THE WORLD SCOUT BADGE

The Scout emblem which has been worn by an estimated 250 million Scouts since the Movement was founded and is today still used by 16 million Scouts in 150 countries and territories, is one of the world's best known symbols. But Scouts and members of the public often ask how the emblem originated.

History of the Design

The basic design was in use for centuries before it came to indicate North on a compass. The Chinese are known to have used it as a direction symbol as early as 2000BC. The Larousse Encyclopaedia notes that some Etruscan bronzes and Roman ornaments carried the design, and it has been found on ancient monuments in Egypt and India.

Its use as a navigation aid in Europe probably dates from the end of the 13th Century when Marco Polo brought back a compass from Cathay. The Grand Encyclopaedia credits an Italian marine pilot, Flavio Gioja of Amalfi, for drawing it as a North Point on a primitive compass he built.

The Encyclopedia Britannica gives another interesting version of the origin of the design. This is that it derives from the "Wind Rose" which is much older than the magnetic compass and first appeared on the charts of Mediterranean sea pilots. The eight main wind directions were shown by Greek letters and the North Wind marked "T" for Tramontana. In time, the "T" was embellished or combined with an arrowhead so that it was no longer recognisable as "T".

The design is much used elsewhere. It appears in ornate versions on heraldic coats of arms, and in many decorative designs. Sometimes it is meant to represent a lance or spearhead, a lily (Fleur de Lys) and even a bee or a toad.

So, today, as the symbol continues to point the way for navigators so, all over the world, it points the way to service and brotherhood for all members of the Scout Movement.

From SCOUT FACTS, World Scout Bureau, World Organization of the Scout Movement, June, 1985

What the emblem means

The Encircling Rope symbolises the unity and family of the World Scout Movement

THE REEF KNOT which can't be undone no matter how hard it is pulled, is symbolic of the strength of world Scouting's unity and family

THE TWO FIVE POINT STARS stand for truth and knowledge. The ten points represent the ten points of the original Scout Law

• Honourable
• Loyal
• Helpful
• Friendly
• Courteous
• Kind
• Obedient
• Cheerful
• Thrifty
• Clean

THE THREE TIPS represent the three main parts of the Promise,

• Duty to God and country
• Help other people
• Keep the Scout Law

The World Emblem is white, on a royal purple background, in heraldry , white or silver represents purity and royal purple denotes leadership and service.

Scouting Timeline

Scouting Timeline

Scouting has a long and exciting history, and there are many sites dedicated to telling the story. Here is a list of some of the more important dates in the history of Scouting. Some of the events are links to the Wikipedia and Scoutwiki websites.

February 1857

Robert Stephenson Smyth Powell, later Baden-Powell, was born.

1899

B-P becomes a national hero during the Siege of Mafeking.

1900

Two boys write to tell B-P that thay have formed the 'Baden-Powell Scouting Society'.

August 1907

Experimental camp on Brownsea Island

January 1908

Part One of Scouting for Boys published.

August 1908

First official Scout Camp run by Baden-Powell at Humshaugh.

May 1909

The 'British Boy Scouts' are formed.

August 1909

Camp on TS Mercury leads to the formation of Sea Scouts.

1910

'The Boy Scout Association' is formed.

January 1910

Girl Guides begin.

September 1910

First annual census - 100,298 Scouts and 7,688 Scouters.

May 1916

Scout Jack Cornwell posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, aged 16.

September 1916

Cornwell Medal instituted.

December 1916

Wolf Cub Section started.

August 1918

Senior Scouts renamed as Rover Scouts.

July 1920

First World Scout Jamboree held at Olympia, London.

July 1923

The woggle is introduced for holding the necker.

October 1932

First Gang Show is produced by Ralph Reader.

November 1935

A new design for the Thanks Badge is designed, replacing the swastika design.

February 1939

National Service Badge introduced.

September 1939

Germany invades Poland - start of WW2.

January 1941

Baden-Powell dies at Paxtu, Nyeri, Kenya.

January 1941

Air Scouts officially recognised.

May 1945

Germany surrenders.

