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O’Brochta 1

William O’Brochta

Mrs. Casola

Center 10 English

26 April 2010

From Soldiers to Schoolboys: The Founding of the Scouting Movement and its Impact

on European and American History

Many groups of men or boys have, over the years, developed a law or creed by

which to abide. Usually simple, the words are silly or seldom used. “Si vis pacem, para

bellum” (Oursler 25). Many may have heard these words in Latin, or otherwise, but few

implement them consistently as do the Boy Scouts. Be prepared. Those words may

conjure up images of bringing along equipment on a trip or keeping extra batteries for

the flashlight. Alternatively, they can help boys keep alert, connecting events and

backtracking to where they have been. Scouting even aids in solving murders when

boys are observant and confident of their surroundings (Rosenthal 165). A scout is only

prepared if he can implement all the points of the Scout Law without even thinking

about it (Rosenthal 166). Scouting has revolutionized society without trying. The

military is full of scouts (Lloyd 6). However, most of the scouts in the world are not

heroes, miracle workers or even soldiers, they are simply good people (Rosenthal 171).

Whether preparing boys for war or for being husbands, the Scouting movement towers

over all other similar groups (Rosenthal 5). The long, interwoven history of Scouting



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centers around its founding, its influence on American history, and its effect on

Europeans.

Seldom does one man begin such a large organization with so few resources and

such little idea of what he is doing. Lieutenant General Robert S. Baden-Powell was an

army general who wanted nothing less then to retire in a few years (“Boy Scouts of

America”). His father, Professor Baden-Powell, had some influence on the younger

Baden-Powell as he grew up, but Baden-Powell was remarkably driven and a goal setter

(Block 203). In 1898, Baden-Powell, then a British army colonel, was stationed in South

Africa (Hargan 50). South Africa was not home to Baden-Powell, just another place to

fight and, hopefully, to succeed for the British Army in the Boer War (Hargan 50). With

a very small British force under his command, Baden-Powell began to train the locals in

case fighting was ever necessary (Hargan 50). This instruction led to the Mafeking

Cadet Corps, an elite group of local men, trained and guided by Baden-Powell (Hargan

50). He taught these Cadets using a homemade book entitled Aids to Scouting (Hargan

50). Eventually, Mafeking became the center of the Boer War; the attacking Boers

surrounded the city (Hargan 50). Baden-Powell and his small, self-trained army

defended the city for 217 days, before finally protecting it from the Boer invaders

(Hargan 50).

When Baden-Powell returned home, he considered applying the same Mafeking

principles to troops in England (Hargan 50). A very observant man at heart, Baden-

Powell noticed that not only was the quality of British troops declining, but also the

urbanization of England was negatively affecting young boys (“Boy Scouts of America”).



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Soldiers were significantly lacking in navigational skills and any sort of critical-thinking

processes (Lloyd 6). Boys were overwhelmed with assimilation into urban society and

often fell in with the wrong crowds (Block 203). With his country in mind, Baden-Powell

decided to print his Aids to Scouting and distribute it to the English people in the hope

that someone could learn from his experiences and advice (Oursler 19). In the first

month of publication, his book sold over 50,000 copies (Oursler 19). Baden-Powell used

his army experience in the Scouting movement to impact the world to a much greater

degree than did his wartime influence.

Male improvement groups were already established as small, uncoordinated

organizations. Many other men had come up with ideas similar to Baden-Powell

(Rosenthal 230). William Smith first developed the idea of a group of boys coming

together and learning about character (Rosenthal 230). His Boys’ Brigade aimed to

“advance Christ’s discipline” and could be compared to similar, God-oriented

organizations like the Young Men’s Christian Organization or Salvation Army (Rosenthal

230-231). However, like many groups at the time, Smith founded the brigade with set

criteria for membership (Rosenthal 232). The main focus was military drill and

techniques derived from army practices (Rosenthal 233). Many boys were excluded

because they were Jewish or had beliefs that were not Christian (Rosenthal 233). Over

time, others took Smith’s good idea and created similar programs for Jews and

Catholics (Rosenthal 233). This group of Catholics finally led to the Boys Life Brigade,

which deemphasized the military role and became much more open to different

religions (Rosenthal 236).



