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Fort Collins Area

Troop 97 BSA
Fort Collins,
Colorado USA

World Scouting

From Brownsea Island in 1907, Scouting has spread to almost every country in the world. Indeed, most countries have more than one national Scouting association. While a majority of the world's Scouts belong to national associations affiliated with the two largest international Scouting organizations, there are dozens of national and local associations affiliated with several other international Scouting bodies, and more that are independent of any international organization. There are also a number of organizations that do not consider themselves to be Scouting organizations (they sometimes refer to themselves as "Scout-like" organizations), but nevertheless base their program ultimately on Baden-Powell's Scouting concepts.

So who is a "Scout"? The words "scout" and "scouting" are fairly broad terms that are used by many organizations. And there are non-Scouting organizations that include "scout-like" activities such as camping, hiking, and outdoor skills (some even wear a Scout-type uniform). For simplicity, I include in "Scouting" any organization that labels itself a Scouting program and which bases its program on Baden-Powell's Scouting concepts and ideals. I include both males and females in the definition of "Scout", and I include male-only, female-only, and coed associations in the definition of "Scouting". Note that female Scouts are often called Guides, and I have included Guiding associations in the definition of Scouting as well (Scouting and Guiding were both started by Baden-Powell).

There are a number of individual Scout groups (especially in Germany) that operate their own local program independent of any national or regional association. These are difficult to find and track, and they frequently go into or out of existence when leadership changes. So I list the unaffiliated single groups I have discovered separately, and do not count them in the "organization" totals.

International Scouting Organizations

There are at least 539 separate national (or regional) Scouting associations in the world. Most have felt the need to create international Scouting organizations to set standards for Scouting and to coordinate activities among member associations. As a result, we know of six international Scouting organizations that serve 457 of the world's national associations, plus a seventh international organization that is just for adults. The largest two organizations count 367 national associations as members, which include the vast majority of the world's Scouts. Four other international organizations include another 90 (mostly small) associations, and there are at least 82 other small (mostly German) associations that are independent of any international organization.

The international Scouting picture is complicated somewhat by the loss of the old distinction between a Scouting Movement for boys and a separate Scouting (or Guiding) Movement for girls. Baden-Powell founded both movements, and there have been coed groups from the earliest days. Since about 1970, the trend toward coed Scouting has accelerated, and today coed Scouting is the norm in many countries. This has created difficulties for the two largest international Scouting organizations: WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement), which formerly represented only male-only associations, and WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), which formerly represented only female-only associations. Today, WOSM counts over a million girls and young women among its members, and has changed its mission statements to reflect goals for "young people" rather than "boys and young men". WAGGGS still sets its mission goals in terms of "girls and young women", even though it counts a small number of boys and young men among its members (about 11 000). WOSM and WAGGGS have been discussing ways of uniting, but this process is likely to take many years. [The other four international organizations are all coed.]

Why isn't everybody in WOSM or WAGGGS? Those associations that prefer not to belong to WOSM or WAGGGS tend to share several viewpoints:

• Some believe that WOSM and its national associations have strayed from Baden-Powell's concepts of Scouting.
• Some object to WOSM's one-national-Scouting-association-per-country policy (which forces multiple national Scouting associations either to merge, or to create an umbrella federation to represent them in WOSM).
• Some desire to use B-P's Scouting for Boys and his original 1908 program and uniform to the maximum extent possible, making only those minimal changes required by modern safety, health, or environmental concerns.
• Some are strongly church-focused, and some have a Christian-only membership policy.

So here are details about the six international Scouting organizations for youth (listed in order of size). At bottom are links to our page that lists all the non-aligned national Scouting associations that I have found and to our page that lists over 80 adult-only Scouting associations affiliated with the International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF).

World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM; 1922)
Organisation Mondiale du Mouvement Scout (OMMS)
(218 member associations in 162 countries plus Palestine, 28 million members)

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, WOSM (or OMMS in French) represents the vast majority of all the world's male Scouts, and almost 13% of the female Scouts. There are 198 national Scout associations in WOSM plus another 20 umbrella federations (since WOSM will only recognize one Scouting association in each country, multiple national associations that wish to be part of WOSM have to create—and finance—a national umbrella federations to represent them with WOSM). WOSM national associations are headquartered in 153 countries plus Palestine, plus three associations have branch associations in 8 more countries.