August 1945

Japan surrenders - WW2 is over.

August 1946

An organisation for British Scouts in Germany is formed.

April 1949

First "Bob-a-job" week.

November 1950

Scouts forbidden to hitchhike unless in an emergency.

February 1959

The Boy Scout Association joins the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

November 1961

Long trousers are introduced as an option for Senior Scouts and Rovers.

September 1967

The "Advance Party Report" is published, changing the nature of Scouting in Britain.

July 1970

The Scout Action Group publish "The Black Report", asking for traditional Scouting to be allowed to continue.

September 1970

The Baden-Powell Scout's Association breaks from the The Boy - Scout Association, with Lady Baden-Powell's support and her gifting the use of the Baden-Powell name.

1973Beavers were first formed in Canada
June 1977

Olave, Lady Baden-Powell dies, aged 88.
1982
Beavers start in the B-PSA

2002

First WFIS Jamboree held in Denmak - over 850 Scouts attend from all over the world

July 2007

B-PSA Centenary Camp held to mark the anniversary of the Brownsea Camp.

Second WFIS Jamboree held in Medellín, Colombia - over 3000 Scouts attend from all over the world.

August 2008

Jamboree 2008 marks the centenary of the the first Scout Camp.

Janurary 2009

B-PSA UK Launches its new website!

August 2010

B-PSA UK join 1300 Scouts from all over the world in Germany at EUROCAMP 2010

August 2014

B-PSA UK join 2000 Scouts from all over the world in Italy at EUROCAMP 2014

Milestones of World Scouting

Many recurring events are mentioned only the first time they were held.

