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::''This is an article about the young person, for other meanings see [[Boy Scouts]].''
::''Some troops are co-educational, for those troops this article is about the girls too.''
::''For girls-only troops see: [[Girl Guide and Girl Scout]].''
[[Image:Eurojam_song.jpg|thumb|right|float|300px|Scouts coming from various nations sing at the European Jamboree 2005]]


A '''Boy Scout''' is a [[boy]], usually 11 to 17 years of age, participating in the worldwide [[Scouting]] movement. This movement began in 1907, when [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Lt. General Robert Baden-Powell]] held the [[Brownsea Island Scout Camp|first Scout camp]] on [[Brownsea Island]], [[South England]]. To advance his ideas, Baden-Powell wrote the book, ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'', which targeted boy readership, and described the [[Scout method]] of using outdoor activities to develop character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth.
::''For girl troops see: [[Girl Guide and Girl Scout]].''


Boy Scouts are organized into [[troop]]s averaging twenty to thirty Scouts under guidance of a [[Scout leader]]. Troops subdivide into [[patrol]]s of about six Scouts and engage in outdoor and special interest activities. Troops may affiliate with national and international organizations. Some national Scouting associations have special interest programs such as [[Air Scouts]], [[Sea Scouts]], outdoor high adventure, Scouting bands and rider scouts. Some troops, especially in [[Europe]], have been [[co-education]]al since the 1970s, allowing boys and girls to work together as Scouts.
[[Image:Eurojam song.jpg|thumb|right|float|300px|Scouts coming from various nations sing at the European Jamboree 2005]]
A '''Scout''' (in some countries a Boy Scout) is usually between 11 to 18 years of age. Because of the large age and [development span, many Scouting associations have split this [[Age groups in Scouting and Guiding|age group]] in a junior and a senior section. Scouts are organized into [[Scout Troop|troops]] averaging twenty to thirty Scouts under guidance of one or more [[Scout Leader]]s. Troops subdivide into [[patrol]]s of about six Scouts and engage in outdoor and special interest activities. Troops may affiliate with local, national, and international organizations. Some national Scouting associations have special interest programs such as [[Air Scouts]], [[Sea Scout]]s, outdoor [[high adventure]], Scouting bands, and rider scouts. Some troops, especially in Europe, have been [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]] since the 1970s, allowing boys and girls to work together as Scouts.


== Foundation ==
== Foundation ==
{{main|Scouting}}
{{main|Scouting}}
Robert Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scouts as an organization in 1908, a few months after the first scout encampment at [[Brownsea Island Scout Camp]] in 1907.<ref>{{cite book| | author = Woolgar, Brian| coauthors = La Riviere, Sheila| year = 2002| title = Why Brownsea? The Beginnings of Scouting | publisher = Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Management Committee}}</ref> Baden-Powell got the idea from his experiences with the British Army in [[South Africa]]. To advance his ideas, Baden-Powell wrote ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' for boy readership, which describes the [[Scout method]] of outdoor activities aiming at developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth.<ref name="notestobook2004">{{cite book | first = Elleke | last = Boehmer | title = Notes to 2004 edition of Scouting for Boys | year = 2004 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = [[Oxford]] }}</ref> Many boys joined in Scouting activities so that the movement grew rapidly to become the world's largest youth organization.
[[Robert Baden-Powell]] founded the Boy Scouts as an organization in 1908, a few months after the first scout encampment at [[Brownsea Island Scout camp]] in 1907.<ref>{{cite book | author = Woolgar, Brian| coauthors = La Riviere, Sheila| year = 2002| title = Why Brownsea? The Beginnings of Scouting | publisher = Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Management Committee}}</ref> Baden-Powell got the idea from his experiences with the British Army in South Africa. To advance his ideas, Baden-Powell wrote ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' for boy readership, which describes the [[Scout method]] of outdoor activities aiming at developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth.<ref name="notestobook2004">{{cite book | first = Elleke | last = Boehmer | title = Notes to 2004 edition of Scouting for Boys | year = 2004 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = Oxford }}</ref> Many boys joined Scouting activities, resulting in the movement growing rapidly to become the world's largest youth organization.