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Similar problems in America led other leaders to create their own methods to

educate young men. Americans were developing programs with similar goals, but vastly

different approaches (“Boy Scouts of America”). Ernest T. Seton, remembered for his

role in formal Boy Scouting, was also worried about the development of manhood in the

world (“Boy Scouts of America”). He saw the outdoors and the Native Americans as a

possible way to encourage positive behavior in boys by letting them learn new skills

(“Boy Scouts of America”). In 1902, he created an Indian Village to begin his Woodcraft

Indians group (“Boy Scouts of America”). Boys of all ages came to his tribe and learned

about animals, birds, and wilderness lore (“Boy Scouts of America”). Based on this

model, Seton developed a book for boys to use to begin separate Woodcraft Indian

groups entitled The Birch Bark Role of the Woodcraft Indians and a column appearing

in magazines called “Ernest Thompson Seton’s Boys” (“Boy Scouts of America,” Larid

28). Thereafter, 200,000 boys were learning from Seton’s advice and following the

Woodcraft Indians program (“Boy Scouts of America”). Slightly earlier, in 1882, another

naturalist and outdoorsman, Daniel Carter Beard, wrote the American Boy’s Handy Book

(“Boy Scouts of America”). This tome was devoted more toward outdoor fun and guided

boys in proper outdoor etiquette and skills (“Boy Scouts of America”). Though the group

was not formally organized, Beard had created a concept similar to Seton. Boys

throughout the country could learn to play outside and enjoy nature, instead of sitting

inside or getting into trouble. Just before Baden-Powell formed the official scouting

movement, another army man, Colonel Vaux, formed his own troop of scouts (Lloyd 6).

Moreover, Daniel Boone also played a small role in the development of boys programs



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when he emphasized groups that created forts, attracting 20,000 members by 1910

(“Boy Scouts of America”). Boys had already begun their own scout troops using Aids to

Scouting by the time William D. Boyce founded formal Scouting in America (Oursler 29).

The Boys of the Empire magazine reprinted Aids to Scouting in its entirety in 1900,

enabling many boys to follow Baden-Powell’s advice (Oursler 29). This reprint was the

first use of the term “Boy Scout” (Oursler 29). With many loose organizations of boys

groups in place, it took only one overarching leader, Baden-Powell, to unify the male

improvement movement. Baden-Powell simply reorganized and combined other

Scouting movements rather than creating a unique boys group.

An effective weeklong experiment helped solidify the British Scouting organization.

Baden-Powell developed his Scouting program through an experiment off the coast of

England (Hargan 50). Situated in Poole Harbor on England’s south coast, Brownsea

Island was an ideal spot to begin the Scouting movement (Hargan 50). Though

uninhabited at the time, the island had served as a pottery plant in previous years

(Hargan 50). It had a great deal of open space, but also allowed tree cover and some

protection from weather elements. Charles van Raalte purchased the land in 1901 and

lived in the lavish estate, standing since 1545 (Hargan 50). Raalte was a personal friend

to Baden-Powell, and he became interested in this scout camp when Baden-Powell

asked to host it on Brownsea Island (Hargan 50). After quick agreement, Baden-Powell

chose a plot of land near the old, run-down factory for the scout camp (Hargan 50). In

the summer, Baden-Powell individually selected approximately twenty boys to

participate in his new program (Freedman 157). Ten of the participants were from the



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schools in Poole, while ten others can from the “public” schools (Hargan 50). Many of

these “public” school (really the term for private schools) students were the children of

old army friends (Block 203). This diversity showed that the new Scouts were willing to

help educate and develop all kinds of boys. He proceeded to create an “extraordinary”

list of necessary provisions, including matches, a knife, a hatchet, and rope (Oursler

31). Boys had pre-trip homework, such as learning basic knots (Oursler 31). Each boy

also had to recite the Scout Oath and Law, though none were declared official Scouts

(Block 203). When the trip finally began, Baden-Powell used his army organizational

skills to group the boys into four patrols: the Wolves, Curlews, Bulls, and Ravens,

derived from animals in nature (Hargan 50, Oursler 32). Each patrol had a designated

leader, with no adult help; Baden-Powell was the only adult on the island (Hargan 50).

Patrols were designated by fleur-de-lys emblems and colored ribbons to go with their

staves (Freedman 159-160). Their appearance and organization has been compared to

“a cross between Indiana Jones [the adventurer] and [United States General] ‘Stormin’

Norman’ Schwarzkopf” (Block 203). The patrols alternated during the eight-night

encampment, with one patrol camping away from the others each night (Oursler 32).

The one-night away program was designed to add to the leadership obtained from the

patrol leader and emphasize skill of following directions. Programs were also pre-

planned with activities going on all the time (Hargan 50). Every day covered a different

part of the Scouting principles (Hargan 50). Baden-Powell created this list of principles

from his own experiences using his definition of the best and most-prepared man.

