The Scout movement, also known as Scouting or the Scouts, is a voluntary non-political educational movement for young people. Although it requires an oath of allegiance to a nation's leaders and, in some countries, to a god, it otherwise allows membership without distinction of gender, race or origin in accordance with the principles of its 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: Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Rover Scout. In 1910, the Girl Guides was created, encompassing three major age groups for girls: Brownie Guide, Girl Guide and Girl Scout and Ranger Guide. 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 Kiribati Scout Association is the national Scouting organization of Kiribati. It was founded in 1993, and the island nation joined the World Organization of the Scout Movement in the same year. With its close link with Scouts Australia since 1986, Kiribati Scouts have been represented in international Scout events and leader training courses. Membership in 2002 stood at 1,333.
Scouting in Tuvalu was first introduced in 1914, while known as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Scouting operated as branch of the Scout Association (UK) in the early years. The Gilbert and Ellice Scout Association was founded in 1927, and joined the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1933. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were separated administratively in the 1970s to become the independent Commonwealth nations of Tuvalu and Kiribati, and their Scouting movements took different paths.
Suomen Partiolaiset - Finlands Scouter ry is the national Scouting and Guiding association of Finland. Scouting was founded in Finland in 1910 as part of the Russian Empire, registered with the central organization of the tsarist Russian Scout movement Русский Скаут. Finnish Scouting was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. Guiding started in 1910 and was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In 1972 the Girl Guide Association and the Boy Scout Association merged and formed Suomen Partiolaiset. The association has about 75,000 members.
Svenska Scoutrådet was until 2012 the national Scouting and Guiding federation of Sweden. The council was dissolved in September 2013, after a restructuring process creating the new single national Scout association, Scouterna.
The Malta Girl Guides Association (MGGA) is the national Guiding association of Malta. Guiding in Malta started in 1918 and the association became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1966. The girls-only association has 1,337 members.
The Scout and Guide movement in Denmark consists of about ten different associations. Most of them are members of two large federations, but there are also some independent organizations. Affiliated to Danish Scouting and Guiding are the organizations in Greenland, on the Faroe Islands and in Southern Schleswig.
The Girl Guides Cook Islands Association is the national Guiding organization of the Cook Islands. It served 1,111 members. Founded in 1928, the girls-only organization became an associate member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1993 and a full member in 2014.
The Girl Guides Association of the Kingdom of Tonga is the national Guiding organization of Tonga. It serves 204 members. Founded in 1952, the girls-only organization became an associate member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1987.
The Scout and Guide movement in Cyprus is served by
The Scout and Guide movement in Malta is served by three organizations:
The Scout and Guide movement in Japan is served by
The Scout and Guide movement in Kiribati is served by
Scouting in The Bahamas began with independent local patrols and troops of Boy Scouts with the oldest of which records still exist being formed in 1912. There is also a record of Boys Brigade Scouts in the Bahamas.
The Scout and Guide movement in the Dutch Caribbean is served by
The Girl Guides Association of Tuvalu was previously a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, however membership was withdrawn in 2005.
Girl Guides is a movement found worldwide, which was originally and still largely designed for girls and women only. This organization was introduced in 1909, because girls demanded to take part in the then grassroots Boy Scout Movement.
