BadenPowell
The Scout Movement was started by Robert Stevenson Smythe BadenPowell (BP) who was born on 22nd February 1857. As a boy BP enjoyed pretending to be a hunter or an Indian Scout. BP attended Charterhouse school and, with his older brothers, often went on all sorts of expeditions. These expeditions were often on water and BP and his brothers bought old boats and used them to explore the coast of Great Britain. When they were not on the water they were learning to look after themselves by walking for miles with equipment and gear on their backs.
When he left school BP went into the Army and travelled extensively in India and South Africa. In 1888, whilst fighting in South Africa, BP captured a local chief and befriended him. Later this chief, Dinizulu, gave BP a long necklace of wooden beads as a token of their friendship. These beads are represented by the Wood Badge worn today by Scout Leaders who have completed their Leadership training. Are there any Leaders with you now who have this badge?
In 1899 BP defended a town called Mafeking, in South Africa. BP used all of his cunning to hold out against forces which outnumbered his forces by nine to one. After seven months help finally arrived. Back home in Great Britain, news of BP s achievement became well known and BP was considered a National hero. In 1900, at the age of 43, BP became the youngest Major General in the British Army.
The Scout Movement
When BP returned home to Great Britain he found that many boys had nothing else to do but get into mischief BP decided to put into practice some of the ideas he had used in South Africa for the boys in Britain. In 1907 BP organised a camp for a group of 20 boys to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour in Dorset. Here he taught the boys about exploring, camping, boating, stalking, life saving and many other things which Scouts still do today.
In January 1908 BP published the first part of a book called "Scouting for Boys". The next five parts of the book quickly followed at fortnightly intervals. So great was the impact of this book that by the time that Part 4 was due to be issued, the demand far exceeded the number of issues printed. These books were bought by thousands of boys all over the country who then formed themselves into Patrols and did many of the things they read about in BP s books. Before long, they found adults to help them and Scout Troops began to sprout up all over the country and also in other countries.
In 1910 the growth of the Scout Movement had become so great that the Girl Guides were formed and B-P retired from the Army so that he could give more time to the organisation and development of the Scout Movement
As Scouting developed, the younger brothers of Scouts put pressure on the Scout Movement and in 1916 the Wolf Cubs (later to become the Cub Scouts) were formed and have never looked back.
In 1920 BP organised the first International Jamboree at Olympia in London. Toward the end of the Jamboree a young Scout declared "We, the Scouts of the World, salute you, Sir Robert BadenPowell Chief Scout of the World".
Leader Training
In order to train adults to become Scout Leaders, BP used a camp site in Epping Forest called Gilwell Park. This 55 acre site was bought by a friend of BP and immediately given to the Scout Movement. This site is still used for training and as a camp site. Today it is visited by thousands of Scouts and Scout Leaders from all over the world.
When B-P was made a Baron in 1929, he chose to be known as Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell.
And now...
Since his death in 1941, several others have taken the role of Chief Scout and the Scout Movement continues to grow. At present it is estimated to have 16 million members in over 150 countries and territories. It is also estimated that over 250 million people have been Scouts.
Most Scouts are invested in a similar way to the way you will be invested here in the United Kingdom. Many of them receive the same World Membership badge you will receive. Just think, you are about to become a member of a world wide family with an estimated 16 million brothers and sisters.
That's some family! ! ! ! !
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