Activities included campaigning, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, saving life, and



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patriotism (Hargan 50). The final days were full of review and learning games.

Programs began early, when Baden-Powell “blew reveille on a koodoo horn” (Freedman

160). On the final day, a performance of their newly-learned skills preceded a prepared

dinner in the main house on the island (Freedman 164). Brownsea Island served as an

experiment, with “success beyond Baden-Powell’s expectation” (Hargan 50). A discipline

system also was organized for unruly boys, but was never needed (Oursler 32). This

attests to the quality of boys selected and to Baden-Powell’s skill at containing their

young minds. With the inspiration and small scale testing in place, Baden-Powell felt

ready to set Scouting principles and create the new Scouting movement in England.

The question was more about what Scouts would believe, then how the organization

would be run. Because his ideas were not new, Baden-Powell was forced to consider

the thoughts and approaches of the other boys’ group leaders when designing the

principles of Scouting. Scouting merged all the programs together in order to “redeem

boys’ souls for the good of the Empire” and “cure individualism” (Rosenthal 237). Some

authors have broken down Baden-Powell’s ideas into three major categories of

European improvement: an indifference to higher authority; the practice of drinking;

and the problems related to irresponsible parents (Rosenthal 5). Indifference to

authority came from non-religious views, lack of discipline, lack of patriotism, and

cruelty (Rosenthal 5). Drinking influenced people to show off, gamble, and have low

morals (Rosenthal 5). Parental problems cause ill health and bodily deficiencies

(Rosenthal 5). The solution, in Baden-Powell’s view, was instilling a sense of personal

character and physical health (Rosenthal 5). With these two central goals in mind,



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Baden-Powell developed nine points of good scouting (Rosenthal 239). In these points,

the role of the military was deemphasized, along with much formal basic training

(Rosenthal 239). Obviously, this approach was not universally popular and received a

huge deal of criticism (Rosenthal 243). John Hargrave, founder of the Kibbo Kilt

Kindered, another Scouting like movement, saw Baden-Powell deserting the idea of

world brotherhood and downplaying the importance of woodcraft skills in achieving this

goal (Rosenthal 245). Others desired a more imperialist and hierarchical structure, with

less openness in organization (Rosenthal 247). Thus, neither radical group could be

satisfied, and Scouting was not well structured.

As he was merging Scouting into one unit, Baden-Powell utilized many other

organizations’ principles as his own (Rosenthal 243). The scout motto: Be Prepared,

was copied from the Woodcraft Indians (Rosenthal 243). Similarly, Baden-Powell

borrowed from the Kibbo Kilt law which emphasizes kindness: “Camp out and keep fit,

help others, learn how to make things work for world peace and brotherhood”

(Rosenthal 249). The Scout law says: A Scout “trusts honor, is loyal, does his duty, is

friendly, is courteous, is a friend to animals, is obedient, smiles and whistles, and is

thrifty” (Rosenthal 109-110). The similarities between the two versions of the Scout

laws are apparent, especially in the outdoor promises. Ideas from the Order of

Woodcraft Chivalry also are very similar to both principles (Rosenthal 245). The Scout

law states: “On my honour I promise that 1. I will do my duty to God and the King; 2. I

will do my best to help others, whatever it costs me; 3. I know the Scout oath and will

obey it” (Rosenthal 109). Both the oath and law were finalized in 1911 and Baden-



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Powell stated the boys must learn that there are “rules and laws by which the game is

played” (Oursler 45, 127). Overall, Baden-Powell believed in admitting all boys, total

equality in his mind (Rosenthal 253). His personal beliefs aside, Baden-Powell created a

program with “no political bias” whatsoever (Rosenthal 273). Before actually enlisting

scouts, Baden-Powell established core principles of his fledgling organization.

Beginning in England, Baden-Powell’s eventual dream was to create a strong force

of scouting throughout the world. Rural Scout troops needed to combine with urban

troops to share qualities and characteristics. First, however, Baden-Powell had to

translate one book into a movement in England. Boys across Britain had already begun

following Aids to Scouting in their own groups called “Baden-Powell Scouting Societies”

(Freedman 149). The principles these groups followed were remarkably similar to

Seton’s (Laird 28). Seton later charged Baden-Powell with plagiarism of his “Birch Bark

Roll” book (Laird 28). Nevertheless, impressed with the Scouting for Boys magazine that

was being published in six bi-weekly installments, students at the Albert Road School in

England established their own Scout Troop (Lloyd 6, Block 203). They formed two

patrols, the Cuckoos and Wolves (Lloyd 6). Camping was centralized at the Ketton Hall

and as the word spread, more boys began to join the group (Lloyd 6). Still without

formal organization, more and more groups began to form all around England (Lloyd 6).

