Founder’s Day marks centennial year for Scouts

Opinion piece

22 February 2007

Founder’s Day marks centennial year for Scouts

There are many reasons why the Scouting Movement, which began 100 years ago in England, quickly spread throughout the world and continues to be recognised today for its ability to develop leadership and teamwork skills in young people.

In 1907, the English monarchy was at the head of a global empire and throughout all parts of society a post-Victorian sense of social responsibility, focused on improving education for young people and finding ways to overcome poverty, was emerging.

Against this backdrop Lord Robert Baden-Powell, a highly decorated military leader, founded the Scouting Movement and was to further develop a number of educational innovations which today are recognised, valued, respected and still used.

His concern with values has sometimes obscured the innovative nature of his educational thinking. He encouraged young people to extend their imagination and develop the social skills to work together to accomplish challenging tasks. Baden-Powell placed a special value on adventure; on children and young people working together, taking responsibility, on developing self-sufficiency and on 'learning through doing'.

While the early days of Scouting coincided with empire, which undoubtedly had an influence in developing an international membership very quickly, the enduring popularity of Scouting has more to do with the way that Scouts are required to participate in activities and to be a friend to all. Preparedness, loyalty, good citizenship and care for the world’s natural resources are themes which are universally relevant.

Far removed from struggling to master woggles and knots, Scouting today for those in the know, is likely to evoke images of organised chaos, a lot of activity and on occasion, lots of mud. The reason is simple; knots are useful, but mud is fun. What Scouting has always recognised, is that young people want to learn, want to extend themselves and want to have fun.

Founder’s Day commemorates the birth of Baden-Powell in 1857, 150 years ago. The day itself is to be celebrated with typical Scouting understatement – not much more than a note in the diary. The major focus this year will be the centennial of Scouting itself, when on the 1st August, all 28 million Scouts around the world will take the opportunity at dawn on that day to re-new their Promise.

As Scouting in New Zealand enters its second century, its programmes have been revitalised and extended into areas which are relevant to its 21st century membership. The new programmes in 2007 will introduce many young people to their first experiences of the outdoors, aspects of community service and a programme of personal development. Some will have the opportunity to participate in canoeing, rafting, caving, mountain craft, skiing, snow-boarding, photography, boating and yachting. Scouts will take part in civic ceremonies throughout New Zealand and some will travel to represent their country at international events. Many will learn to speak confidently in public and others will develop project planning and implementation skills. All of them will be having a great deal of fun.

Scouting has played an important role in shaping and developing New Zealand’s young people. It offers them the chance to have important first experiences they might not otherwise be able to have, and achieve outside the normal sporting and educational structures that surround them.

In the 100 years since Lord Baden-Powell ran a first experimental camp on Brownsea Island, in the South of England, for 20 young boys from different social backgrounds, some things have changed dramatically. That camp marked the beginning of what has become the largest youth organisation in the world, with more than 28 million Scouts in 216 countries and territories.Scouting has been an iconic movement in New Zealand for 100 years, and has included young women since 1980.

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