1857	February 22, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell born in Paddington, London England.
1889	February 22, Olave St. Clair Soames was born. She married Baden-Powell in 1912.
1907	Baden-Powell's experimental camp, Brownsea Island, England, August 1-9.
1908	"Scouting for Boys" published. Boy Scouts office opened in London.
1916	Cub section started. "Wolf Cub's Handbook" published.
1919	Gilwell Park acquired. Start of leaders' training courses.
1920	1st World Jamboree, Olympia, London, England, 8,000 participants. Baden-Powell acclaimed Chief Scout of the World. 1st International Scout Conference; 33 national Scout organizations represented. Boy Scouts International Bureau founded, London, England.
1921	International magazine "Jamboree" first published (title changed to "World Scouting" in 1955, and now is World Scouting News).
1922	1st International Committee elected (at 2nd International Conference, Paris, France). 30 national Scout organizations represented. First world census: 1,019,205 members in 31 countries. Venture Scouts started (Rovers).
1924	2nd World Jamboree, Copenhagen, Denmark, 4,549 participants. 3rd World Scout Conference, Copenhagen Denmark. 34 national Scout organizations represented.
1925	International Scout Chalet opened, Kandersteg, Switzerland. (Now known as the Kandersteg International Scout Centre)
1926	4th World Scout Conference, Kandersteg, Switzerland. 29 national Scout organizations represented.
1929	3rd World Jamboree, Birkenhead, England. 50,000 participants. 5th World Scout Conference, Birkenhead, England. 33 national Scout organizations represented. Baden-Powell given peerage; takes title Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell.
1931	6th World Scout Conference, Vienna-Baden, Austria. 44 national Scout organizations represented.
1933	4th World Jamboree, Gödöllö, Hungary. 25,793 participants. 7th World Scout Conference, Gödöllö, Hungary. 31 national Scout organizations represented.
1935	8th World Scout Conference, Stockholm, Sweden. 28 national Scout organizations represented.
1937	5th World Jamboree, Vogelenzang-Bloemendaal, Netherlands. 28,750 participants. 9th World Scout Conference, The Hague, Netherlands. 34 national Scout organizations represented.
1939	10th World Scout Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland. 27 national Scout organizations represented.
1941	Death of Baden-Powell, January 8.
1946	1st Inter-American Conference, Bogota, Colombia.
1947	6th World Jamboree (Jamboree of Peace), Moisson, France. 24,152 participants. 11th World Scout Conference, Château de Rosny, France. 32 national Scout organizations represented.
1949	1st Agoon (International camp for handicapped Scouts) Lunteren, Netherlands. 12th World Scout Conference, Elvesaeter, Norway. 25 national Scout organizations represented.
1950	World membership reached 5 million in 50 countries.
1951	7th World Jamboree, Bad Ischl, Austria. 12,884 participants. 13th World Scout Conference, Salzburg, Austria. 34 national Scout organizations represented.
1952	1st Caribbean Jamboree, Kingston, Jamaica. 14th World Scout Conference, Vaduz, Liechtenstein. 35 national Scout organizations represented.
1954	1st Arab Jamboree, Zabadani, Syria.
1955	8th World Jamboree, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. 11,139 participants. 15th World Scout Conference, Niagara Falls, Canada. 44 national Scout organizations represented.
1957	9th World Jamboree (Jubilee, 50th Anniversary of Scouting), Birmingham, England. 30,000 participants. 16th World Scout Conference, Cambridge, England. 52 national Scout organizations represented. World Scout Bureau moved to Ottawa, Canada.
1958	1st Far East Regional Conference, Baguio, Philippines. 1st Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA)
1959	10th World Jamboree, Mt. Makiling, Philippines. 12,203 participants. 17th World Scout Conference, New Delhi, India. 35 national Scout organizations represented.
1960	1st European Regional Conference, Altenberg, Germany.
1961	18th World Scout Conference, Lisbon, Portugal. 50 national Scout organizations represented.
1963	11th World Jamboree, Marathon, Greece. 14,000 participants. 19th World Scout Conference, Rhodes, Greece. 52 national Scout organizations represented.
1965	1st Pan-American Jamboree, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 20th World Scout Conference, Mexico City, Mexico. 59 national Scout organizations represented.
1967	12th World Jamboree, Farragut State Park, Idaho, U.S.A. 12,011 participants. 21st World Scout Conference, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. 70 national organizations represented.
1968	World Scout Bureau headquarters moved to Geneva, Switzerland.
1969	World membership reached 12 million. 22nd World Scout Conference, Otaniemi, Finland. 60 national Scout organizations represented.
1970	1st Africa Conference, Dakar, Senegal.
1971	13th World Jamboree, Asagiri Heights, Japan. 23,758 participants. 23rd World Scout Conference, Tokyo, Japan. 71 national Scout organizations represented. World Organization membership passes 100 member countries.
1972	1st International Community Development Seminar, Cotonou, Dahomey (now Benin).
1973	1st Environment Conservation seminar, Sweden. 24th World Scout Conference, Nairobi, Kenya. 77 national Scout organizations represented.
1975	14th World Jamboree (Nordjamb '75), Lillehammer, Norway. 17,259 participants. 25th World Scout Conference, Lundtofte, Denmark. 87 national Scout organizations represented.
1977	26th World Scout Conference, Montreal, Canada. 81 national Scout organizations represented. Death of Lady Olave Baden-Powell, June 25.
1979	World Jamboree Year: Join-in-Jamboree around the world. 27th World Scout Conference, Birmingham, England. 81 national Scout organizations represented.
1981	UNESCO Prize for Peace Education presented to WOSM. 28th World Scout Conference, Dakar, Senegal. 74 national Scout organizations represented.
1982	Rotary International honours Scout Movement.
1982-3	Year of the Scout - 75th Anniversary of Scouting.
1983	15th World Jamboree, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 14,752 participants. 29th World Scout Conference, Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A. 90 national organizations represented.
1984	Rotary Award for World Understanding. The International Association of Lions Clubs honours Scouting.
1985	UN International Youth Year (1st worldwide programme to be implemented with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). 30th World Scout Conference, Munich Germany. 90 national Scout organizations represented.
1986-7	A child health programme entitled "help children grow" introduced with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and UNICEF. Membership in World Organization reaches 120 countries.
1988	16th World Jamboree, New South Wales, Australia. 13,434 participants. Scouting is honoured by United Nations Environment Programme in recognition of the Movement's outstanding environment achievements. 31st World Scout Conference, Melbourne, Australia. 77 national Scout organizations represented. Implementation of the resolution on "Towards a Strategy for Scouting". Emphasis on Scouting with the handicapped. Several seminars took place all over the world for the promotion of health and handicapped. Dr. Jacques Moreillon, Switzerland, becomes Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. (1 November)