The Scout, another magazine, was circulated in 1906, with advice on how to become a

proper Boy Scout (Oursler 33). Baden-Powell seized upon this limited success and

began a magazine entitled Scouting for Boys to spread his own Scouting ideas

(Freedman 153). He intended to spread Sir William Smith’s “Boys Brigade,” never



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meaning to start a whole separate movement (Freedman 155). A new pamphlet

inscribed “A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship” emphasized Scouting

principles (Freedman 165). “Camp Fire Yarns” were used to present lessons and morals

(Freedman 165). Crude systems of advancement were also established, with a different

yarn for each rank (Freedman 165). Publication of the book began in 1908, and a huge

number of boys joined the Boy Scouts, mostly because Baden-Powell was a national

hero (Freedman 169). Like role models today, he was universally respected and

admired for his wartime achievements. The Scout Handbook, published in 1908,

expanded on the ideas described in the magazine (Eagle Scout VI). Haphazardly, the

leadership and principles of Scouting were finally being developed in England.

Baden-Powell created new ideas that were used in conjunction with older ones to

create an innovative set of scouting policies. A concrete system of rank was established

with Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Scouts (Eagle Scout VI). The Wolf badge

was reserved for only one Scout per year (Eagle Scout VI). A Scout who earned the

Wolf badge had to demonstrate all of the best principles of good Scouting and go above

and beyond the realm of most Scouts. Knowing that the new Scouts did not have much

money to spend on their new pastime, Baden-Powell created “comfortable and

inexpensive uniforms” and placed great emphasis on honor, self-respect, and the

outdoors (Freedman 169-170). The system of rank, in conjunction with new uniforms

helped establish Scouting as a viable alternative to different male improvement groups.

Only one year after its founding, a Governing Council was created to oversee and assist

local Scouts and Scouting movements (Freedman 173). Under the Council were



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separate troops with Scoutmasters and patrols forming the leadership structure (Ourlser

109-110). The Scoutmaster holds the “veto” power in the Troop and the Patrol Leaders

are like the “Board of Directors” (Oursler 110-113). These roles have not changed over

time; Scouting is focused on structure for optimal fun and function. After World War I,

the first international jamboree was convened in Olympia with the purpose of having

fun and learning handicrafts (Freedmen 186). At this time, the Scouts unanimously

recognized Baden-Powell as the Chief Scout of the World (Freedman 191). He also

received the first Silver Buffalo award, the highest in world Scouting (Freedman 197).

Growth in Europe was sufficient; however, some opposition movements emerged

during the early years of Boy Scouting.

At the same time, different movements with similar principles were also formed

(Freedman 170). Baden-Powell convinced his sister Agnes to begin the Girl Guides, the

women’s equivalent of Boy Scouting (Freedman 172). Girl Guides morphed into Girl

Scouting in the United States. Sea Scouting was also formed using Baden-Powell’s own

yacht (Freedman 172). In 1916, Baden-Powell began the Cub Scouts with the Wolf

Cub’s Handbook (Freedman 184). These offshoot groups attempted to provide

instruction similar to that received in the Boy Scouts. However, they appealed to

different types of boys and girls. Along with formal Scouting, most youth had at least

one group to keep their interest.

As Scouting continued to grow and expand, Baden-Powell worked through many

challenges to keep his group unified, including threats from separate organizations and

people with different ideas about Scouting’s definition (Oursler 154). Sir Francis Fletcher



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Vane, Scout Commissioner in 1909, created the early divisions within Scouting

(Springhall 27). Vane, an anti-militarist, saw Scouting as a military training group

(Springhall 27). With this idea, Vane founded the British Boy Scouts in conjunction with

the Quakers (Springhall 27). The National Peace Scouts were founded only a few years

after Baden-Powell’s Scouts, formally dividing the Scouting movement (Springhall 27).

Another split occurred in 1920 as John Hargrave, instrumental in creating the founding

principles of the Boy Scouts, broke off to continue his Kibbo Kilt, the Woodcraft Kinderd

group, further dividing the organization (Springhall 27). Lone Scouting, however, was

able to merge with the formal Boy Scouts to provide greater service to boys in rural

areas (Oursler 194). Most other male improvement groups broke off from Boy Scouting

and eventually ended because of lack of participation.

