The National Scout Organization of Thailand (NSOT; th, สำนักงานลูกเสือแห่งชาติ, ) is the national

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 ...

organization of

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

. Scouting was founded in Thailand in 1911 and was among the charter members of the

World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest international Scouting organization. WOSM has 173 members. These members are recognized national Scout organizations, which collectively have around 43 million participants. WOS ...

in 1922. It is currently regulated by the Scouting Act, BE 2551 (2008). The organization has 828,248 members (as of 2013) and is open to boys and girls.

Early history

Thailändische Schüler in Pfadfinderkluft

Scouting was first introduced in Thailand as a branch of the

Wild Tiger Corps The Wild Tiger Corps ( th, กองเสือป่า) was a national paramilitary corps founded in Thailand in 1911 by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). Inspired by the British Volunteer Force, the unit was intended to maintain civil order. The W ...

on July 1, 1911 by King

Rama VI Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...

, who is known as the ''Father of Thai Scouting''. Thailand claims to be the third country in the world to establish

, but it was more likely fourth. King Rama VI brought back the idea of Scouting from

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

where he studied. Abhai Chandavimol served on the

World Scout Committee The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest international Scouting organization. WOSM has 173 members. These members are recognized national Scout organizations, which collectively have around 43 million participants. WOSM ...

of the

from 1965 to 1971. Five Thais have been honored with the

Bronze Wolf The Bronze Wolf Award is bestowed by the World Scout Committee (WSC) to acknowledge "outstanding service by an individual to the World Scout Movement". It is the highest honor that can be given a volunteer Scout leader in the world and it is the ...

, the highest distinction of the

, awarded for exceptional services to Scouting. Recipients and the year they received the Bronze Wolf are: Abhai Chandavimol (1971),

Chitra Dansuputra Chitra Dansuputra ( th, จิตร ทังสุบุตร, , died 25 March 1984) was a Thai educator and the founder of Amnuay Silpa School. He served as a member of the Asia-Pacific Scout Committee, representing the National Scout Organiza ...

(1976), Kong Visudharomn (1980), and Bhethai Amatayakul (1984), and

Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...

(2006).

Scouting and schools

Although Scouting is part of the school program, especially for grades 6-8, it is not actually mandatory. Options do exist for participation in other youth programs, such as the Thai Red Cross; however, the vast majority of Thai youth participate in Scouting. Scouts wear their Scout uniforms to school once a week, though which day of the week is set by the local schools.

Programs

Thai youth are normally placed in a Scouting program based on the school grade they are in, not their age. These are also open to both boys and girls. Sea Scouts are supported by the

Royal Thai Navy The Royal Thai Navy ( Abrv: RTN, ทร.; th, กองทัพเรือไทย, ) is the naval warfare force of Thailand. Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) who is known as ...

and Air Scouts by the

Royal Thai Air Force "Royal Thai Air Force March" , mascot = , anniversaries = 9 April 1937 (Royal Thai Air Force Day) , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles ...

Scout ideals and methods

* Chief Scout: King of Thailand * King Scout: this award is available to Senior Scouts and is the Thai equivalent of the

Eagle Scout Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Sc ...

award in American Scouting. *

Scout Motto The Scout Motto of the Scout movement is, in English, "Be Prepared", with most international branches of the group using a close translation of that phrase. These mottoes have been used by millions of Scouts around the world since 1907. Most of t ...

: "Better to die than to lie" (เสียชีพอย่าเสียสัตย์; ) * National Scout Day: July 1 * The membership badge of The National Scout Organization of Thailand, which is in royal yellow, associated with royalty, features the head of a

tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...

. The country is within the tiger's range. The badge also carries the Scout Motto.

Major events

References

External links

*
Scouting in Thailand

* https://web.archive.org/web/20080724183215/http://www.pinetreeweb.com/left5-4.htm
Skolta Esperanto-Ligo
{{WOSM, asia National Scout Organization of Thailand National Scout Organization of Thailand Youth organizations established in 1911