1989	Special Peace Week: Scout activities related to education for peace. 7th Africa Scout Conference in Lomé, Togo. Scouting makes celebrations to mark the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and encourage its ratification by national governments.
1990	32nd World Scout Conference, Paris, France. 1,000 participants representing 100 member countries and guests from seven other countries. Opening of an Information Centre in Moscow. Formal agreement, the Kigali Charter, between 23 Scout and Girl Guide associations for the promotion of programmes of cooperation in the form of twining projects. Memberhsip in World Organization reaches 131 countries "Operation of Solidarity" to enable 1,235 children irradiated by the Chernobyl disaster to be the guests of Scouts and Girl Guides in 15 European countries, in collaboration with UNESCO, the Soviet Children's Fund and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
1990-1	World Scout Environment Year. 8th World Moot, near Melbourne, Australia. 1,000 young adult Scouts from 36 countries. A feature of the Moot was the World Youth Forum.
1991	Creation of the World Scout Parliamentary Union, Korea at its constituent assembly gathering 60 parliamentarians and Scouting officials from 22 countries on 5 continents. 17th World Scout Jamboree, Mount Sorak National Park, Republic of Korea. 20,000 participants representing 135 countries and territories. Introduction of the Global Development Village.
1992	9th World Moot, Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland. 1,400 participants from 52 countries. 35th JOTA: at the invitation of the World Federation of Great Towers, Scouts and Guides had the opportunity to communicate from the tops of 13 towers around the world using the newest communication systems including videophone and television as well as amateur radio. For the first time all five Regional Scout Conferences met in the same year and all will now meet on a triennial basis in the year preceding World Scout Conferences. Creation of Scout Resources International (SCORE), the official Scout Shop of the World Organization.
1993	33rd World Scout Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, with more than 1,000 participants from 99 member countries. Opening of a World Scout organization office in Yalta-Gurzuf in Crimea covering the CIS and related countries.
1994	International symposium on "Scouting: Youth without Borders, Partnership and Solidarity", Marrakech, Morocco. 440 participants representing 118 Scout associations from 94 countries. Adoption of the Marrakech Charter to enhance partnership. Signature of an agreement with UNICEF on Oral Rehydration Therapy, Geneva, Switzerland. The International Public Relations Association bestowed its annual President's Award on to WOSM for "outstanding contribution to better world understanding".
1995	18th World Scout Jamboree, Netherlands. 28,960 Scouts, leaders and staff attended from 166 countries and territories. Operation Flevoland pemitted Scouts from 50 countries to participate. Signing of an agreement of co-operation between the World Scout Organization and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the UN. Youth Forum held by the UN in Geneva, Switzerland; approximately 2/3rd of delegates were or had been Scouts or Girl Guides.
1996	6th World Youth Forum, Moss, Norway. 34th World Scout Conference, Oslo, Norway, with more than 1,000 participants from 108 member countries. 10th World Scout Moot, Sweden. 1st Mongolian Jamboree. 1,200 participants. Membership in World Organization reaches 140 countries.
1997	90th Anniversary of Scouting. Creation of the Eurasia World Scout Region, serving the 12 countries of the C.I.S. 1st official Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI). Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Health Organization, AHM (Leprosy Relief Organization) and WOSM to eliminate leprosy. Opening of an Operations Centre in Dakar, Senegal to serve French Speaking associations in West Africa. 2nd World Scout Parliamentary Union General Assembly, Manila, Philippines. WOSM and four other youth Organizations launch programme to promote the value of non-formal education.
1998	New "World Scout Pin" launched. 19th World Scout Jamboree held in Picarquin, Chile.
1999	WOSM member countries reach 152. 7th World Scout Youth Forum, South Africa 35th World Scout Conference, Durban South Africa, with nearly 1,000 people from 116 countries. Peace Cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean
2000	11th World Scout Moot, Mexico. 5,000 participants, 71 countries 3rd World Scout Parliamentary Union General Assembly, Warsaw, Poland.
2002	WOSM member countries: 154 8th World Scout Youth Forum, Greece 36th World Scout Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece, with 1,225 people from 125 countries. 20th World Scout Jamboree, Sattahip, Thailand. 24,000 participants from 147 countries and territories.
2003	4th World Scout Parliamentary Union General Assembly, Cairo, Egypt. (December) The first World Scout Interreligious Symposium held in Valencia, Spain with representatives of 12 religions and 33 national Scout organizations. (December)
2004	Panafrican Youth Forum on AIDS: a matter of education. Organized by WOSM on behalf of the Alliance of Youth CEO's. Dakar, Senegal. Attended by 300 from 42 countries. (March) Dr. Eduardo Missoni (Italy) becomes Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. (1 April)
2005	World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations’ Millennium Campaign. 9th World Scout Youth Forum, Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia. 37th World Scout Conference, Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia with 122 Member Countries. UNICEF and World Scouting sign Memorandum of Understanding. WOSM member countries: 155
2006	1st Eurasia Jamboree held in Byurakan, Armenia. New World Scout Brand launched in October.
2007	Centenary of Scouting. 150th Anniversary of B-P's birth. 21st World Scout Jamboree, Hylands Park, Chelmsford, United Kingdom. Scouting's Sunrise 1 August. Gifts for Peace project presents more than 120 projects. 50th JOTA. 1st World Congress on Education to be held in Geneva. Mr. Luc Panissod (France) becomes Acting Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (November).
2008	Kazakhstan's National Scout Organization, 'the Organization of the Scout Movement of Kazakhstan (OSMK)', becomes an official member of WOSM on 16 January 2008. 1 July 2008: National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS); Association of Scouts of Montenegro; Scouts of Syria; National Organization of Scouts of Ukraine (NOSU) joined WOSM. This brings the total number of Member Organizations of WOSM to 160. The admission of Montenegro as a Member Organization changes the status of the National Scout Organization of Serbia, which retains membership in WOSM. They will also receive a new certificate of membership at the Korea Conference. 10th World Scout Youth Forum, Iskan, Republic of Korea. 7-10 July 2008. 38th World Scout Conference, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. 14-18 July 2008.

