The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association

Traditional Scouting for the 21st Century!

Baden-Powell: The Founder of Traditional Scouting

The Baden-Powell Scout Association shares the proud heritage of the Scouting Movement, although we believe in a more traditional way of Scouting which closely follows the program set out by Baden-Powell in his book, "Scouting For Boys."
As an independent Scout Association, we are members of the World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS). This is a world body that recognises Independent Scouts Associations in countries across the world which teach traditional Baden-Powell Scouting values.
1907-1964: The Boy Scout Association
In 1907, General Robert Stephenson Baden-Powell was inspecting 7,000 members of the Boy's Brigade at Glasgow. Sir William Smith, the founder of The Boy's Brigade, asked Baden-Powell if he had ever considered rewriting his training manual for soldiers, "Aids To Scouting for N.C.O.s and Men" to make it appeal to boys. As a result of this conversation Baden-Powell ran an experimental camp for 20 boys at Brownsea Island to test out theories on providing activities for boys. Although there was no Scout association at that time, the Brownsea Camp is considered to mark the official start of the Scout Movement.
In 1908 he published a series of magazines, "Scouting For Boys," which suggested activities that existing youth organisations could make use of. An unexpected result of this was the formation of Scout Patrols around the country, all of which followed the principles set out in Baden-Powell's work. In 1910 Baden-Powell formed the The Boy Scout Association as a national body to organise and support the Scout Patrols. Scouting in the UK continued to follow the programme established by Baden-Powell until the publication of The Chief Scouts' Advance Party Report.

Scouting certificate from Dec 03, 1914, UK

1964-1970: The Advance Party Report
The Advance Party Report was an attempt to address falling numbers within the Movement. The Advance Party, 24 Scout Leaders under the age of 45, sought to do this through a process of "modernisation".
The Scout Law was re-written and reduced in size, Senior Scouts and Rover Scouts were abolished, with the upper age limit dropped from 26 to 20 years, small groups were closed or merged, and changes were made to the uniform. Older leaders were forced to retire, and Baden-Powell's training scheme was dropped.
In 1969 a pressure group was formed within The Scout Association, known as The Scout Action Group. They did not agree with elements of the changes proposed by the Advance Party Report, and asked that Groups wanting to maintain a more traditional approach to Scouting should be allowed to do so.
In mid-1970 The Scout Action Group published The Black Report, which outlined their views.
1970-present: The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association
altThe Scout Association refused to accept the views expressed in The Black Report and as a result, on 20th September 1970, the organisation split into two associations - the Scout Association and the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association - with neither being able to claim the other was more or less scouting than the other.
The formative years of the B-PSA were challenging. Due to internal disagreements the Association split into two separate organisations in 1979, with both claiming the name and charity number of the Association. The two factions were able to reconcile their differences in June 1990.
In the 1990s there was a dip in the number of active Groups in the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association, in common with a drop in numbers experienced by The Scout Association at that time. As with The Scout Association, the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association has shown subsequent growth in numbers with the opening of new groups.
The B-PSA celebrated 100 years of Scouting in 2007, issuing centenary badges and holding their own Centenary Camp in Southampton.
In 2008, leaders from the Association set aside their Association membership and organised "Jamboree 2008," an event that was aimed at bringing all of the various factions of Scouting back together for an event marking the centenary of the first official Scout Camp held by Baden-Powell at Humshaugh. The event included parades at Hexham Abbey and a ceremony at the original Carr Edge camp site.

In 2010, the B-PSA joined 1300 Scouts from all over the world in Germany at Eurocamp 2010.

In 2014, the B-PSA joined 2000 Scouts from all over the world in Italy at Eurocamp 2014.

In 2018, the B-PSA welcomed thousands of scouts from all over the world when we hosted the WFIS Eurocamp 2018.

 

Scouting has a long and exciting history, and there are many sites dedicated to telling the story. Here is a list of some of the more important dates in the history of Scouting. 

