie' Dring (4 July 1931 – 6 September 2012) was a British Scouter who was one of the founding members of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (BPSA) and of the World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS). He was President ...
, a scouter and President of the B-PSA, and scouts from Laubach. The WFIS is an international body that recognises independent scouts associations in countries around the world that teach traditional Baden-Powell scouting values. Their aim is to improve the standard of future citizens with the object of using their efficiency for service for their fellows.


History

''For the origins and history of the scout movement generally see:
Scouting Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...
'' Following the origin of the Boy Scout Movement and, in 1908, the publication of Robert
Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; (Commonly pronounced by others as ) 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the wor ...
's book, ''
Scouting for Boys ''Scouting for Boys: A handbook for instruction in good citizenship'' is a book on Boy Scout training, published in various editions since 1908. Early editions were written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell with later editions being extensi ...
'',
the Boy Scouts Association The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was form ...
was formed in 1910 and, until 1967, it followed the programme established by Baden-Powell. However, the publication of ''
the Chief Scouts' Advance Party Report The Boy Scouts Association's ''The Chief Scout's Advance Party Report 1966'' attempted to address the association's falling enrolment numbers and modernise its programs. It resulted in changes from traditional iconic uniforms, changes to awards, ...
'', introduced major changes to that association's name, uniform, sections and programme. In 1969, some of those, led by the Reverend William Dowling, who did not agree with changes being introduced following the ''Advance Party Report'' formed a pressure group within the Scout Association, known as 'the Scout Action Group'. They asked that Scout Groups wishing to maintain a more traditional approach to Scouting should be allowed to do so. In mid-1970 the Scout Action Group published ''A Boy Scout Black Paper'', which outlined their views. As a result of discussions, the whole organisation fractioned into two groups on 20 September 1970 –
The Scout Association The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was for ...
and the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. In 1979, due to internal arguments, the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association split into two organisations, with both claiming the name and charity number of the association. The two factions reconciled their differences in June 1990, and in 1994 there were nearly 70 groups in the association. In the 1990s there was a dip in the number of active groups in the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association, in common with a fall in numbers experienced by the various United Kingdom Scout organisations at that time, and the number of groups had dropped to around 40 in 2001. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association, as with Scouting in the United Kingdom generally, has shown subsequent growth in numbers with the opening of new groups. A report in ''
The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
'' in August 2004 gave a membership of 5,000 in 56 groups. The B-PSA celebrated 100 years of Scouting in 2007, issuing centenary badges and holding their own Centenary Camp in Southampton. Jamboree 2008, marked the centenary of the first official Scout Camp held by Baden-Powell at
Humshaugh Humshaugh () is a parish near Hexham in Northumberland, England. The village had a population of 622 in the 2011 census, and is just north of Chollerford, which is located near Chesters Fort (Cilurnum) on Hadrian's Wall and is about 21 miles wes ...
. The event included parades at Hexham Abbey and a ceremony at the original Carr Edge camp site.