The Boy Scout program is designed to develop youths who have a high degree of self-reliance, initiative, courage, helpfulness, integrity and resourcefulness. Boy Scouts should be helpful; understand their society, heritage, and culture; have respect for the rights of others; and be positive leader-citizens.<ref name="whatis">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-503.html | title = What is Boy Scouting? Purpose of the BSA | format = | work = | publisher = [[Boy Scouts of America]] | accessdate = 2006-07-27}}</ref><ref name="ukwhatis">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.scouts.org.uk/aboutus/index.htm | title = About Our World | format = | work = | publisher = The Scout Association | accessdate = 2006-07-27}}</ref>
The Scout program is designed to develop youths who have a high degree of self-reliance, initiative, courage, helpfulness, integrity, and resourcefulness. Scouts should be helpful; understand their society, heritage, and culture; have respect for the rights of others; and be positive leader-citizens.<ref name="whatis">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-503.aspx | title = What is Boy Scouting? Purpose of the BSA | format = | work = | publisher = [[Boy Scouts of America]] | accessdate = 2006-07-27}}</ref><ref name="ukwhatis">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.scouts.org.uk/aboutus/index.htm | title = About Our World | format = | work = | publisher = The Scout Association | accessdate = 2006-07-27}}</ref>


Originally, the Boy Scout program was aimed at 11-16 year old boys. However, the younger brothers of Boy Scouts started to attend Troop meetings, and so the [[Cub Scout|Wolf Cub]] section was started. It was also evident that young girls wanted to participate in similar activities, but the Edwardian values at the time would not allow young boys and girls to "rough and tumble" together, causing the [[Girl Guides|Guide Movement]] to be created.
Over time, the Scout program has been reviewed and updated in many of the countries where it is run, and special interest programs developed such as [[Air Scouts]], [[Sea Scouts]], outdoor [[high adventure]], Scouting bands, and rider scouts, but the same core values and principles as Baden-Powell originally envisaged still apply.


Over time, the Boy Scout program has been reviewed and updated in many of the countries where it is run, but the same core values and principles as Baden-Powell originally envisaged still apply.  
=== Age groups and sections ===
{{main|Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding}}
Originally, the Scout program was aimed at 11- to 16-year-old boys. However, the younger brothers of Boy Scouts started to attend Troop meetings, and so the [[Cub Scout]] section was started. It was also evident that young girls wanted to participate in similar activities, but the Edwardian values at the time would not allow young boys and girls to "rough and tumble" together, causing the [[Girl Guide and Girl Scout|Guide Movement]] to be created.


While most Boy Scouts may join a troop after finishing Cub Scouts, this is not required. He may later join another affiliated program for older boys while simultaneously still being a member of a Boy Scout troop or a [[Scout Group]], such as Exploring or Venturing.
While most Scouts may join a troop after finishing Cub Scouts, this is not required. As Scouts get older, they often seek more challenging and diverse activities. He may later join another affiliated program for older boys and girls, such as Exploring, Venturing, or [[Rover Scouts|Rovering]].


== Activities ==
== Activities ==
[[Image:ScoutFun.png|thumb|right|float|300px|Boy Scouts having fun at a campfire ring at summer camp]]
{{main|Scout method}}
A Boy Scout learns the cornerstones of the Scout method, [[Scout Promise]], and [[Scout Law]]. These are designed to instill character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership in boys through a structured program of outdoor activities.<ref name="constitution">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = April 2000 | url = http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/resource_centre/institutional_documents/constitution_of_w_o_s_m | title = Constitution of WOSM | format = PDF | work = | publisher = World Organization of the Scout Movement | accessdate = 2006-07-10}}, p. 2-15</ref><ref name="goodturn">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1998 | url = http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/resource_centre/library/the_scout_library/adult_resources_and_management/scouting_an_educational_system | title = Scouting: An Educational System | format = PDF | work = | publisher = World Organization of the Scout Movement | accessdate = 2006-07-10}}, p. 9</ref> Common ways to implement the Scout method include spending time together in small groups with shared experiences, rituals, and activities; as well as emphasizing good citizenship and decision-making that are age-level appropriate. Cultivating a love and appreciation of the outdoors and outdoor activities are key elements. Primary activities include [[camping]], [[woodcraft]], [[first aid]], [[aquatics]], [[hiking]], [[backpacking]], and [[sports]].
[[Image:ScoutFun.png|thumb|right|float|200px|Boy Scouts at a campfire ring at summer camp]]
A Scout learns the cornerstones of the Scout method, [[Scout Promise]], and [[Scout Law]]. These are designed to instill character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership in boys through a structured program of outdoor activities.<ref name="constitution">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | month = April | year = 2000 | url = http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/resource_centre/institutional_documents/constitution_of_w_o_s_m | title = Constitution of WOSM | format = PDF | work = | publisher = World Organization of the Scout Movement | accessdate = 2006-07-10}}, p. 2-15</ref><ref name="goodturn">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1998 | url = http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/resource_centre/library/the_scout_library/adult_resources_and_management/scouting_an_educational_system | title = Scouting: An Educational System | format = PDF | work = | publisher = World Organization of the Scout Movement | accessdate = 2006-07-10}}, p. 9</ref> Common ways to implement the Scout method include spending time together in small groups with shared experiences, rituals, and activities, as well as emphasizing good citizenship and decision-making that are age-level appropriate. Cultivating a love and appreciation of the outdoors and outdoor activities are key elements. Primary activities include [[camping]], [[woodcraft]], [[first aid]], aquatics, [[hiking]], [[Backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]], and sports.
 