February 1857
Robert Stephenson Smyth Powell, later Baden-Powell, was born.
1899
B-P becomes a national hero during the Siege of Mafeking.
1900
Two boys write to tell B-P that thay have formed the 'Baden-Powell Scouting Society'.
 August 1907
Experimental camp on Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island - the home of the 1907 experimental camp

 January 1908

Part One of Scouting for Boys published.
August 1908
First official Scout Camp run by Baden-Powell at Humshaugh.
 May 1909
The 'British Boy Scouts' are formed.
August 1909
Camp on TS Mercury leads to the formation of Sea Scouts.
1910
'The Boy Scout Association' is formed. 
January 1910
Girl Guides begin.
September 1910
First annual census - 100,298 Scouts and 7,688 Scouters.
May 1916
Scout Jack Cornwell posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, aged 16.
September 1916
Cornwell Medal instituted.  
December 1916
Wolf Cub Section started.  
August 1918
Senior Scouts renamed as Rover Scouts.
July 1920
First World Scout Jamboree held at Olympia, London.
July 1923
The woggle is introduced for holding the necker.
October 1932
First Gang Show is produced by Ralph Reader.
 November 1935
A new design for the Thanks Badge is designed, replacing the swastika design.
1938
A photo of one of the B-PSA's oldest scout groups, 1st Mortimer in 1938; at this time the Scout Group was already 28 years old!
Peter "Skip" Johnson is pictured second row from the front and four from the left - aged 14 he would go on to spend a life time in scouting becoming Southern Area commissioner and remaining a member of the group for some 86 years.
 February 1939
National Service Badge introduced.
September 1939
Germany invades Poland - start of WW2.
January 1941
Baden-Powell dies at Paxtu, Nyeri, Kenya.
January 1941
Air Scouts officially recognised.
May 1945
Germany surrenders.
August 1945
Japan surrenders - WW2 is over. 
August 1946
An organisation for British Scouts in Germany is formed.  
April 1949
First "Bob-a-job" week.
November 1950
Scouts forbidden to hitchhike unless in an emergency.
 February 1959
The Boy Scout Association joins the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.  
November 1961
Long trousers are introduced as an option for Senior Scouts and Rovers.
September 1967
The "Advance Party Report" is published, changing the nature of Scouting in Britain.
July 1970
The Scout Action Group publish "The Black Report", asking for traditional Scouting to be allowed to continue.
September 1970
The Baden-Powell Scout's Association breaks from the The Boy - Scout Association, with Lady Baden-Powell's support and her gifting the use of the Baden-Powell name.

Lady Baden-Powell permits the use of B-P in the title of the traditional association 

1973
Beavers were first formed in Canada
June 1977
Olave, Lady Baden-Powell dies, aged 88.
1982
Beavers start in the B-PSA
2002
First WFIS Jamboree held in Denmak - over 850 Scouts attend from all over the world
July 2007
B-PSA Centenary Camp held to mark the anniversary of the Brownsea Camp.
Second WFIS Jamboree held in Medellín, Colombia - over 3000 Scouts attend from all over the world.
August 2008
Jamboree 2008 marks the centenary of the the first Scout Camp.
January 2009
B-PSA UK Launches its new website!
August 2010
B-PSA UK join 1300 Scouts from all over the world in Germany at EUROCAMP 2010
 August 2014
B-PSA UK join 2000 Scouts from all over the world in Italy at EUROCAMP 2014

alt

 Summer 2018

In 2018, the B-PSA hosted Eurocamp - with thousands of scouts from all over the world!

Eurocamp 2018

March 2020

 

The Covid-19 pandemic places all of the UK into lockdown and changes scouting for a while - but certainly does not stop us! 

One of our groups took the initiative; making care packages and distributing them in their local community. Read more here

23rd April 2020 - St George's Day

We normally host St. George's Day parades all around the UK, however this year we could not due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Undeterred, we still celebrated the day - one of our Scout Groups produced the video below:

Eurocamp 2018

1st January 2021

After dedicating his life to the scouting movement for 75 years, one of the B-PSA's leaders is appointed an MBE in the Queen's annual New Year Honours list. Congratulations - Norman Boxall MBE!