Organizing troops to include boys with diverse backgrounds has never been easy for

the Boy Scouts (Oursler 154). Handicapped boys are still encouraged to participate in

Scouting and can earn rank (Oursler 162). A “Fifty-Fifty” plan was implemented in the

1950’s to serve blind boys, where one half of the group would be sighted (Oursler 162,

166). Additionally, to better serve girls and older boys, Explorer Scouts were created for

Scouts older than fourteen (Oursler 176). Appealing to a wider audience, Baden-Powell

relaxed some of the emphasis on duty and placed greater importance on fun (Fussell

5). This new focus also included more application to everyday life (Fussell 6). The Boy

Scout Handbook became so valuable as a resource that “No home…should be without a

copy [of the handbook]” (Fussell 8). Scouting had completed the transition from an

exclusive military group to a fun organization for almost all young people.



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With one movement of Boy Scouting in place and other groups struggling to

produce results, international expansion was a natural step. “Following its British birth,

the brotherhood of scouting rapidly expanded around the world” (Rosenthal 280). This

homegrown movement in England naturally fit the same purposes in other countries,

though it never totally eliminated the poorly-behaved children (Rosenthal 280). Just

before William D. Boyce, the British Boy Scouts, then directed by Sir Fletcher Vane,

formed an outpost in Brewer, Maine (Ricker 1). This solidified Boy Scouting in America

and formed the Brewer Congressional Scouts, chartered in October of 1909 (Ricker 1).

This Troop, Troop 1, joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 (Ricker 1). William D.

Boyce began the Boy Scout movement in America based heavily off of Baden-Powell’s

model (Ourlser 7). In 1909, Boyce was in England on a business trip (Oursler 13). He

became lost in a dense fog and needed help to find his way (Oursler 13). A boy

appeared next to him and offered to help him across the street (Ourlser 13). He may

have “saluted smartly,” but also offered to take him to his destination and carry his

briefcase (Ourlser 13). At his destination, Boyce offered the boy a shilling for his service

(Oursler 13). The boy refused, saying that he was a Scout and only doing his daily good

turn (Oursler 13). Intrigued, Boyce questioned the Scout about his organization and the

Scout guided him to the London office (Oursler 14). Boyce received a great deal of

information and left for America to begin another Scouting movement (Oursler 15). The

first American troop began in Burnside, Kentucky in 1909 (“Boy Scouts of America”).

Boyce merged many already existing organizations with similar goals into a mostly

cohesive Scouting movement in America and had over 60,000 members in three years



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(“Boy Scouts of America”). Baden-Powell himself unified and promoted Scouting in India

and reached a compromise position between Scouts in South Africa (Freedman 198). To

accommodate the rapid expansion, Baden-Powell created a set of offices in London that

served as the international Scout offices (Oursler 14). These offices eventually

expanded to Baden-Powell’s home outside London (Oursler 203). The building was also

enlarged to create a National Training School for Scoutmasters during a three-year

program (Oursler 121). Scouting quickly spread throughout the world, influencing many

lives in different countries.

Internationally recognized, Scouting has become an integral part of most societies.

Categorized by an explosion of growth early in the group’s history, numerical growth of

the worldwide Scouting movement retains a large number of followers (Ljungblad,

Milestones of World Scouting, 1). The first world Scouting census was performed in

1922, and recognized thirty-one national Scouting organizations and 1,019,205 total

members (Ljungblad, Milestones of World Scouting, 2). For the next few years, a

fluctuation occurred as member countries rose and fell (Ljungblad, Milestones of World

Scouting, 2). By midcentury, international Scouting reached over five million

participants in fifty different countries (Ljungblad, Milestones of World Scouting, 3).

When the Scouting headquarters moved to Switzerland in 1968, membership had

grown three-fold to over twelve million Scouts and leaders internationally (Ljungblad,

Milestones of World Scouting, 3). In 1968, Scouting was present in one hundred and

twenty countries around the world, essentially having a presence in all corners of the

world (Ljungblad, Milestones of World Scouting, 5). By 1990, this number had grown to



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one hundred and thirty one countries and one hundred and forty countries in 1996

(Ljungblad, Milestones of World Scouting, 6-7). At present the worldwide number of

countries participating in Scouting has reached one hundred and sixty (Saunders 1).

Some countries have not joined the World Scouting Movement because they take

leadership from another branch of Scouting or have no formal governance (Ljungblad,

Scouting Elsewhere, 1). Twenty-six countries not included in the World Scouting

Movement associate with another group’s Scouting organization and twenty-nine

nations lack formal leadership, but have many Scouts (Ljungblad, Scouting Elsewhere,

1-2).