Scouts are known throughout the world for performing acts of public good and sometimes acts of heroism.  For example, a boy Scout foiled a 2008 assassination attempt on [[Maldives]]' President [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]] by "grabbing an attacker's knife as the man leapt from a crowd and lunged at the leader."<ref>"Boy Foils Attempt on Maldives President," by Krishan Francis, ''AP'', 9 Jan 2008. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/ap_on_re_as/maldives_assassination_attempt</ref>  The scout, Ibrahim Jaisham, a male member of the co-educational [[The Scout Association of Maldives]], sustained minor injuries during the intervention and was subsequently treated.<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iSwQqgfQjMkNXA8Bt7Ybo8guFfNg  afp.google.com, Boy Scout saves Maldives president from assassination]</ref><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/08/maldives.assassination.attempt/index.html cnn.com, Boy Scout foils attack on Maldives president]</ref>


=== Fellowship ===
=== Fellowship ===
Camping most often occurs on a unit level, such as in the troop, but there are periodic [[camporee]]s and [[jamboree (Scouting)|jamborees]]. Camporees are events where units from a local area camp together for a weekend. These occur a couple times a year and usually have a theme, such as [[pioneering]]. Jamborees are large events on a national or international level held every four years where thousands of Scouts camp together for 1-2 weeks. Activities at these events include games, scoutcraft competitions, [[Scouting memorabilia collecting|patch trading]], aquatics, woodcarving, archery, and rifle and shotgun shooting.
Camping most often occurs on a unit level, such as in the troop, but there are periodic [[camporee]]s and [[jamboree (Scouting)|jamborees]]. Camporees are events where units from a local area camp together for a weekend. These occur a couple times a year and usually have a theme, such as [[pioneering]]. Jamborees are large events on a national or international level held every four years where thousands of Scouts camp together for one to two weeks. Activities at these events include games, scoutcraft competitions, [[Scouting memorabilia collecting|patch trading]], aquatics, woodcarving, archery, and rifle and shotgun shooting.


For many Scouts and Scouters, the highlight of the year is spending at least a week in the summer as part of an outdoor activity. This can be a long event such as camping, hiking, sailing, canoeing, or kayaking with the unit or a summer camp operated on a council, state, or provincial level. Scouts attending a summer camp, generally one week during the summer, work on merit badges, advancement, and perfecting scoutcraft skills. Some summer camps operate specialty programs for older Scouts, such as [[sailing]], backpacking, [[canoeing]] and [[whitewater]], [[caving]], and [[fishing]].
For many Scouts and Scouters, the highlight of the year is spending at least a week in the summer as part of an outdoor activity. This can be a long event such as camping, hiking, sailing, canoeing, or kayaking with the unit or a summer camp operated on a council, state, or provincial level. Scouts attending a summer camp, generally one week during the summer, work on merit badges, advancement, and perfecting scoutcraft skills. Some summer camps operate specialty programs, such as [[sailing]], backpacking, [[canoeing]] and [[whitewater]], [[caving]], and [[fishing]].