Starting in 1908, early Scouting programs in countries outside England looked to Baden-Powell's London headquarters for guidance and inspiration. But as Scouting spread and matured, the need for an international umbrella organization became apparent, and in 1922 a number of national Scout associations created WOSM. While most WOSM member associations are coed at least in some levels, many let WOSM represent their entire membership, while others let WOSM represent their male membership and WAGGGS (see below) their female membership.

WOSM's five largest associations represent 81% of their total world membership (Indonesia, US, Philippines, India, Thailand)!

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS; 1928)
Association Mondiale des Guides et Eclaireuses (AMGE)
(205 member associations in 143 countries plus 3 territories, 10 million members)

WAGGGS (AMGE in French) is the Girl Guide/Girl Scout counterpart to WOSM (Baden-Powell founded both world Boy Scouting and world Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting). Based in London, England, WAGGGS represents both girl-only programs that are not a part of WOSM, and they also represent the female membership in the 58 national Scout associations and umbrella federations that choose to belong to both WOSM and WAGGGS. That means that males and females in the same coed programs could be represented by separate international organizations. In addition, WAGGGS counts about 11 000 boys and young men among its roughly 9 million youth members, despite its stated goal of being an organization focused on meeting "the needs of girls and young women".

WAGGGS' five largest associations represent 76% of their total world membership (US, Philippines, India, UK, Canada)!

WOSM and WAGGGS are not affiliated in any way, but they cooperate on matters of mutual interest. Despite friction resulting from the trend toward coed Scouting, WOSM and WAGGGS have held meetings to discuss the possibility of a merger.

Fédération du Scoutisme Européen (FSE; 1956), also known as:
l'Union internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe (UIGSE-FSE or UIGSE)
(19 member associations in 16 countries, ~70 000 members)

In English, FSE is Federation of European Scouting (but also known as the European Scout Federation). UIGSE means the International Union of the Guides and Scouts of Europe. This multi-named, coed organization is headquartered in France. FSE was founded in 1956 by a group of German and French Christian youth leaders, and remains Christian only.

FSE includes 19 member associations from 15 European countries plus Canada:

1. Austria—Katholische Pfadfinderschaft Europas - Österreich, 1989
2. Belgium—Guides et Scouts d'Europe - Belgique, 1963
3. Belgium—Guides et Scouts d'Albanie (Albanian exile group, headquarters in Belgium)
4. Bulgaria—National Scout Organization of Bulgaria "St Georges"
5. Canada/Québec, New Brunswick, & Ontario—Association des Eclaireurs Baden-Powell/AEBP (also known in English as the Association of Baden-Powell Explorers/ABPE), 1973 (originally called Eclaireurs du Québec; has had units in Ontario since 1998 and in New Brunswick since 2003; is discussing ways of joining forces for headquarters, activities, training, etc, with the independent AQAB in Québec)
6. Canada/Québec—Association Evangélique du Scoutisme au Québec
7. France—Guides et Scouts d'Europe de la Fédération du Scoutisme Européen/GSE, 1958
8. Germany—Evangelische Pfadfinderschaft Europas/EPE, 1977
9. Germany—Katholische Pfadfinderschaft Europas/KPE, 1980
10. Hungary—Magyarorszagi Europai Cserkeszek, 1990
11. Italy—Guides e Scouts d'Europa Cattolici, 1976
12. Latvia—Eiropas Katolu Skauti
13. Lithuania—Lietuvos Nacionaline Europos Skautu Asociacija, 1990
14. Luxembourg—Guides et Scouts Européens du Luxembourg, 1977
15. Poland—Stowarzyszenie Harcerstwa Katolickiego/Zawisza, 1995
16. Portugal—Associação das Guias e Escoteiros da Europa/AGEEP, 1970 (former CES association, has replaced the former Associação Nacional do Escutismo Europeu [1977])
17. Romania—Cercetasii Crestini Români din FSE, 1991
18. Spain—Guias y Scouts de Europa, 1977
19. Switzerland—Schweizerische Pfadfinderschaft Europas [German]/Scoutisme Européen Suisse [French]/Scautismo Europeo Svizzero [Italian]

Confédération Européenne de Scoutisme (CES; 1978)
(16 member associations in 7 countries)

Known in English as the Confederation of European Scouts (to match the "CES" abbreviation), the CES was formed in Brussels, Belgium, in 1978, and is based in France. They stress the "European dimension" of their program and that they provide the "authentic Scouting of Baden-Powell". There appears to be considerable overlap with FSE.

