Ranks in Polish Scouting are common to the majority of

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 ...

organisations in Poland, including the two most popular organisations. However, the exact system used is usually left to the discretion of individual groups. Some groups may only grant a subset of these ranks, whereas others may use different names for an equivalent rank. Although Polish Scouting's customs and attire follow closely those of the military, the uniforms used may vary. For example, some uniforms do not have shoulder straps, whereas other groups recently introduced a

chevron Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to: Science and technology * Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines * Chevron (anatomy), a bone * ''Eulithis testata'', a moth * Chevron (geology), a fold in rock lay ...

system.

Rank insignia

Scouts

Scout instructors

Guide or leader

A Guide or Leader (Polish male form: ''przewodnik'', female form: ''przewodniczka'', short: ''pwd.'') is the lowest rank of adult instructor common to most organisations within Polish scouting. Generally Guides wear a navy blue

felt Felt is a textile material that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur, or from synthetic fibers such as petroleum-based acrylic or acrylonitrile or wood ...

tee under the

Scouting Cross ''Krzyż harcerski'' (Polish for ''Scouts Cross'') is the emblem of Polish Scouting, awarded to Polish Scouts, Senior Scouts and Rangers. It was first used by an underground Scouting organization in Warsaw in 1913. The initial design by Kazimi ...

as well as a navy blue

in the shape of a

Fleur-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

worn on the left sleeve of their

Scout uniform A uniform is a variety of clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, se ...

(a so-called ''instructor's Fleur-de-lis''). Until

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Polish Scouts used the title ''drużynowy po próbie'' (short: ''DPP''; en. ''team leader after the challenge'') in place of ''Guide''. During the PRL the ZHP (Polish Scouting Association) introduced a lower instructor rank, organizer. This rank still exists today in the Independent Scouts Instructor Sphere "Nursery-Garden" organisation of scouting.

Organizer

Organizer was the lowest rank in Polish scouting. It was introduced during

Polish People's Republic The Polish People's Republic ( pl, Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1947 to 1989 as the predecessor of the modern Republic of Poland. With a population of approximately 37.9 million nea ...

. Signed with white felt tee under the

. People having this rank was usually new-nominated team leaders in Scout Service for Socialistic Poland and teachers. "Organizer" had been functioning by 1980, in 1982 this rank was abolished. Rank of "Organizer" has been still functioning in Independent Scouts Instructor Sphere "Nursery-Garden". This rank is allocated to underages.

Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP)

Methodology

According to the ZHP, a ''Guide'' (''Leader'') should be a role model, show leadership among their peers, and enjoy working with children and young adults. Guides should apply the Scouts' educational method to aid their leadership and should aim to promote cooperation. A Guide should also actively help with other leaders within their

District A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

. The ZHP states that being a Guide is rewarding, and helps Guides learn about themselves and their motivations.

Requirements to be an Instructor

* Taking the

Scout Oath The Scout Promise (or Oath) is a spoken statement made by a child joining the Scout movement. Since the publication of ''Scouting for Boys'' in 1908, all Scouts and Girl Guides around the world have taken a Scout (or Guide) promise or oath to live ...

. * Submitting a satisfactory plan to complete the Instructor Ranks Commission instructor challenge. This is to ensure that completion of the challenge is feasible. * Be at least 16 years of age.

Requirements of becoming an instructor

The candidate must: # Demonstrate the compatibility of his/her personality with the

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 ...

, and must have created and consequently realised the plan of his/her development. # Deepen his/her knowledge and develop his/her interests. # Maintain well-balanced involvement in their duties for various social groups (family, school, scout troop, employment) # Finish a Guide course. # Have a good track record of consistent service to his/her scouting community. # Be able to take part in a detached life. # Make use of Scout literature and Scout media. # Demonstrate that, in the past year they have developed skills in being able to teach children and young people of their chosen age groups (Cub Scouts, Scouts etc.), including the skills of: ::* using methodical instruments ::* practising the system of small groups ::* creating a working plan, submitting said plan, and putting the plan into practice. A Guide also must have participated in: * organization of departure works' forms * development of measures for the proper functioning of a Troop / Pack * organization of camps for Troops /Packs, where the candidate performed in a leadership capacity * administering documentation essential for Troop's / Pack's proper functioning * cooperating with and coordinating between his/her Scout environment, parents, and school

Conditions of the end of instructor challenge

# Gaining an appropriate level of development as described in the Rank Idea and finishing all tasks of instructor challenge. # Following regulations about safety in working with children and youth. # Having knowledge and skills at or above the level of Eagle Scout. # Completing a first aid course lasting a minimum of 15 hours. # Positively evaluated service during the time of instructor challenge.

Guide authorizations

Someone who is a Guide can: * receive the Cub Scout and Brownie Oath and the

in the name of ZHP * serve as a Scout Instructor * become a candidate for Scout authorities and act in these capacities (except the commandant of

banner A banner can be a flag or another piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or another message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms. Also, ...

, Presidents of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, Chief Scouts of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, members of Scouts courts (who can be only Scoutmasters) and commandants of

Groups A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...

(who can be only Scoutmasters and Sub-Scoutmasters) * be awarded the Brown Cross of "Merit for ZHP" * be a counselor without needing to first finish the course to become a counselor.According to Polish Education Minister's decree on 12 January 1997

Scouting Association of the Republic (Poland) (ZHR)

The rank of Guide is the lowest instructor rank in ZHR.

References

External links

*
Sprawność znawca
blog.harcerski.pl. Accessed 16 April 2022. {{Scouting in Poland Scout and Guide awards