Historical Highlights

Many recurring events, such as World Scout Jamborees, Moots and World Scout Conferences, are mentioned only the first time they were held.

For some more background, see “The Story of Scouting” and “Baden-Powell” .

·         1850s-1930s

·         1940s-1960s

·         1970s-1990s

·         2000-

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1850s-1930s

1857 February 22, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting) is born.

1889 February 22, Olave St. Clair Soames (who later became World Chief Guide) was born. She married Baden-Powell in 1912.

1907 Baden-Powell's experimental camp on Brownsea Island, England, bringing together 22 boys from different parts of society.

1908 "Scouting for Boys" published. Boy Scouts office opened in London, England.

1916 Cub section started. "Wolf Cub's Handbook" published.

1919 Gilwell Park is acquired. Start of leaders' training courses.

1920 1st World Scout Jamboree in England. Baden-Powell acclaimed Chief Scout of the World.
 1st World Scout Conference in England with 33 National Scout Organizations represented. Boy Scouts International Bureau (now World Scout Bureau) founded, London, England.

1921 International magazine "Jamboree" first published (what is now the online newsletter “WorldScoutInfo”).

1922 1st World Scout Committee elected (at 2nd World Scout Conference in France). First world census: 1 019 205 members in 31 countries.

1925 International Scout Chalet opens in Kandersteg, Switzerland. (Now known as theKandersteg International Scout Centre, KISC).

1929 Baden-Powell given peerage at the 3rd World Scout Jamboree in England and takes title Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell.

1931 1st World Scout Moot in Kandersteg, Switzerland. 1st Central European Jamboree in Czechoslovakia.