CES includes 15 member associations (plus 1 umbrella federation) in 7 European countries:

1. Belgium—Europe et Scoutisme
2. France—Fédération Française de Scoutisme/FFDS, 1970
3. Germany—Bund Europäischer Pfadfinder/BEP
4. Italy—Federazione Scautistica Italiana/FEDERSCOUT, 1986 (umbrella federation that includes the following 8 associations):
   
   
5. Italy/Trieste—Amici delle Iniziative Scout/AMIS
6. Italy/Sardinia—Associazione Giovani Esploratori Sardi/AGES
7. Italy—Associazione Giovani Scout/AGISCOUT
8. Italy—Associazione Scautistica Europeo/ASE
9. Italy—Associazione Scout Nautica Antares/ANTARES
10. Italy—Associazione Veneta Scout Cattolici/AVSC
11. Italy—Centro Nautico Scout/CNS
12. Italy—Giovani Esploratori Lombardi/GEL (Milan area)
    
    
13. Italy—Associazione Scautistica Cattolica Italiana/ASCI
14. Netherlands—FSE Federatie Scouting Europa Nederland
15. Spain—Confederación Española de Federaciones y Asociaciones Scouts/CEFAS
16. UK—FSE European Scout Federation (British Association)

World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS; 1996)
(51 member associations in 27 countries, possibly around 30 000 members)

The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) was formed in Laubach, Germany, in 1996 by Lawrie Dring, a British Scouter with the independent Baden-Powell Scouts Association (BPSA). The UK-based BPSA, founded in 1970, is probably the most widespread and largest of these independent Scouting organizations. The BPSA was formed at least partly in reaction to the UK Scout Association's "Advance Party Report" (1966). This study resulted in substantial changes to British Scouting which caused some British Scouts/Scouters to seek alternatives they felt were closer to Baden-Powell's original program.

WFIS is open to any Scouting association that is not affiliated with another international organization. They require that member associations "follow, and use, B-P's original program, traditions, uniforms, morals, ethics, and structure as laid out in B-P's Scouting for Boys", amended only for "health, environmental, first-aid, and safety reasons".

1. Argentina—Asociación Argentina de Scouts de Baden Powell/Baden-Powell Scouts of Argentina/BPSA-AR, 1970
2. Argentina—Sociedad Argentina de Boy Scouts Independientes
3. Australia—Baden-Powell Scouts of Australia, 1984 (~290 members; 3 groups around Adelaide plus 1 group in Tasmania)
4. Australia—Baden-Powell Scouts of Western Australia (probationary member; apparently separate from Baden-Powell Scouts of Australia)
5. Bangladesh—Independent Scouts of Bangladesh (probationary)
6. Brazil—Asociación Escoteria Baden Powell/AEBP, 2007
7. Canada—BPSA Federation of Canada, 1996 (umbrella federation that includes the following 4 associations):
   
   
8. Canada/British Columbia—BPSA British Columbia, 1997
9. Canada/New Brunswick—BPSA New Brunswick, 2006
10. Canada/Ontario—BPSA Ontario, 1998 (also includes the Traditional Explorers Association Council of Ontario/TEAC)
11. Canada—Canadian Independent Scout Association/CISA, 1999
    
    
12. Chile—Agrupación Hermandad Scout del Desierto
13. Chile—Agrupación Nacional de Boy Scouts de Chile/ANBSCH (Boy Scouts of Chile), 1982
14. Colombia—Asociación Colombiana de Escultismo/ACE
15. Costa Rica—BPSA - Costa Rica
16. Denmark—De Gule Spejdere i Danmark (Baden-Powell Scouts of Denmark), 1984
17. Ecuador—Asociación de Scouts Independientes "Lord Baden Powell de Gilwell"
18. Germany—Bruderschaft Christlicher Pfadfinder/BCP, 1983
19. Germany—Bund Europäischer St. Georgs- Pfadfinderinnen und -Pfadfinder/BESP
20. Germany—Bund unabhängiger Pfadfinder/BuP
21. Germany—Deutscher Pfadfinderbund gegründet 1911/DPB1911, 1953 (originally 1911) (~100 members)
22. Germany—Europäischer Pfadfinderbund - Georgsritter e.V.
23. Germany—Freie Deutsche Waldläufer Olpe/FDWL, 1962
24. Germany—Freier Pfadfinderbund Asgard (~80 members)
25. Germany—Freier Pfadfinderbund St. Georg/FPG
26. Germany—Independent Guide Association/IGA, 2001
27. Germany—Independent Scout Association/ISA, 1989
28. Germany—Pfadfinderbund Weltenbummler e.V., 1981
29. Germany—Solmser Pfadfinderschaft
30. Guatemala—Asociación de Scouts de Baden-Powell de Guatemala, 2003
31. Ireland—The Baden-Powell Scouts Association of Ireland, 1999
32. Italy—Associazione Indipendente Scout/ASSISCOUT
33. Italy—Associazione Scautistica Cattolica Italiana/ASCI, 1997
34. Japan—BPSA - Japan, 1999
35. Lithuania—Zemaitija Scout Association, 2002
36. Malaysia—BPSA - Malaysia, 2000
37. Mexico—Federación Mexicana de Scouts Independientes (Mexican Federation of Independent Scouts), 2002 (umbrella federation that includes the following 3 associations):
    