By 1954, the World Scouting Movement consisted of fifty-seven countries, including

a great number of exiled Scouts in the Soviet countries (Oursler 201-202). These Scouts

were outlawed in all Soviet countries because Scouting theoretically could upset the

hierarchical balance of power through mass organization. After the fall of the Soviet

empire, Scouting resumed, however tepidly, in most of these countries. Though Baden-

Powell died in 1941, he had formed the foundation for “brotherhood among the young

in every nation” (Freedman 215). “The road to brotherhood [has been] long and

challenging;” however, the “heart” of Scouting was changing “street urchins as [into]

back woodsmen” (Oursler 202, 205). Thus, the boys from totally dissimilar backgrounds

were transformed into equally recognized Scouts.

Today, only six countries do not have Scouting because it is banned, though

underground movements could exist in small numbers (Ljungblad, Scouting Elsewhere,

2). These countries include Andorra, China, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, and Myanmar



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(Ljungblad, Scouting Elsewhere, 2-3). Currently there are over twenty-five million

Scouts around the world (Saunders 1-5). The fewest, sixty-one, are in Monaco and the

most, 8,103,835, are in Indonesia (Saunders 3). 5,970,203 Scouts are in the United

States, but only 44,271 are in England (Saunders 5). Since its conception and the first

worldwide Scouting census, the organization has grown by a factor of twenty-five in

number of members and the member countries have increased by five times (Saunders

1-5; Ljungblad, Milestones of World Scouting, 1). Due to the huge number of Scouts,

their influence on the world is truly great.

The European Scouting movement profoundly impacted American history and

culture by creating a group of well trained young men. As Boyce organized Scouting in

America, he too took on many of Baden-Powell’s values including projects to benefit the

community, honor, and useful skills (Ricker 1). He tried to raise boys to the same level

to “prepare [the] young people to make ethical and moral choices” throughout their

lives by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law (Ricker 1). Service has been at

the forefront of American Scouting since its conception (“Boy Scouts of America”).

“Scouting and Scouting ideals have become a part of the pattern of America” (Oursler

17). “Boy Scouts of America” mentions that Scouts were said to have provided crowd

control at Woodrow Wilson’s Presidential Inauguration in 1913. During World War I,

Scouts replaced grown men on farms and in factories to continue material and food

production (“Boy Scouts of America”). Boys also collected and sold bonds, and recycled

over ten million pounds of aluminum in one year (“Boy Scouts of America”). Inner city

Troops distributed air raid information posters and started a “Help win the war”



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campaign (McGivney 50-52). The government often used Scouts to promote new

federal campaigns (McGivney 50). The “get out the vote” campaign entailed putting

door hangers on the front of every house in the country (McGivney 51-52). Scouts also

began the “Leave No Trace” program of outdoor ethics and collected trash in the “Keep

America Beautiful” campaign in the late nineteen hundreds (McGivney 52). In anti-drug

campaigns, American cultural norms were greatly impacted by encouraging abstinence

from drug use (McGivney 52). Racially progressive and non discriminatory, Scouts have

not tried to exclude any potential members. This does not include some individuals

singled out by Baden-Powell, including homosexuals and atheists (“Boy Scouts of

America”). In 1918, African American Scouts were formally admitted after years of non-

recognized troops across America (“Boy Scouts of America”). African American Scouts

were allowed into Troops before segregation was officially outlawed in the United

States (“Boy Scouts of America”). Braille handbooks and information has been available

since the beginning of Scouting (“Boy Scouts of America”). Scouts with mental or

physical disabilities have always been admitted and alternate requirements drafted

(“Boy Scouts of America”). Boy Scouting leaders have been proactive in racial and

cultural issues.

New recruitment principles also caused further positive influence on American

society. Though American Scouting began preparing boys to become soldiers, it quickly

reformed to assist and change urban youth (McGivney 48). Outdoor programs

expanded to appeal to adventurous boys who would go on trips to learn skills and have

fun (McGivney 49). Different types of troops began to emerge, some focusing on



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outings and others on leadership (McGivney 51). Troops began to flounder when

parents could or would not support them and started to focus on moral navigation

instead of camping or hiking because outdoor activities require more adult supervision

(McGivney 49, 109).

Boy Scouting in America, however, has caused debate over controversial topics. The

extent of the Boy Scouts of America’s problems with race and belief have centered on

“God, gays, and girls” (Macelod 1065). Many believe that the exclusion, or supposed

exclusion, of these three groups erases that above mentioned benefits to racial and

belief-driven segregation (Macelod 1065). Since its conception, Boy Scout Law has

required that boys believe in some form of God, one of Baden-Powell’s founding

principles (Macelod 1065). Gerald Ford, the only President to be an Eagle Scout, spoke

about the term “a Scout is Reverent” (Fussell 3). This speech was necessary because it

shows that Scouting places a high amount of emphasis on reverence toward God. It is

very important to remember that Scouting does not discriminate against persons with

different beliefs about God; the Scout simply must realize that God exists (Fussell 5).

