Robert
Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell was the
founder of Scouting. He was Born on
22
Febuary 1857.
B-P’s father died when he was three years old, and his early education
was at home, where his mother encouraged him to learn about animals, plants and
birds. B-P soon discovered he could draw very well using either hand, and he
became expert at imitating bird calls.
B-P attended Rose Hill School, in Tunbridge Wells and then won a Scholarship to Charterhouse
School in London. It was here that
he explored his interest of wood-craft and learned lots of his scouting skills. Although officially off limits, he would sneak out into the wood
surrounding his school where he learned to move
silently to avoid detection. He also caught and cooked rabbits and other
animals, being careful not to give
his position away with smoke.
After school, at the age of 19 B-P, joined the army and did so well in
his entrance exams that he was immediately posted as an officer with the 13th
Hussars in India. He gained rapid
promotion and had many famous victories, making him a hero to the British
public.
During the Boer War in Africa, Colonel Baden-Powell decided to tie up
large numbers of Boer Troops by holding the strategically important town of Mafeking
in South Africa, and the Siege of
Mafeking became one of the most important actions of the war. B-P’s book called
'Aids to Scouting' sold well both to the military and public at large, and
particularly appealed to teenage boys.
In 1907 B-P re-wrote 'Aids
to Scouting', to aim it at a younger audience and called it 'Scouting for
Boys'.
Later that year he ran an experimental camp with 22 boys from
different backgrounds, on Brownsea
Island,
Poole Harbour, Dorset to try out his
ideas. In 1908 B-P republished his
book as “Scouting for Boys”, in 6 fortnightly installments, boys started to buy
this and create their own Patrols. Troops were then formed and Scouting began.
From there it spread all over the world. B-P ran a camp for another group of
Boy Scouts in Humshaugh, Northumbria - this was
the first true Scout camp.
In the next ten years Girl Guides, Wolf Cubs and Rover Scouts started,
and Scout Rallies were held in the major cities of Great Britain. In 1920 the first international Scout Jamboree was held and B-P was named Chief
Scout of the world.
In the following ten years B-P visited many countries to establish
Scouting across the world. Gilwell Park was presented to the Movement for the
Woodcraft training of Scouters.
B-P died on January 8th 1941 and was buried in Nyeri at the
base of Mount Kenya.
He had the remarkable experience of seeing the movement grow from the
tiny acorn of a small group of children camped on Brownsea Island into a
Brotherhood and Sisterhood which embraces almost the whole world.
The
Baden-Powell Scout's Association was formed
in 1970, following moves by the Scout Association in the mid 1960s to modernize
their image. Founders of our Association felt that rest of the Scout Movement
was abandoning the traditions and intentions set out by B-P. The Baden-Powell
Scouts retain the belief that essence of the movement should be based on
outdoor activities related to the skills of explorers and backwoodsmen.
It is a voluntary, educational charity movement for young people. It
is independent, non-political, nonmilitary, and open to all without distinction
of origin, race, creed or gender, in accordance with the purpose, principles
and method conceived by Robert Baden-Powell.
As an independent Scout Association, B-PSA are members of the the
World Federation of
Independent Scouts (WFIS). The WFIS was formed in 1996 and is a world
body that recognizes Independent Scouts Associations which teach traditional
Scouting values, in countries across the globe.