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1940s-1960s

1941 Death of Baden-Powell, January 8.

1946 1st Inter-American Regional Scout Conference in Colombia.

1949 1st Agoon (International camp for handicapped Scouts) in the Netherlands.

1950 World membership reaches 5 million in 50 countries.

1952 1st Caribbean Jamboree on Jamaica.


1954 1st Arab Regional Scout Conference in Syria.

1957

Jubilee, 50th Anniversary of Scouting celebrated at the 9th World Scout Jamboree and 6th World Scout Moot in England. World Scout Bureau moves to Ottawa, Canada.

1958 1st Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference in the Philippines. 1st Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA).

1960 1st European Regional Scout Conference in Germany.

1965 1st Pan-American Jamboree in Brazil.


1968 World Scout Bureau Central Office moves to Geneva, Switzerland. Dr Lazlo Nagy (Switzerland) becomes the 1st Secretary General of WOSM.

1969 World membership reaches 12 million.


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1970s-1990s

1970 1st African Regional Scout Conference in Senegal.

1971 1st World Scout Youth Forum, in conjunction with the 23rd World Scout Conference, in Japan. World Organization membership passes 100 member countries.

1972 1st International Community Development Seminar in Dahomey (now Benin).

1973 1st Environment Conservation seminar in Sweden. 


1973-1974 1st Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in the Philippines.

1977 Death of Lady Olave Baden-Powell, June 25.

1979 World Jamboree Year: Join-in-Jamboree around the world.


1981 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education presented to WOSM.


1982 Rotary International honours the Scout Movement.

1982-3 Year of the Scout - 75th Anniversary of Scouting.

1984 Rotary Award for World Understanding and The International Association of Lions Clubs honours Scouting.

1985 UN International Youth Year (1st worldwide programme to be implemented with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). 


1986-7 A child health programme entitled "Help Children Grow" introduced with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and UNICEF.

1988 Scouting is honoured by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in recognition of the Movement's outstanding environment achievements. 
Implementation of the resolution on "Towards a Strategy for Scouting" at the 31st World Scout Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Jacques Moreillon (Switzerland) becomes Secretary General of WOSM.

1989 Scouting celebrated the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of 
the Child and encourage its ratification by national governments.

1990 Formal agreement, the Kigali Charter, between 23 Scout and Girl Guide associations for the promotion of programmes of cooperation in the form of twinning projects. "Operation of Solidarity" to enable 1 235 children irradiated by the Chernobyl disaster to be the guests of Scouts and Girl Guides in 15 European countries, in collaboration with UNESCO, the Soviet Children's Fund and WAGGGS.

1990-1 World Scout Environment Year.


1991 Creation of the World Scout Parliamentary Union (WSPU), Korea. 60 parliamentarians and Scouting officials from 22 countries on 5 continents attend its constituent assembly. 


1992 Creation of Scout Resources International (SCORE), the official Scout Shop of the World Organization.

1994 International symposium on "Scouting: Youth without Borders, Partnership and Solidarity", Marrakech, Morocco. Adoption of the Marrakech Charter to enhance partnership. Signature of an agreement with UNICEF on Oral Rehydration Therapy, Geneva, Switzerland. 
The International Public Relations Association bestowed its annual President's Award on to WOSM for "outstanding contribution to better world understanding".

1995 Signing of an agreement of co-operation between WOSM and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 
Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the UN. Youth Forum held by the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Approximately 2/3rd of delegates were or had been Scouts or Girl Guides.

1997 90th Anniversary of Scouting.
 1st official Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI), taking place on same weekend as the 40th Jamboree on the Air (JOTA). 
Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Health Organization, AHM (Leprosy Relief Organization) and WOSM to eliminate leprosy. 
The Alliance of Youth CEOs (of which WOSM is a member) launches a programme to promote the value of non-formal education. The World Scout Interreligious Forum was established.

1999 The Mission of Scouting is adopted at the 35th World Scout Conference in South Africa.

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2000-

2001 1st Eurasia Regional Scout Conference, Minsk, Belarus.