=== Working for ranks and merit badges ===
=== Personal progression ===
All Scouting organizations have an advancement program whereby the Scout learns [[scoutcraft]], community service, leadership and explores areas of interest to him at an increasingly difficult level. The lower ranks focus mostly on basic Scouting skills. Requirements for demonstrating leadership, community service and learning about other topics, such as possible career areas, generally come in the middle and upper ranks. Scouts are recognized by being awarded ranks and badges of recognition, such as [[Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)|merit badges]], which are called proficiency badges in some countries. Merit badges are awarded for a variety of fields, such as mastering advanced scoutcraft, sports, aquatics, ecology, citizenship, and academics.<ref name="usscoutsadv">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://usscouts.org/advancementTOC.asp | title = Advancement Table of Contents | format = | work = | publisher = US Scouts.org | accessdate = 2006-07-26}}, p. 2-15</ref><ref name="advguidebsa">{{cite book | first = | last = | title = Advancement Committee Guidge: Policy and Procedures | year = 2004 | publisher = Boy Scouts of America | location = Irving, TX |id = ISBN 0-8395-3088-9}}</ref>
A large part, compared to younger and older sections, of the activities are related to personal progression. All Scouting organizations have an advancement program, whereby the Scout learns [[scoutcraft]], community service, leadership, and explores areas of interest to him. This Badge system or Personal Progressive Scheme is based on two complementary elements:
* Proficiency (Merit) badges, which are intended to encourage the Scout to learn a subject which could be his work or hobby, so cover many different types of activities, not always related to Scouting.
* Class badges or Progress system, which symbolize increasingly difficult levels or successive stages.


All Scouting associations have a highest rank that require mastering scoutcraft, leadership, and performing community service. Only a small percentage of Scouts attain them. In the Scouting associations of many member states of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the highest rank is the [[Queen's Scout|Queen's Scout or King's Scout Award]]. In the United States it is the [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout Award]]. Since the [[Boy Scouts of the Philippines]] is an outgrowth of Scouting in the United States, [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of the Philippines)|Eagle Scout]] is also the highest award. Other worldwide Scouting groups have the Baden-Powell Award ([[Baden-Powell Scouts]]), [[Crown Scout]] ([[Guidisme et Scoutisme en Belgique|The Guides and Scouts Movement of Belgium]]), [[Pramuka Garuda]] ([[Gerakan Pramuka|Indonesian Scouting]]), King Scout ([[The National Scout Organization of Thailand]]), and [[Chief Scout's Award (Canada)|Chief Scout's Award]] ([[Scouts Canada]]).
Most Scouting associations have a [[List of highest awards in Scouting|highest badge]] that require mastering scoutcraft, leadership, and performing community service. Only a small percentage of Scouts attain them.
 
As Scouts get older, they often seek more challenging and diverse activities. To meet this demand, programs such as [[Air Scouts]], [[Sea Scouts]], [[Venturing (Boy Scouts of America)|Venturing]] and [[Exploring (Learning for Life)|Exploring]] in America, [[Explorer Scouts]] in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Rover Scouts|Rovering]] and Venturing.


== Unit affiliation ==
== Unit affiliation ==
=== Troop ===
=== Troop ===
The troop is the fundamental unit of the Boy Scouts. This is the group a Boy Scout joins and via which he participates in Scouting activities, such as camping, backpacking, and canoeing. The troop leadership, youth and adult, organizes and provides support for these activities. It may include as few as a half-dozen boys, or as many as seventy or more. Troops usually meet weekly. A troop is often sponsored by a community organization such as a business, service organization, school, labor group veterran's group, or religious institution. The chartering organization is responsible for providing a meeting place and promoting a good program. A key component of the ''Scout method'' is that troops are run by the Scouts under the advice and guidance of adult leaders.<ref name="commguide">{{cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1990 | title = BSA Troop Committee Guidebook | publisher = Boy Scouts of America | location = Irving, TX | id = ISBN 0-8395-6505-4}}</ref>
{{main|Scout troop}}
[[Image:Hike fire trail.jpg|thumb|200px|right| A group of Australian Scouts hike along a fire trail in a national park. Note that Australian scout youth members generally do not wear uniforms except on formal occasions]]
The troop is the fundamental unit of the Scouts. This is the group a Scout joins and via which he participates in Scouting activities, such as camping, backpacking, and canoeing. The troop leadership, youth and adult, organizes and provides support for these activities. It may include as few as a half-dozen Scouts, or as many as seventy or more. Troops usually meet weekly.