Jewish rabbis have started troops along with Protestants and Muslims (Oursler 17).

Therefore, Jews and Christians integrated and worked together in Troops. However,

gays have never been admitted because of the interpretation of Baden-Powell’s

“morally straight” portion of the Scout Oath. On the other hand, since girls are a part of

the Boy Scouts through the Venturing program there is some integration between the

sexes. Baden-Powell’s principles have created both positive benefits in desegregation

and also upset many people through the gay policy. Restrictions like these eliminate a



O’Brochta 19

large number of potential Scouts. These three limiting factors have restricted

participation in scouting somewhat and have caused a large amount of controversy over

their legality.

Although Scouting influenced America in the nineteen hundreds, Europe experienced

Scouting’s greatest impact through development of well-behaved and responsible young

men. With over a quarter of a billion Scouts in the last century, Scouting has the power

to change history (Block 203). Though seen as a potential tie in movement with

Marxism or Communism, Scouting taught boys the proper way to live in society (Block

203). Scouting was meant to bring different boys from totally unrelated backgrounds

together, whether it was cultural, religious, or value difference (Block 203). The Scout

could be compared to a knight, honorable and responsible, but willing to do his duty

when necessary (McEvoy-Halston 9). Many Scouts did use their training to become

military leaders (Oursler 209). Courage, bravery, and risk were all top qualities that

Scouts possessed to become military officers (Oursler 209). Older boys who joined

Scouting when it began were the ones who went to fight in World War I (Lloyd 6). It

has been said that seventy percent of Scouts went into the service and were tasked to

lead England during war times and national emergencies (Rosenthal 208). This

percentage is compared to only a few percent of non-Scouts who joined the army. In

the event of a threat to the British Empire, the Scouts will be an essential part of

getting England out of the problem, as proven in the earlier 1900’s (Rosenthal 208).

During wartime, Scouts were used to replace police and guards in Europe. Younger

boys took on protective roles in society (Oursler 214). Training for saving life helped



O’Brochta 20

Scouts work with aid groups, especially the Red Cross to treat war victims (Oursler

214). Due to the lack of men for police, Scouts “guarded railway bridges with their

staves” or took over harvesting jobs (Lloyd 6). For boys of eleven or twelve, these

Scouts held considerable clout over much older adults (Lloyd 6). Scouts were also

encouraged to live the Scout Oath and Law in everyday life (Oursler 217). This meant

that Scouts went on European government campaigns to help their country (Oursler

217). Often these campaigns included recycling rubber, paper, cans, books, musical

instruments, or grease (Oursler 217-222). Voting, veterans, tree planting, life jacket,

conservation, and loan programs would all use Scouts as a free source of labor to

spread the government messages by going door to door (Oursler 217-222). Scouting

guides and training manuals have been suggested for general use as an effective

overview of the topics offered in Merit Badges (Oursler 222). Baden-Powell himself

stressed using Scout skills at all times (Baden-Powell, K.C.B. 1). All officers in the

military should be trained in Scouting and reconnaissance to become effective leaders

(Baden-Powell, K.C.B. 1, 3). In wartime, Scouts can be used to find enemy armies

(Baden-Powell, K.C.B. 3). Just one German Scout located the Austrians during the

Franco-German war (Baden-Powell, K.C.B. 4). Baden-Powell used these successes as an

example to show the application of Scouting, especially during wartime.

Morally, the Scout Law created a profound influence on European boys from the

founding to today. All boys should work together in a classless society to improve

society as much as possible (Rosenthal 110). Service should be performed to the

“country first, self second” (Rosenthal 171). There may be an “obsession with



O’Brochta 21

obedience,” but this is not a bad premise because new Scouts are not always stellar

citizens (Rosenthal 185). Like American Scouting, the English Scouting organization has

received criticism for not being open to different moral beliefs (Zeiger 1). The English

Scouts have loosened the ideas of the Scout Law to accommodate homosexuals and

anti-militarists, making all boys completely equal (Zeiger 1). This move allows anti-

monarchists to omit the Queen from the Scout Law (Zeiger 1). Baden-Powell strongly

opposed admission of all boys because he thought some moral premises, chiefly a belief

in God, were needed for a well-run group (Zeiger 1). His ideas are reflected in the

Scout Oath and Law, including provisions against certain moral beliefs. Scouts have,

therefore, also impacted Europeans, much more than in any other part of the world.

