BADEN POWELL :

The Scouting History

Scouting began in 1907 when Lt.-Gen. Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (B.-P.) took a group of boys to a camp on Brownsea Island. The Movement was incorporated as "The Boy Scout Association" throughout the Commonwealth by Royal Charter granted by King George V in 1912. Scouting came to Canada in the spring of 1908.  The Canadian General Council of the Boy Scout Association was incorporated by an act of the Canadian Parliament on June 12, 1914. The Canadian General Council was a branch of the Boy Scout Association until October 30, 1946, when it became an independent member of the Boy Scout World Conference. A subsequent amendment changed the name to Boy Scouts of Canada. In 1976 the Scouts Canada logo was introduced an since then Scouting in Canada has become commonly referred to as SCOUTS CANADA.

Scouts Canada's Mission

The mission of Scouting is to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society. This is achieved by:

• Involving them throughout their formative years in a non-formal educational process;
• Using a specific method that makes each individual the principal agent in his or her development as a self-reliant, supportive, responsible and committed person;
• Assisting them to establish a value system based upon spiritual, social and personal principles as expressed in the Promise and Law.

Scouting's Principles

Scouting is based on three broad principles which represent its fundamental beliefs. These include:

Duty to God: Defined as, "Adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom."

Duty to Others: Defined as, "Loyalty to one's country in harmony with the promotion of local, national and international peace, understanding and cooperation, and Participation in the development of society, with recognition and respect for the dignity of one's fellow-being and for the integrity of the natural world."

Duty to Self: Defined as, "Responsibility for the development of oneself." This is in harmony with the educational purpose of the Scout Movement whose aim is to assist young people in the full development of their potentials.

Scouting's Practices
We define Scouting Practices as a system of progressive self-education including:

• a promise and law,
• learning by doing,
• membership in small groups,
• progressive and stimulating programs,
• commitment to the values of doing one's best, contributing to the community, respecting and caring for others, contributing as a family member,
• use of outdoor activities as a key learning resource.

Each program section emphasizes meeting these principles and practices at a level appropriate to the age range and capabilities of the members in that section. Together the programs for all sections combine towards the development of the whole person and an in-depth appreciation and commitment to the principles of Scouting. All sections; Beavers, Cubs, Scouts Ventures & Rovers are now optionally co-ed.

HISTORY :    Baden Powell

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