Lesson 2: Learning about the movement’s history

In August 1907 twenty boys took part in an experimental camp which would lead to the creation of the world’s biggest youth movement.  

The camp was the idea of Robert Baden-Powell.  A professional soldier and national hero, Baden-Powell had written a military manual called Aids to Scouting. This became popular with schools and youth organisations.  Robert was persuaded to rewrite his book, removing the military aspects and replacing them with bush craft, survival skills and tales of adventurers.  His vision was to use the activities to teach young people life skills and for the manual to be a guide to delivering Scouting through schools and youth groups.    

Baden-Powell wanted to test his ideas before his book was published.  He organised an experimental camp on Brownsea Island. 

Baden-Powell said: “I got together some 20 boys of all sorts and I mixed them up like plums in a pudding, to live together in camp.” 

Surpassing his expectations, he observed how successfully different groups of young people worked together, building trust and friendships overcoming rigid, Edwardian social barriers.    

Baden-Powell said: “The results upon these boys in such a short space of time, taught me the possibilities which the Scout training held for boys. So, I at once set to work and wrote the handbook ‘Scouting for Boys’. The book came out in fortnightly parts, at 4p per copy.”  

It was published in January 1908 and became an instant bestseller.  Within a month, Baden-Powell announced he would be launching a Scouting organisation.  

The Purpose and Values of Scouting  
The values and core themes of Scouting have remained consistent with Baden-Powell’s original vision.   

Baden-Powell said: “Leagues and disarmaments and treaties and promises, are all very well in their ways between politicians, but cannot produce peace unless the people themselves really want it.  That’s what we’re after. To try and breed in the next on-coming generation that spirit of friendship, comradeship and good will which is the true foundation of peace in the world.” 

This is a sentiment which is just as relevant today.  

Scouting has evolved in order to stay relevant and meet the needs of young people and deliver its core aims. This evolution has taken different forms: the creation of new sections for both younger and older members, the development of new areas of the programme and changing the membership criteria.   

Baden-Powell always recognised that the game of Scouting should be flexible as long as the Movement stayed true to its core values.  As he once explosively remarked:  “Damn the rules! Call it an experiment!” 

Shaped by young people  

Robert Baden-Powell said: “The Scout Movement is a spontaneous growth, and not a planned organisation. It has sprung from the natural desires of the young people.” 

Frankie Smith, UK Headquarters Volunteer, says: “I think if you go all the way back to the experimental camp on Brownsea Island the young people there were part of patrols and Patrols is something we still do today. At its core is young people taking an active part in peer leadership. So, supporting and helping their peers to contribute to the activities they are taking in. We still do that, where we have come to now is the creation of Local Youth Commissioner roles. So, in Districts, Counties and Headquarters there are young people taking an active part in the decision making process and really feeding that information directly in to those individuals who are making the decisions in the areas where young people Scout.”  

In 1908 thousands of young people started their own Scout troops and patrols outside of organised youth groups. Ultimately, this led to the creation of an independent Scouting Movement.  

Robert Baden-Powell said: “I began to get letters from boys who had taken up The Game for themselves. Telling me how they had started their Patrols and Troops. They had got men to come and act as their Scout Masters. Scouting just started itself.” 

Ultimately, this led to the creation of an independent Scouting Movement. Giving young people responsibility has always been core to Scouting.  

“The Patrol system is important in Scouting. Boys learn to take responsibility and to work in a small group.” 

Patrol Leader conferences were a feature from Scouting’s earliest days giving the opportunity for the Scouts to share experiences and advice with each other.  During the First World War, with so many adults joining the Armed Forces, Patrol Leaders were often called to step in and deliver Scouting.   

Today young people’s voices and actions are just as important as they were in the early days of the Movement as new innovations keep providing opportunities for Scouts to shape their Scouting experience.  

Skills for life  

Scouting has always offered young people the chance to develop skills for life: the practical, character and employability skills they need to succeed. This includes everything from resilience and initiative to teamwork and leadership  

The early Scout programme was developed at a time when the majority of young people’s formal education stopped aged 12.  Badges would often directly relate to job skills such as clerk, bookbinder, plumber and electrician.  Providing experience in these areas could help young people secure that first job or apprenticeship.  

The programme has evolved in order to stay relevant both to Scouts and society today.  These innovations have been driven by advancements in technology, air travel and communications and the changing interests and availability of activities for young people.  

Today, parents/carers, employers and young people agree that Scouting helps young people develop the skills they need to succeed in life.  

Alice, Explorer Scout, says: “I think the key skills I have learned through Scouts are organisation, especially on camps, you have to organise what you’re going to take, everything you need to pack. I’ve learned to work as a team, for example lighting fires and building shelters and stuff like that. If you don’t work as a team. It’s not going to work!” 

“One of the most valuable things is communication skills with people. I didn’t used to be that outgoing, I used to be quite a reclusive person at the start of Secondary School. I didn’t have many friends or talk to people. I found the Scouts was a safe place and it made me more confident within Scouting and life outside of Scouting. I could be more confident and more social.

“Outside of Scouts when you have a problem you need to keep working at, Scouts has helped with that because I know I can keep trying and eventually I will get there!” 

This is what makes Scouting different to other out of school activities.  

Community Impact  

Baden-Powell wanted Scouting to train young people to become active citizens, supporting their families, communities and wider society.  

Having witnessed the effects of poverty and believing in Scouting’s positive impact, artist Ernest Stafford Carlos and enabled his Scouts to contribute to the local community.  His painting “Good work in a London slum” shows Scouts helping a family in need.       

With the outbreak of the First World War, Scouts used the skills learnt through the programme to take on non-combative roles such as coast-watchers, messengers and farmworkers.   

During the Second World War, Scouts were again called upon: those living in cities worked alongside civilian agencies such as the Aid Raid Precaution, fire and ambulance services to save lives during the Blitz.  

Today 500,000 Scouts are taking part in our community impact project “A Million Hands”.  Scouts choose one of four issues that are important to them and their communities and work with national charities to help make a difference.  

Scouting for All  

From its beginning, Scouting has reached out to those who would most benefit from the opportunities it offered. To this day we remain committed to Scouting for all.  

In 1911 the first Scout Troop dedicated to supporting young people with disabilities was launched. It was visited by Robert Baden-Powell, who believed anyone could be a Scout as long as they had, “a good stout heart”. This philosophy continues today as Scouting offers support to over 20,000 Scouts with additional needs.  

Early Scout Leaders were driven by the impact Scouting could make on inner city communities and help young people achieve their potential.  Today we are just as proud offer activities and opportunities to young people in 450 of the UK’s most deprived communities.   

Scouting helps young people explore their beliefs and attitudes and has always welcomed members from all faiths. In 2014, an additional promise was introduced, allowing those of no faith to join the movement. We aim to reflect the communities in which we live and across the UK there are Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Jewish Scout groups, as well as many mixed and non-religious groups.   

Scouting also has a vibrant and growing LGBT+ community. Scouts can be seen attending Pride events each year in cities across the UK.    

Since its inception, Scouting has always been a value led movement. Whilst things have changed in the last 100 years, its core values are always at the heart of what we do.