=== Patrol ===
=== Patrol ===
Each troop is divided into patrols of six to ten Scouts and use the ''patrol method'', where the Scouts divide into smaller groups within the troop. A patrol's independence from the troop varies among troops and between activities. For instance, a troop typically holds ordinary meetings as a unit. Patrols' autonomy becomes more visible at campouts, where each patrol may set up its own cooking area. However, on a high-adventure trip which only a small part of the troop attends, divisions between patrols may disappear entirely. Patrols may hold meetings and even excursions separately from the rest of the troop, but this is more common in some troops than in others.<ref name="trooporg">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = April 2000 | url = http://usscouts.org/boyscouts/bstroop.html | title = Troop Organization | format = | work = | publisher = US Scouts.org | accessdate = 2006-07-26}}, p. 2-15</ref>
Each troop is divided into patrols of six to ten Scouts and use the ''patrol method'', where the Scouts divide into smaller groups within the troop. A patrol's independence from the troop varies among troops and between activities. For instance, a troop typically holds ordinary meetings as a unit. Patrols' autonomy becomes more visible at campouts, where each patrol may set up its own cooking area. However, on a high adventure trip which only a small part of the troop attends, divisions between patrols may disappear entirely. Patrols may hold meetings and even excursions separately from the rest of the troop, but this is more common in some troops than in others.<ref name="trooporg">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | month = April | year = 2000 | url = http://usscouts.org/boyscouts/bstroop.html | title = Troop Organization | format = | work = | publisher = US Scouts.org | accessdate = 2006-07-26}}, p. 2-15</ref> Each patrol has a Patrol Leader (PL) and  Assistant Patrol Leader (APL). Some troops mix older and younger Scouts in the same patrols, so that the older Scouts can teach the younger ones more effectively, other troops group Scouts by age, so that the members of one patrol have more in common.
 
Some troops mix older and younger Scouts in the same patrols, so that the older boys can teach the younger ones more effectively. Other troops group boys by age, and may assign an older boy as a "troop guide" to mentor each of the younger patrols.
 
=== Leadership in the troop ===
Every troop has two separate leadership structures: one consisting of Scouts and another consisting of adults. The adult leadership manages the logistics of troop activities, administers rank advancement and awards, maintains troop records and finance, and recruits new Scouts and adult leaders. The youth leadership keeps order and coordinates labor at activities. Scouts and adults cooperate to plan agendas for troop meetings, as well as the troop's schedule of outings.
 
An adult responsible for a Scout (usually a parent) may join the troop committee. The committee, in turn, selects a chair and appoints its members to specific positions, most importantly those of the [[Scoutmaster]] (or Section Leader) and his assistants. While all adult leaders work for the committee chair, the Scoutmaster is the adult directly responsible for the troop's program. These leaders must complete special training mandated by their Scouting association. The top level leader training course around the world is [[Wood Badge]].<ref name="commguide"/>
 
The youth leadership is headed by a senior patrol leader (SPL), who works closely with the Scoutmaster to run troop activities. He is expected to attend most meetings and outings. While the SPL is directly responsible for running the troop, he shares that responsibility with one or more assistants (Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders or ASPLs). Following the ''Scout method'', a troop is "boy-run". Other troop-wide positions of responsibility exist and their duties vary from country to country.<ref name="trooporg"/>
 
The SPL is elected by the entire troop, from a list of candidates approved by the Scoutmaster. He then cooperates with the Scoutmaster to appoint the other troop-wide leaders. Likewise, each patrol elects a Patrol Leader (PL), who appoints his Assistant Patrol Leader(s) (APL). Many youth leadership positions require training. All youth leaders may serve six-month terms. Many Scouting associations have training programs for Scouts holding leadership positions within their troop.


=== Group ===
=== Group ===
{{main|Scout Group}}
{{main|Scout Group}}
In many countries a local organisation, a "Scout Group", combines different sections together into a single body. In other countries, the different sections are independent of each other, although they might be sponsored or chartered by the same organisation, such as a Church. Scout Groups can consist of any number of Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, and Beaver Scout Colonies. In some countries Rover Scout crews and Venture Scout crews can be part of a Scout Group.
In most countries a local organisation, a "Scout Group", combines different sections together into a single body. Scout Groups can consist of any number of sections of the different [[Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding]]. Scout Groups can be single sex or have boys and girls in separate and/or co-ed sections depending on the group and the national organization. In some countries, the different sections are independent of each other, although they might be sponsored or chartered by the same organisation, such as a church.
 