Aims, methods and ideals

The main policy is
Traditional Scouting Traditional Scouting is "old-fashioned" or "back to basics" Scouting in some form, often with an emphasis on woodcraft and scoutcraft activities. As a pluralist movement, there is no one set definition for the term, but most traditionalists share a ...
 – which is taking Baden-Powell's original nine Scout Laws and the later 10th Scout Law and using them, along with Baden-Powell's original training programme and rank system. Once a Scout is invested Baden-Powell believed that he would continue to live the Scout Law. This law is kept by Scouts from the age of ten and Adult Leaders must renew their promise on regular occasions. The original
Scout Law Scout Law is a set of codes in the Scout movement. Since the publication of '' Scouting for Boys'' in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout Promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to the Scou ...
, written by Baden-Powell, appeared in 1908. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association uses his 1911 version, which is as follows: # A Scout's honour is to be trusted # A Scout is loyal to the King and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers. # A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. # A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs. # A Scout is courteous. # A Scout is a friend to animals. # A Scout obeys orders of his patrol leader or Scout master without question. # A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties. # A Scout is thrifty. # A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association hold to the ideals of Scouting that were created by Baden-Powell. The association's heritage dates back to the foundations of Scouting in the UK in 1908. The association follows a charter set down in their Policy Association Rules. They have no paid Executive Staff or Leaders. The traditional programme also develops a sense of duty, personal discipline and honour. In addition to a wide range of activities Scouts in the B-PSA continue to practise traditional Scouting skills: * lighting fire by friction * navigating by means other than a compass *
backwoods cooking Outdoor cooking is the preparation of food in the outdoors. A significant body of techniques and specialized equipment exists for it, traditionally associated with nomadic cultures such as the Berber people, Berbers of North Africa, the Arab B ...
* camping in self erected " bivvys" The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association are members of the
World Federation of Independent Scouts The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) is a non-governmental international Scouting organization with over 7 million members in 151 affiliated Scout organizations in 65 countries. WFIS was formed in Laubach, Germany Germany ...
. The Baden-Powell Scouts use the original programmes and wear traditional uniforms. Wolf Cubs continue to use the Grand Howl at the beginning and end of their meetings. The advancement program for members of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is symbolised by the earning of badges and awards. In
Wolf Cubs Cub Scouts, Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with Scouting for young children usually between 7 and 12, depending on the organization to which they belong. A participant in the program is called a Cub. A group of Cubs is called a 'P ...
this consists of Tenderpad, First Star and Second Star – working towards the final award of Leaping Wolf. The First and Second Stars are worn on the Cub's cap, this positioning leading them to sometimes be referred to as one, then both, eyes open. In the
Scouts Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...
section they use the same ranks as in ''
Scouting for Boys ''Scouting for Boys: A handbook for instruction in good citizenship'' is a book on Boy Scout training, published in various editions since 1908. Early editions were written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell with later editions being extensi ...
'' with Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, and the Scout Cord. Senior Scouts can earn the Bushman's Thong (with variations for
Air The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing f ...
and
Sea Scouts Sea Scouts are a part of the Scout movement, with a particular emphasis on boating and other water-based activities on the sea, rivers or lakes (canoeing, rafting, scuba, sailboarding). Sea Scouts can provide a chance to sail, cruise on boats, ...
) and the St. George's Scout award, which takes the place of the
Queen's Scout A King's Scout is a Scout (Scouting), Scout who has attained the King's Scout Award. The King's Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in the Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom, Canada (Queen's ...
award. Rover Scouts are able to earn the
Baden-Powell Award The Baden-Powell Award, also known as the B-P Award or Baden-Powell Scout Award (BPSA), is the highest award achievable to Rover (adult) Scouts. Although it has become a less common award as some Scout Associations no longer offer a Rover progr ...
. The requirements for these badges, and the overall designs of the award badges, remain true to the pre-1967 Boy Scouts Association requirements and designs, with the stars on the original awards being replaced by the initials B and P, and the word "BOY" being replaced by "B-P".


Uniform

The Scout sections wear the traditional uniform designed by Baden-Powell. * Headwear: Campaign hat or beret, with the Section badge in front. * Neckerchief: Of the group colour worn with a woggle or a loose knot at the throat. * Shirt: In non-Sea Scout or Air Scout Groups, a khaki shirt. Air Scouts wear Wedgwood Blue. * Shorts or trousers: Khaki or dark blue for Air Scouts. * Belt: Brown leather, official pattern. * Socks: Any plain colour, worn turned down below the knee * Boots or shoes: Brown or black. * Shoulder badge: Indicating the group, worn on the right shoulder.


Organisation


Sections

The Baden-Powell Scout's Association retains the pre-Advance Party Report (1967) sections, the traditional UK Scout sections developed by Baden-Powell, to which Beavers were added in 1982. The association is open to males and females in mixed and separate sections. The sections (Beavers to Senior Scouts) are led by a Section Master, who must hold a warrant for the position, aided by assistants. Other adults who help run a section may be volunteers (such as parents of children in the group), Instructors (Scouts, Senior Scouts and Rovers that have been trained to assist the leaders), and members of the Group Executive Committee who help operate the group financially. Rover Crews mainly govern themselves, but are assisted by a Rover Scout Leader who ensures that the crew is working within the rules of the association.


Group branches

There are
Air Scouts Air Scouts are a part of the Scout movement with a particular emphasis on an aviation themed programme and/or flying-based activities. Air Scouts follow the same basic programme as other Scouts, but they devote certain amounts of time focused o ...
and the provision for
Sea Scout Sea Scouts are a part of the Scout movement, with a particular emphasis on boating and other water-based activities on the sea, rivers or lakes (canoeing, rafting, scuba, sailboarding). Sea Scouts can provide a chance to sail, cruise on boats, ...
s within the organisation. These branches follow the same core programme as other sections but add more aeronautical or nautical emphasis depending on the branch.


