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Scouter Deryck's Scouting Plus Homepage File:

"What is Scouting?"

What is Scouting?

Scouting is fun with a purpose, directed towards helping boys and girls become happy, healthy, useful citizens.

by Scouter Liam Morland <lkmorlan@csclub.uwaterloo.ca>

Scouting is...

Scouting complements the school and the family, filling needs not met by either. Scouting develops self-knowledge and the need to explore, to discover, and to want to know. Scouts discover the world beyond the classroom, tapping the skills of others to learn and to become well-rounded people.

Through recreation, Scouting achieves its purpose of helping young people develop physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Scouting is all about building confidence, learning important life skills and leadership skills, team building, outdoor adventure, education, and fun! Scouts learn how to make good choices and to take responsibility for their actions so that they are prepared for their adult life as independent persons.

There are recognized Scout organizations and branches in more than 216 countries and territories. Scouting has never stopped growing since its founding in 1907. Today there are more than 25 million current members. Over 300 million people have been members in the over 90 years since Scouting was founded. While Scouting is adapted to local needs and culture, its Purpose and Principles are the same world wide.

Scouting is open to all without distinction of origin, race, class, or creed, provided that the person voluntarily adheres to Scouting's Principles.

Scouting's Principles describe a simple code of living to which all Scouts make a personal commitment through the Scout Promise and Law. Scouting helps Scouts learn how to carry out their commitment in everyday life. This approach to life has three dimensions:

* A Spiritual Dimension - A commitment to seek the spiritual value of life beyond the material world.

* A Social Dimension - Participating in the development of society, and respecting the dignity of others and the

integrity of the natural world. Promoting local, national, and international peace,

understanding, and cooperation.

* A Personal Dimension - Developing a sense of personal responsibility and stimulating the desire for

responsible self-expression.

Scouting's purpose is achieved by the use of the Scout Method, which is a system of progressive self-education through:

* A Promise and Law - Making a personal commitment.

* Learning by doing - Active participation with others. Opportunities for new experiences.

* Membership of small groups - In lodges, sixes, or patrols to develop leadership, group skills, and individual

responsibility.

* Progressive and stimulating programs - Progressive activities based on the interests of young people.

Activities in contact with nature, a rich learning environment where simplicity, creativity, and discovery come

together to provide adventure and challenge.

Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts have weekly meetings and other events, such as weekend camps and fun days. Meetings are filled with games, skills, crafts, and other activities. Adult volunteer Scouters operate the program with the help of parents and other volunteers. Venturers and Rovers, with the assistance of an adult Advisor, take responsibility for planning their own activities at business meetings, usually held monthly.

A positive group experience for children aged 5-7 designed to develop in them a love of nature, an ability to share and play together, and an ability to express their creativity.

Cubs is a program for children aged 8-10 designed for maximum enjoyment and learning through activities in such areas as outdoors, acting, games, music, Badge and Star work, handicrafts, and stories.

Scouts is an adventurous program for youth aged 11-14 in which the members develop skills, earn Badges and awards, and have fun in the outdoors through hiking and camping, all designed to help guide them as they move towards good citizenship.

Venturers is for youth aged 14-17 who, with the help of an adult Advisor, work together as a company in the planning and operation of an action-oriented outdoor program and, at the same time, learn to handle adult responsibilities in the operation of their own affairs.

Rovers is a program for adults aged 18-26 designed to emphasise the enjoyment of the outdoors, acts of community service, and personal development.

Scouting depends on its volunteer adult Scouters for its operation. Adults can get involved as section Scouters, working directly with the kids; as Group Committee members, administering the Scout Group on a local level; or as council members, support team members, and trainers, working behind the scenes to support the section Scouters. It is a chance to help young people grow and become better people, and a way to improve the understanding between generations. In their service, adult Scouters get valuable training and experience, adding to their personal development.

The World Scout Movement is defined as "a voluntary non-political educational movement for young people, open to all without distinction of origin, race, or creed, in accordance with the purpose, principles, and method conceived by the Founder."

The purpose of the World Scout Movement is "to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national, and international communities."

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For more information on the Scouting's Definition, Purpose, Principles, and

Method, please see Fundamental Principles, published by the World

Organization of the Scout Movement. Liam Morland © 1998/06/10