=== Organization above the troop or group level ===
One or more troops and one or more other sections or groups can form a district. These are troops or groups that are located near each other geographically and provide mutual support, advice and district level encampments a couple of times per year. In some countries, this is the first level at which the troop has contact with professional Scouters from its association. In some associations districts are organized into regions or councils. It is this level of an association that generally operates very large outings. Above these levels there is a national association. Most national association are member of the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]] (WOSM) and/or the [[World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts]] (WAGGGS), some are member of the [[Order of World Scouts]], the [[World Federation of Independent Scouts]], the [[Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe|International Union of the Guides and Scouts of Europe]] (UIGSE) or [[Confédération Européenne de Scoutisme|Confederation of European Scouts]] (CES) and others are non-aligned.


== Uniforms ==
== Uniforms ==
The Scout uniform is a specific characteristic of Scouting. In the words of Lord Robert Baden-Powell at the [[5th World Scout Jamboree|1937 World Jamboree]], it "hides all differences of social standing in a country and makes for equality; but, more important still, it covers differences of country and race and creed, and makes all feel that they are members with one another of the one great brotherhood".<ref name="uniform">{{cite web | last = Wade | first = E.K. | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1957 | url = http://pinetreeweb.com/wade12.htm | title = 27 Years With Baden-Powell | format = PDF | work = Why the Uniform?, ch 12 | publisher = Pinetree.web | accessdate = 2006-07-24}}</ref> The original uniform, which has created a familiar image in the public eye and had a very military appearance, consisted of a khaki button-up [[shirt]], shorts and a broad-brimmed [[campaign hat]]. Baden-Powell himself wore shorts as he felt that being dressed like the youth contributed to reducing distances between the adult and the young person.
The Scout uniform is a specific characteristic of Scouting. The original uniform, which has created a familiar image in the public eye and had a very military appearance, consisted of a khaki button-up [[shirt]], shorts, and a broad-brimmed [[campaign hat]].


Uniforms have become much more functional and colorful since the beginning and are now frequently blue, orange, red or green, and shorts are replaced by long trousers in areas where the culture calls for modesty, and in winter weather. T-Shirts and other more casual wear have also replaced the more formal button-up uniforms in many Scouting regions.
Uniforms have become much more functional and colorful since the beginning and are now frequently blue, orange, red, or green, and shorts are replaced by long trousers in areas where the culture calls for modesty, and in winter weather. T-shirts and other more casual wear have also replaced the more formal [[button|button-up]] uniforms in many Scouting regions.


To show the unity of all Scouts, the World Membership Badge ([[World Crest]]) is a part of all uniforms. [[Neckerchief]]s and [[Woggle]]s (slides)  are still quite common, but some Scouting associations do not use them. Patches for leadership positions, ranks, special achievements, troop- or group- numbers or names, and country or regional affiliation are standard.
To show the unity of all Scouts, the World Membership Badge ([[World Crest]]) or another badge with a fleur-de-lis is a part of all uniforms. [[Neckerchief]]s and [[Woggle]]s (slides)  are still quite common, but some Scouting associations do not use them. Patches for leadership positions, ranks, special achievements, patrol- animals, colors or names, troop- or group- numbers or names, and country or regional affiliation are standard.
 
Scout shops sell uniforms, Scouting literature, badges, and other items such as camping equipment for local Scouts, and Scout souvenir items for visiting foreign Scouts. The shops are usually located at the local branch office of the Scout organization and may be run professionally or by volunteers.


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Ernest Thompson Seton]]
* [[Religion in Scouting]]
* [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]]
* [[World Rover Moot]]
* [[World Scout Jamboree]]


== References ==
== References ==
<div class="references-small">
{{reflist}}
<references />
</div>
 
{{Scouting Sections
| organization = [[Scouting]]
| sectionA = [[Beavers (Scouting)|Beaver Scouts]]
| sectionB = [[Cub Scout]]s
| sectionC = [[Boy Scout]]s
| sectionD = [[Rover Scout]]s
}}
{{IntlScoutsGuides}}


[[Category:Scouting]]
[[Category:Age section]]
[[Category:Age section]]


[[eo:Skolto]]
[[es:Scout]]
[[fr:Éclaireurs]]
[[fr:Éclaireurs]]
[[it:Esploratore]]
[[it:Esploratore]]
[[nl:Verkenners]]
[[nl:Verkenners]]