The beginning of Scouting, its influence on American history, and its profound

control of European events have made a once small movement into a huge revolution.

Today, “there are big issues with children… with behavior ‘on the streets,’ from having

nothing to do” (Smith 1). Scouting aspires to help solve this still persistent problem

(Boy Scouts V). Scouting has expanded to over 216 countries and membership has

multiplied by over a million times since conception (Smith 1). The movement has

become one that interests boys from every country and life experience (Boy Scouts V).

This wide public interest contributes to the Scouting movement gaining worldwide

appeal and almost universal approval, at least to some extent (Boy Scouts V). Scouts

undergo constant threat of danger to perform their duty to God and their country

(Baden-Powell, K.C.B. 5). A Scout is “a special man” selected for his ability, courage,

honor, and smarts (Baden-Powell, K.C.B. 7). The goal of Scouting is to create a “strong,



O’Brochta 22

noble manhood in the days to come” that will “make a real difference in the lives of

others” (Boy Scouts V, Smith 1). As Sir Robert Baden-Powell said himself in his death

letter to the World Scouting Movement, “Leave the world a little better than you found

it…die happy in feeling that…you have done your best. The only ridicule [of the Scout

or of Scouting] is by the uninformed” (Oursler 237-238). Through years of war and

peace, Scouting has operated on Baden-Powell’s wishes; it is each Scout’s duty to leave

his portion of the world slightly better than when he became a Scout.



O’Brochta 23

Works Cited

Baden-Powell, K.C.B., Lieut.-Gen. Sir Robert. Aids to Scouting, for N.C.Os. & Men. Rev.& Expanded ed. London: Gale & Polden, Ltd., 1915.

Block, Nelson R. "Scouting's Centennial." Vital Speeches of the Day. 73.5 (2007): 203+.

Boy Scouts Handbook. 1st ed. Red Bank: Boy Scouts of America, 1911.

"Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History." Fox River District, Boy Scouts of America. 10 Feb 2010 <http://foxriverbsa.org/blog/2009/10/289/>.

Eagle Scout Roll of Honor: National Eagle Scout Registry. Irving: National Eagle Scout Association, 2008.

Freedman, Russell. Scouting With Baden-Powell. New York: Holiday House, 1967.

Fussell, Paul. The Boy Scout Handbook and Other Observations. New York: OxfordUniversity Press, 1982.

Hargan, Jim. "Brownsea Island and the Birth of Scouting." British Heritage July 2007:50+.

Laird, Matthew R., and Robert White. "Scouts' Honor." Beaver June 2007: 28+.

Ljungblad, Marcus. Milestones of World Scouting. Geneva: World Organization of theScout Movement, 2008.

Ljungblad, Marcus. Scouting Elsewhere. Geneva: World Organization of the ScoutMovement, 2008.



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Lloyd, Chris. "How Baden-Powell's Vision was Realised at Local Castle." Northern Echo03 July 2002: 6B+.

Macelod, David. "On My Honor: Boy Scouts and the Making of American Youth." Journal

of Social History 36.4 (2003): 1065+.

McEvoy-Halston, Patrick. Boy Scouts. Vancouver, 2008.

McGivney, Annette. "Be Prepared." Backpacker June 1999: 48-52+.

Oursler, Will. The Boy Scout Story. Garden City: DoubleDay & Company, Inc., 1955.

Ricker, Noknoi. "A Century of Honor: Maine Council is Celebrating Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary." Bangor Daily News 08 Feb. 2010: 1+.

Rosenthal, Michael. The Character Factory: Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts and theImperatives of Empire. 1st ed. New York: Pantheon Books, 1986.

Saunders, Ray. Some Statistics. Geneva: World Organization of the Scout Movement,

2008.

Smith, Rebecca. "One Hundred and Still Going Strong." British BroadcastingCorporation: Politics Show. 28 June 2007. British Broadcasting Corporation. 10Feb 2010<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/politics_show/6246014.stm>.

Springhall, John. "Sir Francis Fletcher Vane, Anti-Militarist: The Great Boy Scout Schismof 1909." Historian. 101. (2009): 27+.

Zeiger, Hans. "No More Boy Scouts in Britain." WorldNetDaily. 16 June 2005.WorldNetDaily.com Inc. 10 Feb 2010<http://www.wnd.com/index.php/index.php/index.php/index.php?pageId=30847>.

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