2002 The Vision of Scouting and the 7 Strategic Priorities for Scouting are is adopted at the 36th World Scout Conference in Greece.

2003 World Scout Inter-religious Symposium held in Spain.

2004 Panafrican Youth Forum on AIDS: a matter of education. Organised by WOSM on behalf of the Alliance of Youth CEO's in Senegal. Dr. Eduardo Missoni (Italy) becomes Secretary General of WOSM. Memorandum of Understanding signed with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Child Labour. Memorandum of Understanding signed with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).


2005 WOSM signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN’s Millennium Campaign. 
UNICEF and WOSM sign Memorandum of Understanding.

2006 1st Eurasia Jamboree held in Armenia. New World Scout Brand launched.

2007 Centenary of Scouting, celebrated throughout the whole year and culminating on August 1st 2007 at the 21st World Scout Jamboree in England. 150th anniversary of B-P's birth. Gifts for Peace project presents more than 120 projects. 
World Scout Scientific Congress held in Switzerland. 
Mr. Luc Panissod (France) becomes Acting Secretary General of WOSM.

2009 ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC ) and WOSM sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 
Mr. Luc Panissod (France) becomes Secretary General of WOSM.

2011 Messengers of Peace is launched as the new 10-year flagship programme of World Scouting.

2013 Mr. Scott Teare (USA) becomes Secretary General of WOSM. 1st World Scout Education Congress takes place in Hong Kong. 162 member countries and over 40 million Scouts worldwide.

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Lord Baden-Powell

If Scouting is about fulfilling your potential then Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (or B-P) certainly fulfilled his.

B-P, or ‘Stephe’ as he was known as a child, was born in Paddington, London on February 22, 1857. He was the eighth of 10 children of the Reverend Baden-Powell, a professor at Oxford University.

Baden-Powell preferred the outdoors to the classroom and spent much of his time sketching wildlife in the woods around his school. His irrepressible personality infuriated and impressed his teachers in equal measure. 

After school, he went into the army, where he led a distinguished career through posts in countries including India, Afghanistan, Malta and various parts of Africa.

The most famous event in B-P’s military career was the defence of Mafeking against the Boers In 1899, after which he became a Major-General at the age of only 43.

Baden-Powell retired from the army in 1910 at the age of 53, on the advice of King Edward VII, who suggested B-P could do more valuable service for his country working on developing Scouting and its sister movement, Guiding.

In 1912, B-P married Olave Soames and had three children (Peter, Heather and Betty).

Chief Scout of the World

B-P wrote no less than 32 books, the earnings from which helped to pay for his Scouting travels. As with all his successors, he received no salary as Chief Scout. He received various honorary degrees and the freedom of a number of cities, along with 28 foreign orders and decorations and 19 foreign Scout awards.

In 1938, suffering ill-health, B-P returned to Africa, to live in semi-retirement in Nyeri, Kenya, where he died on January 8, 1941 at the age of 83. He is buried in a simple grave at Nyeri within sight of Mount Kenya. On his headstone are the words, 'Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World' alongside Scout and Guide emblems. He was later commemorated in Westminster Abbey, London.

B-P is remembered on Founder’s Day, which is celebrated on his birthday (22 February) each year. To this day Scouts continue to enjoy activities in the outdoors and live out B-P’s ideas.

As the great man once said, ‘life without adventure would be deadly dull.’

Baden-Powell

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, known as B-P, was born in Paddington, London on 22nd February 1857. He was the eighth of ten children of Baden, a Professor at Oxford University, and Henrietta Powell. His father died when B-P was only three years old, leaving the family in a challenging situation.

B-P was given his first lessons by his mother and later attended Rose Hill School, where he gained a scholarship to Charterhouse School. He was always eager to learn new skills and played the piano and the violin. While at Charterhouse he began to exploit his interest in the arts of scouting and woodcraft.

In the woods around the school B-P would hide from his masters as well as catch and cook rabbits, being careful not to let tell-tale smoke give his position away. The holidays were not wasted either. With his brothers he was always in search of adventure. One holiday they made a yachting expedition round the south coast of England. On another, they traced the Thames to its source by canoe. Through all this Baden-Powell was learning the arts and crafts which were to prove so useful to him professionally.