Revision as of 17:57, 21 July 2013

For girl troops see: Girl Guide and Girl Scout.
Scouts coming from various nations sing at the European Jamboree 2005

A Scout (in some countries a Boy Scout) is usually between 11 to 18 years of age. Because of the large age and [development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group in a junior and a senior section. Scouts are organized into troops averaging twenty to thirty Scouts under guidance of one or more Scout Leaders. Troops subdivide into patrols of about six Scouts and engage in outdoor and special interest activities. Troops may affiliate with local, national, and international organizations. Some national Scouting associations have special interest programs such as Air Scouts, Sea Scouts, outdoor high adventure, Scouting bands, and rider scouts. Some troops, especially in Europe, have been co-educational since the 1970s, allowing boys and girls to work together as Scouts.

Foundation

Robert Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scouts as an organization in 1908, a few months after the first scout encampment at Brownsea Island Scout camp in 1907.[1] Baden-Powell got the idea from his experiences with the British Army in South Africa. To advance his ideas, Baden-Powell wrote Scouting for Boys for boy readership, which describes the Scout method of outdoor activities aiming at developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth.[2] Many boys joined Scouting activities, resulting in the movement growing rapidly to become the world's largest youth organization.

The Scout program is designed to develop youths who have a high degree of self-reliance, initiative, courage, helpfulness, integrity, and resourcefulness. Scouts should be helpful; understand their society, heritage, and culture; have respect for the rights of others; and be positive leader-citizens.[3][4]

Over time, the Scout program has been reviewed and updated in many of the countries where it is run, and special interest programs developed such as Air Scouts, Sea Scouts, outdoor high adventure, Scouting bands, and rider scouts, but the same core values and principles as Baden-Powell originally envisaged still apply.

Age groups and sections

Originally, the Scout program was aimed at 11- to 16-year-old boys. However, the younger brothers of Boy Scouts started to attend Troop meetings, and so the Cub Scout section was started. It was also evident that young girls wanted to participate in similar activities, but the Edwardian values at the time would not allow young boys and girls to "rough and tumble" together, causing the Guide Movement to be created.

While most Scouts may join a troop after finishing Cub Scouts, this is not required. As Scouts get older, they often seek more challenging and diverse activities. He may later join another affiliated program for older boys and girls, such as Exploring, Venturing, or Rovering.

Activities

File:ScoutFun.png
Boy Scouts at a campfire ring at summer camp

A Scout learns the cornerstones of the Scout method, Scout Promise, and Scout Law. These are designed to instill character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership in boys through a structured program of outdoor activities.[5][6] Common ways to implement the Scout method include spending time together in small groups with shared experiences, rituals, and activities, as well as emphasizing good citizenship and decision-making that are age-level appropriate. Cultivating a love and appreciation of the outdoors and outdoor activities are key elements. Primary activities include camping, woodcraft, first aid, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports.

Scouts are known throughout the world for performing acts of public good and sometimes acts of heroism. For example, a boy Scout foiled a 2008 assassination attempt on Maldives' President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom by "grabbing an attacker's knife as the man leapt from a crowd and lunged at the leader."[7] The scout, Ibrahim Jaisham, a male member of the co-educational The Scout Association of Maldives, sustained minor injuries during the intervention and was subsequently treated.[8][9]

Fellowship

Camping most often occurs on a unit level, such as in the troop, but there are periodic camporees and jamborees. Camporees are events where units from a local area camp together for a weekend. These occur a couple times a year and usually have a theme, such as pioneering. Jamborees are large events on a national or international level held every four years where thousands of Scouts camp together for one to two weeks. Activities at these events include games, scoutcraft competitions, patch trading, aquatics, woodcarving, archery, and rifle and shotgun shooting.

For many Scouts and Scouters, the highlight of the year is spending at least a week in the summer as part of an outdoor activity. This can be a long event such as camping, hiking, sailing, canoeing, or kayaking with the unit or a summer camp operated on a council, state, or provincial level. Scouts attending a summer camp, generally one week during the summer, work on merit badges, advancement, and perfecting scoutcraft skills. Some summer camps operate specialty programs, such as sailing, backpacking, canoeing and whitewater, caving, and fishing.

