history of boy scouting

Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell is known as the father of scouting. He is known in scouting circles as Baden-Powell or B-P. Baden-Powell was born in London, England in 1857. Baden-Powell recieved his education at Charterhouse. After finishing at Charter house, he took the military entrance exams. He placed second in the cavalry and forth in the infantry.He was commissioned as a lieutenant and joined the 13 Hussars in India. He served in India, Afghanistan, Zululand, Ashanti and South Africa in his military career. Baden-Powell became a war hero during the Boer War (1899 -1902). B-P was lieutenant colonel for the 5th Dragoon Guards. Baden-Powell and the men under his command held control of the town of Mafeking during a 265 day seize. Shortly after the end of the seize of Mafeking, Baden-Powell was promoted to major general.

B-P came home to England and found out boys were reading his book, "Aids to Scouting" and forming groups. This dismayed Baden-Powell, because he wrote, "Aids to Scouting" for soldiers. Baden-Powell started working on something more appropriate for boys . He was asked to review a Boys' Brigade parade. The Boys' Brigade was the largest club for boys in England at that time. After reviewing the parade and talking to the founder of the Boys' Brigade, William Smith, he started to make notes on forming a club that teach scouting skills to boys. Then Baden-Powell read a book by Ernest Thompson Seton titled "The Birch-back Roll of Woodcraft Indians". Seton's book talked about games and Indian lore practiced by in the groups of Woodcraft Indians that American boys formed. Baden-Powell wrote Seton and later met with him when Seton visited England.

In 1907, Baden-Powell decided to try some of his idea out on Brownsea Island. He chose boys of different types of backgrounds. To see if boys could put aside their differences and work together. This first scout camp started on July 29, 1907 and ended August 9, 1907. Baden-Powell taught the boys all kinds of scouting skills and games. After Brownsea Island, Baden-Powell wrote "Scouting for Boy" The book went over scouting skills and talked about forming patrols. After reading "Scouting for Boy", Boys all over England started forming patrols and became known as Boy Scouts. Many would write to Baden-Powell for help.

In 1908, Baden-Powell was promoted lieutenant general. King Edward VII knighted Baden-Powell in 1909. Shortly after that he retired from the military to work full time on the Scouting Program.

Baden-Powell was honored with many awards during his life. He wrote many book and letter on military, scouting movement, and other subjects.

Ernest Thompson Seton- As the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America, Mr. Seton made nature study and improtant part of the Scouting program.

Daniel Carter Beard- A woodsman in a buckskin shirt, "Uncle Dan" helped establish the outdoor skills that are still at the heart of Boy Scouting.

James E. West- Mr. West was a dedicated leader who guided the Boy Scouts of America for over thirty years as it grew into a vigorous national organization.

The Start

of the

Boy Scouts of America

The following is from page 431 of "The Boy Scout Handbook" - 11 Edition and has been condensed for this page.

The history of the Boy Scouts of America began on a foggy day in London, England when a boy did a Good Turn. Many years ago, an American businessman named William D. Boyce lost his way in the fog. A boy walked up to Mr. Boyce and asked if he could be of assistance. After Mr. Boyce explained to the boy where he wanted to go, the boy led him to his destination. Mr. Boyce offered to pay the boy for his assistance, but the boy said, "No, thank you, sir. I am a Scout, I won't take anything for helping." William Boyce so impressed with the boy's kindness, he decided to meet with Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts in Great Britain. Once Baden-Powell told Mr. Boyce about Boy Scout, Mr. Boyce decided boys in United States would be interested Scouts too. Mr. Boyce and other businessmen, educators, and political leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. Scouts celebrate February 8 as the birthday of the Boy Scouts of America. No one knows what happened to the scout who lead Mr. Boyce through the fog that day but he will never be forgotten. Like many acts of kindness, what was done proved to be far more significant that who did it. The boy's Good Turn helped bring Scouting to America.


Scouting's Early Leaders
Lord Baden-Powell-The founder of Scouting in Great Britain
The First Chief Scout- Ernest Thompson Seton
How the Boy Scouts came to America
"Uncle Dan" Daniel Carter Beard
Mr. James E. West