Scouting, or Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement of multiple organizations for both boys and girls whose aim is to develop young people physically, spiritually and mentally so that youth may take a constructive place in society. This is achieved through non-formal education with emphasis on practical activities in the outdoors, using the so-called Scout method. Most countries have Scouting programs for children and young adults from ages 6 to their early 20s.

Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell, a retired Lieutenant General in the British Army, held the first Scouting encampment at Brownsea Island, England. He was at that time a good friend of William Alexander Smith, founder of the Boys' Brigade. Currently Scouting and Guiding have over 38 million members in 217 countries and territories represented through several different Scouting associations at the international level. The works of Ernest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard were very influential in the early development of Scouting as well as the basis of the Traditional Scouting movement that has become very significant in the last several years. In many countries, Scouting has become a signifcant part of popular culture.

Origins

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Baden-Powell founded the Scouting movement in 1907 in the United Kingdom. He also introduced the parallel movement for girls, the Girl Guides, in 1910 with the aid of his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. (The Guides are known as the Girl Scouts of the USA in the United States.)

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World Scouting News

First International Rover Net Moot
Oman Scouts & Guides Association are pleased to invite all Rovers, Scouts, Guides and Leaders from all around the world to participate in one of the activities taking place during the 18th Arab Rover Moot. The 12 August 2009 at 12:00, participants of the Arab Rover Moot Camp in Sultanate of Oman will be able to connect and communicate during 42 hours with people worldwide through the use of Internet technologies, such as MIRC & teamspeak.
German Scouts build library for Mongolia
A group of German Scouts initiated a project called “Book Bridge Mongolia” which aims to fill the lack of English textbooks that will significantly help young people of Mongolia in their educational development.
Kenya's Vice President visited the World Scout Bureau
The World Scout Bureau was honored to receive a visit from Hon. Vice President Steven Kalonzo Musyoka of Kenya on the 17th of June 2009. Vice President Musyoka is the Chief Commissioner of the Kenya Scout Association and was attending some meetings in Geneva taking advantage of this auspicious occasion the World Scout Bureau invited him to visit World Scouting headquarters in Geneva.
Inspirational Mexican Environment Project Wins Volvo Adventure 2009
A team of Mexican children and youth have been recognised for their inspirational project that has helped to protect a local wetland, engage children in environmental education and develop a sustainable aquaculture business to help pay for their ongoing education. HUNAB team from the Yukatan coast of Mexico were selected out of the top 10 Finalists for the Volvo Adventure 2009 US$10,000 first prize with the UK’s Isle of Man team in second and India in third. Scouts from Brazil were also amongst the top 10 teams of 13 to 16 year olds selected from over 400 entries from 56 countries to go to Gothenburg, Sweden for the Volvo Adventure Final where the teams share their projects, engage in workshops on the environment and explore Swedish culture.
Children in the streets find new things to do
In the outskirts of Zamboanga City, an island in southern Philippines, a group of children living in make-shift shelters near a garbage dumpsite, found new things to do in Scouting other than sorting and selling garbage.
Kandersteg: new accommodation building opened on May 30
On Saturday 30th of May 2009 the Kander-Lodge, the new accommodation building, was opened by Mark Knippenberg, the KISC Director, together with KISC-staff from all Scout Regions in the World. There where speeches from Marc Lombard, president of the Foundation, Thijs Stoffer, president of the Association and Luc Panissod, Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout movement (WOSM) who said "For World Scouting, Kandersteg is a laboratory, a permanent think tank as well as a permanent jamboree. It is important that we follow up in this relationship which is so natural... and we have to make it vital, as the energy brought by the place brings so much to the Movement". In a message to the attendees, Chairman Rick Cronk stated : "No doubt that these new facilities will provide even greater opportunities for more young people to enjoy the beauty of Scouting".

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