Not known for his high marks at school, B-P nevertheless took an examination for the Army and placed second among several hundred applicants. He was commissioned straight into the 13th Hussars, bypassing the officer training establishments. Later he became their Honorary Colonel.

Military Life

In 1876 he went to India as a young army officer and specialised in scouting, map-making and reconnaissance. His success soon led to his training other soldiers. B-P's methods were unorthodox for those days; small units or patrols working together under one leader, with special recognition for those who did well. For proficiency, B-P awarded his trainees badges resembling the traditional design of the north compass point. Today's universal Scout badge is very similar.

Later he was stationed in the Balkans, South Africa and Malta. He returned to Africa to help defend the town of Mafeking during its 217-day siege at the start of the Boer War. It provided crucial tests for B-P's scouting skills. The courage and resourcefulness shown by the young soldiers at Mafeking made a lasting impression on him. In turn, his deeds made a lasting impression in England.

Returning home in 1903 he found that he had become a national hero. He also found that the small handbook he had written for soldiers ("Aids to Scouting") was being used by youth leaders and teachers all over the country to teach observation and woodcraft.

He spoke at meetings and rallies and while at a Boys' Brigade gathering he was asked by its Founder, Sir William Smith, to work out a scheme for giving greater variety in the training of boys in good citizenship.

Beginnings of the Movement

B-P set to work rewriting "Aids to Scouting", this time for a younger audience. In 1907 he held an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Dorset, to try out his ideas. He brought together 22 boys, some from private schools and some from working class homes, and took them camping under his leadership. This was to be considered the starting point of the Scout Movement.

"Scouting for Boys" was published in 1908 in six fortnightly parts. Sales

of the book were tremendous. Boys formed themselves into Scout Patrols to try out ideas. What had been intended as a training aid for existing organisations became the handbook of a new and ultimately worldwide Movement. "Scouting for Boys" has since been translated into all of the major languages of the world.

Spontaneously, boys began to form Scout Troops all over the country. In September 1908 Baden-Powell had to set up an office to deal with the large number of enquiries which were pouring in. Scouting spread quickly until it was established in practically all parts of the world.

He retired from the army in 1910, at the age of 53, on the advice of King Edward VII who suggested that he could now do more valuable service for his country within the Scout Movement.

With all his enthusiasm and energy now directed to the development of Boy Scouting and Girl Guiding, he travelled to all parts of the world, to encourage growth and give inspiration.

In 1912 he married Olave Soames who was his constant help and companion in all this work, and who became greatly involved in Guiding and Scouting. They had three children (Peter, Heather and Betty). Lady Olave Baden-Powell was later known as World Chief Guide.

Chief Scout of the world

The first World Scout Jamboree took place at Olympia, London in 1920. At its closing scene B-P was unanimously acclaimed as Chief Scout of the World.

At the third World Jamboree, also held in England, the Prince of Wales announced that B-P would be given Peerage by H.M. the King. B-P took the title of Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell; Gilwell Park being the international training centre he had created for Scout leaders.

B-P wrote no fewer than 32 books. He received honorary degrees from at least six universities. In addition, 28 foreign orders and decorations and 19 foreign Scout awards were bestowed upon him.

In 1938, suffering from ill-health, B-P returned to Africa, which had meant so much in his life, to live in semi-retirement at Nyeri, Kenya. Even there he found it difficult to curb his energies, and he continued to produce books and sketches.

On January 8th, 1941, at 83 years of age, B-P died. He was buried in a simple grave at Nyeri within sight of Mount Kenya. On his head stone are the words "Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World" surmounted by the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Badges. Lady Olave Baden-Powell carried on his work, promoting Scouting and Girl Guiding around the world until her death in 1977. She is buried alongside Lord Baden-Powell at Nyeri.

B-P prepared a farewell message to his Scouts, for publication after his death. His advice of “try and leave this world a little better than you found it” is as relevant –if not more- today and continues to inspire young people all over the world.