129 Białostocka Drużyna Starszoharcerska im. Jana Rodowicza „Anody”: Scouting

Scouting

What is scouting?

“ Scouting or the Scout Movement is a movement that aims to support young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society, with a strong focus on the outdoors and survival skills. “

Who, when and where established scouting?

Scouting was established in 1907, in England, by Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. This date was considerate to be beginning of scouting because on 29th July 1907, on Brownsea Island took place first, experimental scout camp which turned out to be a huge success. Baden-Powell held this camp because he wanted to test ideas of his book - “Scouting for Boys” which he was writing from 1906 to 1907. That book was about reconnaissance and scouting but for boys.

Two years after first scout camp, in 1909, held first scout rally which took place at the Crystal Palace in London. On rally got in 10 000 boys and number of girls.

Scouts method

Main principles of scouting:

Duty to God - fidelity to spiritual principles, loyalty towards religion which expresses them and acceptance duties which come from it
Duty to others - it means that scout ought to help others
Duty to self - responsibility for self-development

Scouts law

The original Scout law which appeared with the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908:

1.	A SCOUT'S HONOUR IS TO BE TRUSTED. If a scout says "On my honour it is so," that means it is so, just as if he had taken a most solemn oath. Similarly, if a scout officer says to a scout, "I trust you on your honour to do this," the Scout is bound to carry out the order to the very best of his ability, and to let nothing interfere with his doing so. If a scout were to break his honour by telling a lie, or by not carrying out an order exactly when trusted on his honour to do so, he would cease to be a scout, and must hand over his scout badge and never be allowed to wear it again.
2.	A SCOUT IS LOYAL to the King, and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers. He must stick to them through thick and thin against anyone who is their enemy, or who even talks badly of them.
3.	A SCOUT'S DUTY IS TO BE USEFUL AND TO HELP OTHERS. And he is to do his duty before anything else, even though he gives up his own pleasure, or comfort, or safety to do it. When in difficulty to know which of two things to do, he must ask himself, "Which is my duty?" that is, "Which is best for other people?"---and do that one. He must Be Prepared at any time to save life, or to help injured persons. And he must do a good turn to somebody every day.
4.	A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ALL, AND A BROTHER TO EVERY OTHER SCOUT, NO MATTER TO WHAT SOCIAL CLASS THE OTHER BELONGS. If a scout meets another scout, even though a stranger to him, he must speak to him, and help him in any way that he can, either to carry out the duty he is then doing, or by giving him food, or, as far as possible, anything that he may be in want of. A scout must never be a SNOB. A snob is one who looks down upon another because he is poorer, or who is poor and resents another because he is rich. A scout accepts the other man as he finds him, and makes the best of him -- "Kim," the boy scout, was called by the Indians "Little friend of all the world," and that is the name which every scout should earn for himself.
5.	A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS: That is, he is polite to all—but especially to women and children and old people and invalids, cripples, etc. And he must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.
6.	A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ANIMALS. He should save them as far as possible from pain, and should not kill any animal unnecessarily, even if it is only a fly---for it is one of God's creatures.
7.	A SCOUT OBEYS ORDERS of his patrol-leader, or scout master without question. Even if he gets an order he does not like, he must do as soldiers and sailors do, he must carry it out all the same because it is his duty; and after he has done it he can come and state any reasons against it: but he must carry out the order at once. That is discipline.
8.	A SCOUT SMILES AND WHISTLES under all circumstances. When he gets an order he should obey it cheerily and readily, not in a slow, hang-dog sort of way. Scouts never grouse at hardships, nor whine at each other, nor swear when put out. When you just miss a train, or some one treads on your favourite corn---not that a scout ought to have such things as corns--- or under any annoying circumstances, you should force yourself to smile at once, and then whistle a tune, and you will be all right. A scout goes about with a smile on and whistling. It cheers him and cheers other people, especially in time of danger, for he keeps it up then all the same. The punishment for swearing or bad language is for each offence a mug of cold water to be poured down the offender's sleeve by the other scouts.
9.	A SCOUT IS THRIFTY, that is, he saves every penny he can, and puts it in the bank, so that he may have money to keep himself when out of work, and thus not make himself a burden to others; or that he may have money to give away to others when they need it.

Scout permission

On my honour I promise that---

I will do my duty to God and to king/queen.
to help other people.
I keep the scout law

Scout motto

“Be Prepared”

The explanation of the motto from the third part of “Scouting for boys” :

The Scout Motto is: BE PREPARED which means you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY.

Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it.
Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it.

Scouting division

In 1909 Baden-Powell established scouting for girls and named this movement Girl Guides. However, he was thinking that the girls’ movement ought to be guided by women, so in 1910 he asked for help his sister Agnes. Then his wife - Olave - joined to the movement too.

Scouting was growing, hence developed three age groups for boys and girls:

✺ Wolf Cubs / Brownie Guide - children usually between 8 and 10 years old,

✺ Boy Scout / Girl Guide or Girl Scout - children usually between 11 and 17 years old,

✺ Rover Scout / Ranger Guide - men and women usually at 18 and up.

Robert Baden-Powell, Olave Baden-Powell and Agnes Baden-Powell

Nowadays scouting

Nowadays the biggest scouting organizations are the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), which is organizing boys-only organizations and co-educational organizations and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) which is organizing girls-only organizations.

WOSM emblem and membership badge - World Scout Emblem imagery:

arrowhead - North point of the compass, it points Scouts on the path to service and unity
three points of fleur-de-lis - three parts of the scout promise: service to others, duty to God and obedience to the Scout Law
two five-point stars - truth and knowledge; ten points - points of the Scout Law
bound at the base of fleur-de-lis - a family of Scouting
encircling rope - unity and family of the World Scout Movement
white - chastity
purple - responsibility and help for others