The appointment was reported in the press - Read More

Mr Norman Boxall MBE

2nd January 2021

Norman Boxall MBE is appointed Chief Commissioner by the National Committee. 

altIs your Association with The Scout Association UK or World Organisation of Scout Movement?
No our Association is a completly independent Association, we are not connected to The Scout Association. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is a registered charity (no.278525) and is a proud member of the World Federation of Independent Scouts.

What's the difference?
Click on the ‘ABOUT US' link above

"That Traditional lot are old-fashioned eccentrics"
Traditional does not mean old fashioned or boring. Tradition implies dependable quality. The word is used in advertising to help sell reliable products from traditionally brewed beer to traditionally built houses. We like to think the same qualities apply to our Association. We are not a watered down organisation nor cowboy-built!  Our Scouting methods are so fundamentally sound, that we don't have to change, the system has worked for over 100 years!

How often do you go camping?
Our Packs & Troops go camping regularly. We have district camps and international camps.

Do Leaders get paid?
No - Our Leaders are 100% volunteers, we have no paid Leaders or executives in our Association.
All our staff do what they do because they enjoy traditional Scouting.

My friends say Scouting is Sissy!
A lot of kids think this!
Outdoor activities, hikes, orienteering, camping in ALL weathers, hill walking, boating, pioneering - is NOT sissy stuff!
Learning how to light fires with sticks is not sissy!
Some of our Rover Scouts have climbed mountains higher than clouds in Yosemite - this is not sissy!

Please use our contacts page to find a group near you or contact our Chief Commissioner and we shall try and facilitate you!

I'm an adult, how do I get involved as a Leader?
No problem! We look forward to your assistance - please Contact Us for more information.

The Foundation for Social Improvement

Porl Hughes Web Design

The British Canoe Union

Exploring our heritage!The B-PSA UK is ‘Practical & Traditional Scouting for the 21st Century’

The B-PSA UK is an Independfent Scout Association and not connected to any political party or military organisation. We are proud members of the World Federation of Independent Scouts. This is a World body that recognises Independent Scouts' Associations in countries across the globe.

The B-PSA UK teaches traditional Scouting values as laid down by our founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World. The aims of Scouting, according to our Founder, are to improve the standard of our future citizens. Traditional Scouting uses the original principles as laid down in ‘Scouting for Boys’ by B-P.

'Tradition' is defined as 'knowledge transmitted from generation to generation' - In Scouting, once a Scout is invested Baden-Powell believed they would continue to live to the 10 Scout Laws (which are based on the French Knight’s Chivalry Code) as a basis for life. These laws are kept by Scouts from the age of 10 into adulthood and beyond, younger sections have promises which are more appropriate to their age group. All sections renew their promises regularly.


The B-PSA UK holds the ideals of Scouting that were created by our founder and develops a sense of duty, personal discipline and honour. Whilst these values seem to have become less important in modern society the B-PSA UK holds them as fundamental.
The B-PSA UK Groups follow a charter set down in our Policy Association Rules. 

The B-PSA UK have no paid Executive Staff or Leaders and have trained Child Protection Officers.

Our Scouts enjoy the traditional Scouting skills; lighting fire by friction, navigating by means other than a compass and backwoods cooking.

The B-PSA UK is not in competition with any other Scouting Association. We do not make claims to be superior, and we do not seek to influence the policies of any of the other Scout Associations. We have a policy of goodwill and co-operation with any Scouting organisation of like minded intent, (4th Scout Law).

We are proud as an Association to be upholding Lord Baden-Powell's ideals, and his original programs, proving that his planning and foresight still holds true into the future.

For more details or to find your nearest Group please Contact Us.

 

The National Senior Patrol Camping Competition will take place 28th - 31st Aug 2009.

 

The Baden - Powell Scouts' Centenary Camp took place between the 28th July to the 4th August 2007.