The Scout Movement, also known as Scouting or the Scouts, is a voluntary non-political educational movement for young people open to all without distinction of gender, origin, race or creed, in accordance with the purpose, principles and method conceived by the founder, Lord Baden Powell. The purpose of the Scout Movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. During the first half of the twentieth century, the movement grew to encompass three major age groups for boys and, in 1910, a new organization, Girl Guides, was created for girls. It is one of several worldwide youth organizations.
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Scouting organizations in 150 countries. It was established in 1928 in Parád, Hungary, and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). WAGGGS is organized into five regions and operates five international Guiding centers. It holds full member status in the European Youth Forum (YFJ), which operates within the Council of Europe and European Union areas and works closely with these bodies.
The Council of Irish Guiding Associations is the national Guiding federation of the Republic of Ireland. Guiding in Ireland started in 1911, and Ireland became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1932. The council serves 13,837 Guides.
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.
Speidernes Fellesorganisasjon is the national Scouting and Guiding federation of Norway, founded in 2003. It took over the WOSM membership of Norges Speiderforbund and the WAGGGS membership of the Fellesrådet for speiderpiker i Norge. Speidernes Fellesorganisasjon serves 17,348 Scouts and 14,443 Guides.
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 96,837 Scouts and 59,268 Guides.
The Italian Scout Federation is the national Scouting and Guiding federation of Italy. Scouting and Guiding in Italy started in 1910, the Boy Scouts were among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922, the Girl Guides joined the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1948. The federation serves 102,778 Scouts and 84,303 Guides.
The Association Nationale des Scouts de Guinée, the national Scouting association of Guinea, became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement first in 1990 and again in 2005, after a break in membership. Scouting was officially founded in 1984. The association has 10,592 members.
The Scout Association of Papua New Guinea is a Scouting organisation in Papua New Guinea. The Scout Association of Papua New Guinea had its origins in 1926 as a branch of The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom. The Scout Association of Papua New Guinea claimed an unaudited membership of 6,284 in 2011.
The Greek Guiding Association, formerly known as the Greek Girl Guides Association, is the national Guiding association of Greece. Guiding in Greece started in 1932 and became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1933. The coeducational organization has 10,682 members.
The Fédération Libanaise des Eclaireuses et des Guides is the national Guiding organization of Lebanon. Guiding was introduced to Lebanon in 1937 and became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1954. The girls-only federation consists of five independent organizations with a total of 6,615 members(as of 2008).
National Scouting and Guiding organisations are divided into different age groups in order to deliver the Scouting and Guiding programmes for a full range of youth.
The Uganda Girl Guides Association is the national Guiding organization of Uganda. It serves 112,371 members. Founded in 1914, the girls-only organization became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1963.
Scouting in Hong Kong was begun by The Boys' Brigade in 1909. There is also a record of Chums Scouts and the British Boy Scouts in Hong Kong. Later, the St. Joseph's College Scouts were formed in 1913 and registered with The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom in 1914 as its 1st Hong Kong Troop. The Boy Scouts Association's Hong Kong Branch was formed in 1915 and after 1967 was renamed The Scout Association, Hong Kong Branch. In 1977, The Scout Association of Hong Kong was formed.
The Scout and Guide movement in Papua New Guinea is served by
The Scout and Guide movement in Guinea is served by
Scouting and Guiding in the United Kingdom is served by several different organisations:
The International Catholic Conference of Scouting (ICCS) is an autonomous, international body committed to promoting and supporting Catholic Scout associations and to be a link between the Scout movement and the Catholic Church. Its headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.
Les Guides de la République Démocratique du Congo is the national Guiding organization of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded in 1991 and became an associate member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in July 2008. The association serves 7,784 girls.
