Scoutmaster Minute

The History of Scouting

April 29, 2003

By George Denise

One hundred and six years ago, in 1897, a young British officer stationed in India, Robert Baden-Powell, wrote a training manual for military Scouts called "Aids to Scouting".

The following year, in 1898, now Colonel Baden-Powell was transferred to South Africa, where he distinguished himself in the Boer Wars. Just he and 700 other soldiers reporting to him held off several thousand Boers for seven months until reinforcements arrived. He and his book both became famous.

When Robert Baden-Powell returned to England, he was given a hero’s welcome, and he was knighted by the queen, becoming Sir Robert Baden-Powell. He was also pleased to discover that young British boys were buying up copies of his book, "Aids to Scouting" and playing at being military Scouts.

Other youth leaders had noticed this too. They were worried about the condition of England's youth. They described their boys as weak, flat-chested, out of shape, spending too much time smoking and hanging around getting into trouble. Together, these leaders decided to create an organization to develop their boys into good, capable citizens, based on the training in "Aids to Scouting". They called it the Boys Brigade. The following year, the name was changed to the Boy Scouts. This was in 1908. Their first campout was held in Gilwell Park near London. Twelve Scouts attended that first experimental outing.

It was on the basis of the fame of this military hero, the popularity of his guidebook, and this first tiny outing, that the Boy Scouts was created.

The following year, an American, William Boyce, was traveling in London and became lost in the fog. He stopped a young man to ask directions. Instead of giving him directions, the young man walked him to his destination. When Boyce tried to pay the young man for his assistance, the boy answered, "No, sir. I cannot accept a tip for helping. I am a Boy Scout."

This intrigued Boyce. He wanted to find out more about the Boy Scouts. After his meeting, he went and visited Sir Robert Baden-Powell. He liked what he heard about the Boy Scouts, so he brought the program back to America. The following year, in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded. Three years later, there were over 6,000 troops, with a membership of over 400,000 boys. In 1917, The Boy Scouts of America was chartered by Congress. Today, the Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth organization in America, with over 4 million members. And it is the largest youth organization in the world, with over 20 million members.

Boy Scout is a name known the world over. To most people, it means someone who represents the values of Scouting, the Scout Oath, the Law, the Slogan and Motto, and the Outdoor Code. Most people can't recite them the way you do, but they know that a Boy Scout is someone you can trust. He can be counted on to do the right thing. He is prepared to deal with a variety of situations, even medical emergencies.

That is what people expect of you. I thought you should know.

Thank you, and God be with you.