Personal progression

A large part, compared to younger and older sections, of the activities are related to personal progression. All Scouting organizations have an advancement program, whereby the Scout learns scoutcraft, community service, leadership, and explores areas of interest to him. This Badge system or Personal Progressive Scheme is based on two complementary elements:

  • Proficiency (Merit) badges, which are intended to encourage the Scout to learn a subject which could be his work or hobby, so cover many different types of activities, not always related to Scouting.
  • Class badges or Progress system, which symbolize increasingly difficult levels or successive stages.

Most Scouting associations have a highest badge that require mastering scoutcraft, leadership, and performing community service. Only a small percentage of Scouts attain them.

Unit affiliation

Troop

A group of Australian Scouts hike along a fire trail in a national park. Note that Australian scout youth members generally do not wear uniforms except on formal occasions

The troop is the fundamental unit of the Scouts. This is the group a Scout joins and via which he participates in Scouting activities, such as camping, backpacking, and canoeing. The troop leadership, youth and adult, organizes and provides support for these activities. It may include as few as a half-dozen Scouts, or as many as seventy or more. Troops usually meet weekly.

Patrol

Each troop is divided into patrols of six to ten Scouts and use the patrol method, where the Scouts divide into smaller groups within the troop. A patrol's independence from the troop varies among troops and between activities. For instance, a troop typically holds ordinary meetings as a unit. Patrols' autonomy becomes more visible at campouts, where each patrol may set up its own cooking area. However, on a high adventure trip which only a small part of the troop attends, divisions between patrols may disappear entirely. Patrols may hold meetings and even excursions separately from the rest of the troop, but this is more common in some troops than in others.[10] Each patrol has a Patrol Leader (PL) and Assistant Patrol Leader (APL). Some troops mix older and younger Scouts in the same patrols, so that the older Scouts can teach the younger ones more effectively, other troops group Scouts by age, so that the members of one patrol have more in common.

Group

In most countries a local organisation, a "Scout Group", combines different sections together into a single body. Scout Groups can consist of any number of sections of the different Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding. Scout Groups can be single sex or have boys and girls in separate and/or co-ed sections depending on the group and the national organization. In some countries, the different sections are independent of each other, although they might be sponsored or chartered by the same organisation, such as a church.

Uniforms

The Scout uniform is a specific characteristic of Scouting. The original uniform, which has created a familiar image in the public eye and had a very military appearance, consisted of a khaki button-up shirt, shorts, and a broad-brimmed campaign hat.

Uniforms have become much more functional and colorful since the beginning and are now frequently blue, orange, red, or green, and shorts are replaced by long trousers in areas where the culture calls for modesty, and in winter weather. T-shirts and other more casual wear have also replaced the more formal button-up uniforms in many Scouting regions.

To show the unity of all Scouts, the World Membership Badge (World Crest) or another badge with a fleur-de-lis is a part of all uniforms. Neckerchiefs and Woggles (slides) are still quite common, but some Scouting associations do not use them. Patches for leadership positions, ranks, special achievements, patrol- animals, colors or names, troop- or group- numbers or names, and country or regional affiliation are standard.

See also

References

  1. Woolgar, Brian; La Riviere, Sheila (2002). Why Brownsea? The Beginnings of Scouting. Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Management Committee. 
  2. Boehmer, Elleke (2004). Notes to 2004 edition of Scouting for Boys. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
  3. "What is Boy Scouting? Purpose of the BSA". Boy Scouts of America. http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-503.aspx. Retrieved 2006-07-27. 
  4. "About Our World". The Scout Association. http://www.scouts.org.uk/aboutus/index.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-27. 
  5. "Constitution of WOSM" (PDF). World Organization of the Scout Movement. April 2000. http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/resource_centre/institutional_documents/constitution_of_w_o_s_m. Retrieved 2006-07-10. , p. 2-15
  6. "Scouting: An Educational System" (PDF). World Organization of the Scout Movement. 1998. http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/resource_centre/library/the_scout_library/adult_resources_and_management/scouting_an_educational_system. Retrieved 2006-07-10. , p. 9
  7. "Boy Foils Attempt on Maldives President," by Krishan Francis, AP, 9 Jan 2008. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080109/ap_on_re_as/maldives_assassination_attempt
  8. afp.google.com, Boy Scout saves Maldives president from assassination
  9. cnn.com, Boy Scout foils attack on Maldives president
  10. "Troop Organization". US Scouts.org. April 2000. http://usscouts.org/boyscouts/bstroop.html. Retrieved 2006-07-26. , p. 2-15