Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth social movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports. Another widely recognized movement characteristic is the Scout uniform, by intent hiding all differences of social standing in a country and encouraging equality, with neckerchief and campaign hat or comparable headwear. Distinctive uniform insignia include the fleur-de-lis and the trefoil, as well as merit badges and other patches.
The Scouts of China or the General Association of the Scouts of China (Taiwan) in full, is the national Scouting association of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and represents the Scouting organization in Taiwan. It is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 2021, the Scouts of China had 53,972 members.
Scouting Nederland is the national Scout organisation of the Netherlands with approximately 110,000 members (53,324 male and 54,663 female, 87,000 youth members, as of 2010.
Scouts of Syria is the national Scout and Guide organization of Syria. Scouting in Syria was founded in 1912; Guiding started in the 1950s. The coeducational association serves 9,358 members and is a member of both the World Organization of the Scout Movement and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
The União dos Escoteiros do Brasil is the national Scouting organization of Brazil. Scouting in Brazil was founded in 1910 and was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. The União dos Escoteiros do Brasil itself was founded in 1924; it has 62,990 members as of 2021. The association is a member of the Comunidade do Escutismo Lusófono.
Gidsen- en Scoutsbeweging in België (Dutch) or Guidisme et Scoutisme en Belgique (French) (GSB) is the national Guiding and Scouting federation in Belgium. Scouting in Belgium started in 1911, and Guiding followed in 1915. The Belgian Scouts were among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1922, and the Guides were one of the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1928. The federation counts 121,600 Scouts and 59,268 Guides.
Scouting Antiano is the national Scouting organization of the former Netherlands Antilles. It serves 1,600 members in 25 Scout groups, 21 Scout groups on Curaçao, two on Sint Maarten, two on Bonaire, none on Saba and Sint Eustatius. Since 2016, Scouting Antiano is a full member World Organization of the Scout Movement. Until then, it was an associate member of the Interamerican Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
The Association Nationale des Scouts d'Haïti is the national Scouting organisation of Haiti. Scouting in Haiti started in 1916 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1932 and again in 1940. The coeducational association has 43,618 members.
The Mauritius Scout Association is a Scouting organisation in Mauritius. The association was founded in 1971 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1971. The coeducational association had 2,782 members.
The Asociación de Scouts de Nicaragua was the national Scouting organization of Nicaragua. Scouting in Nicaragua started in 1917 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1946. The coeducational association had 1,509 members.
The Rwanda Scouts Association is the national Scouting organization of Rwanda. Scouting in Rwanda was founded in 1940 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1975. The coeducational association has 18,884 members.
The Saint Lucia Scout Association (SLSA) is the national Scouting organization of Saint Lucia. Scouting in Saint Lucia started in 1910 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1990. The coeducational association has 393 members.
The Scout Association of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the national Scouting organization of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Scouting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines started in 1911 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1990. The coeducational association has 549 members.
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st president of Suriname from 1975 to 1980. He was also the country's last governor-general before independence, serving from 1968 to 1975, before becoming the first president upon independence from the Netherlands in 1975.
The Surinaamse Padvindsters Raad is the national Guiding organization of Suriname. It serves 502 members. The girls-only organization became an associate member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1972.
There are various controversies and conflicts that involve the Scouting movement. Scouting has sometimes become entangled in social controversies such as in nationalist resistance movements in India. Scouting was introduced to Africa by British officials as an instrument of colonial authority but became a subversive challenge to the legitimacy of British imperialism as Scouting fostered solidarity amongst African Scouts. There are also controversies and challenges within the Scout Movement itself such as current efforts to turn Scouts Canada into a democratic organization.
Vereeniging Nederlandsch Indische Padvinders (NIPV) was the national Scouting organization in the Dutch East Indies. This was founded in 1916 and had a boys and girls branch.
Christiaan Hendrik "Hein" Eersel was a Surinamese linguist and cultural researcher.