Child protection

In common with other United Kingdom youth organisations all adults have to undergo extended criminal record checks since their introduction in 1997. New leaders are required to give personal references and complete an interview before taking an appointment. The B-PSA has a child protection officer and there is a full child protection policy in place. Each international association follows the child protection measures expected in their own country.


International associations


Australia

The 1st Devonport Scouts in Tasmania under Alan Richmond, OAM, several groups in South Australia under Frank Payne and later groups in New South Wales and another in Queensland affiliated with the B-PSA.


Canada

The B-PSA was first organized in Canada in Victoria, British Columbia in February 1996 as the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association of Canada (BPSA Canada).
Scouts Canada Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association providing programs for young people, aged 5 to 26, with the stated aim "to help develop well rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world". Scouts Canada, in affiliation with the Frenc ...
lodged a complaint against this name with Industry Canada. This prompted the association to reorganize on a provincial basis. BPSA Associations currently operate in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.


Denmark

The Yellow Scouts of Denmark – Baden-Powell Scouts (De Gule Speijdere i Danmark) started on 25 February 1984, as "Det Danske Pige- og Drenge Spejderkorps", aiming to return to a more traditional Scouting approach as a response to changes in the mainstream Danish Scouting movement.


Ghana

The Baden-Powell Scouts Association is active in
Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
. The Baden-Powell Scouts of Ghana operates in
Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...
, Ghana. It has a Beaver Lodge of 40, two Wolf Cub Packs of 30 and a Scout Troop of 48 members.


Malta

Baden-Powell Scouts Malta was set up in 2011 and there are currently seven active groups located in Mtarfa, Mgarr (Sea Scouts), Luqa (Air Scouts), Qormi, St Paul's Bay (Sea Scouts), Bahrija and Zebbug. BPSM was admitted to full membership of WFIS in 2014.


United States

The Baden-Powell Scout Association became a registered corporation in the United States in June 2002, and was issued federal non-profit organisation status, operating the 1st Tarrant Scout Group in Texas, notable as the first B-PSA group to operate in the United States. B-PSA was affiliated with the Baden-Powell Scouts Association of England before they ceased operations, possibly about 2010. Also in the US is the
Baden-Powell Service Association (United States) The Outdoor Service Guides (OSG) (formerly known as the Baden-Powell Service Association (BPSA)) is an inclusive, co-ed scouting organization in the United States. It accepts scouts without regard to gender, gender identity, race, sexual orienta ...
(BPSA-US), formed in 2006 and later incorporated, search for entity number C3190288 in California, 2009. BPSA-US is not directly affiliated with the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association, but is part of the traditional Scouting movement and a member of the
World Federation of Independent Scouts The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) is a non-governmental international Scouting organization with over 7 million members in 151 affiliated Scout organizations in 65 countries. WFIS was formed in Laubach, Germany Germany ...
. BPSA-US has worked closely with members of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association and the Baden-Powell Service Association in Canada, and is working with others in defining their traditional Scouting program.


See also

*
Brownsea Island Scout camp The Brownsea Island Scout camp was the site of a boys' camping event on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, southern England, organised by Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell to test his ideas for the book '' Scouting for Boys''. Boys from different ...
 – the birthplace of World Scouting *
Humshaugh Humshaugh () is a parish near Hexham in Northumberland, England. The village had a population of 622 in the 2011 census, and is just north of Chollerford, which is located near Chesters Fort (Cilurnum) on Hadrian's Wall and is about 21 miles wes ...
 – location of Baden-Powell's first official Scout Camp


References


External links


Baden-Powell Scouts' Association

BPSA in Canada

BPSA in the United States

De Gule Spejdere i Danmark – Baden-Powell spejderne (auto-translation)

Baden-Powell Scouts' Association of Guatemala


{{Scouting Scouting and Guiding in Argentina Scouting and Guiding in Canada Scouting and Guiding in Ghana Scouting and Guiding in Guatemala Scouting in the United States Scouting and Guiding in Denmark 1970 establishments in the United Kingdom Youth organizations established in 1970