    
38. Mexico—Agrupación Scout Mexicana AC
39. Mexico—Scouts Mexicanos AC, 1975
40. Mexico—Scouts y Guías Baden Powell AC, 2001
    
    
41. Pakistan—Independent Scouts of Pakistan
42. Paraguay—Asociación Scout Baden Powell del Paraguay/ASBPP
43. Suriname—Scouts Independientes de Surinam
44. Switzerland—Feuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe, 1988
45. Switzerland—Pfadi Seeland Scouts, 2000
46. United Arab Emirates—United Arab Emirates Independent Scout Association
47. UK—Baden-Powell Scouts Association/BPSA, 1970
48. US—B-P Rovers of Arizona (a Rover crew [age 18+] associated with a BSA troop) [There are apparently a number of isolated, single-unit programs, but this is the only one I have been able to verify.]
49. US—Rover Scouts Association/RSA, 2002 (age 18+), 179 members in 21 crews, mostly in the US, but with some in Australia, Canada, Japan, Philippines, and the UK; headquarters in Bardstown, Kentucky
50. Venezuela—Federación de Boy Scouts Independiente de Venezuela/FBSIV
51. Yugoslavia—Okruzna Organizacija Skauta - Sverna Backa, 2002

The BPSA (Baden-Powell Scouts Association) is a multinational association, with the home association in the UK and branch associations in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, and the US. Note that not all units associated with BPSA are recognized by WFIS (such as BPSA-USA, whose program does not meet the WFIS definition of traditional Scouting).

Order of World Scouts (OWS; 1911, 1991)
(4 member associations in 4 countries)

In 1909, a group of troops withdrew from Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts Association and formed the British Boy Scouts (BBS) (apparently out of concern that B-Ps association was too "official" and militaristic). While some early troops were coed, a public outcry caused them quickly to split into semi-separate BBS and BGS (British Girl Scouts) associations. The BBS/BGS program soon spread to several other British Commonwealth countries. As a result, in 1911, members of the BBS led by Sir Francis Vane (a former official of B-P's Boy Scouts Association) organized the Order of World Scouts. The Order had some early success, then largely collapsed after its founder and primary financial benefactor declared bankruptcy in 1912. Largely disappearing for nearly 80 years, the Order was revived in 1991.

The OWS constitution requires that all members "demonstrate by teaching and example of life the Christian Faith". Headquartered in England, the Order of World Scouts includes four associations in four countries:

1. Australia—Scouts of Australia, 1986
2. Italy—Scuola Nazionale Formazione Scout (National Scout Training School), 1994
3. Poland—Ls-Drzewo Pokoju
4. UK—British Boy Scouts/BBS, 1909, with which is affiliated the British Girl Scouts/BGS, 1909 (in coed troops, boys belong to BBS and girls belong to BGS)

There may be a few groups in Canada affiliated with the British Boy Scouts.

An interesting American connection was "The American Boy Scouts" (ABS), an association started by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in June, 1910 (only four months after publisher William Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America) (Hearst resigned from the ABS in December, 1910). The American Boy Scouts affiliated with the Order of World Scouts in 1911, and renamed themselves "The US Boy Scout" in 1913. This association was the target of a lengthy lawsuit by the Boy Scouts of America, which ended successfully for the BSA in 1919, after testimony from Baden-Powell on behalf of the BSA. The US Boy Scout then reorganized as the "American Cadets" and "US Junior Military Forces Inc.", and soon disappeared.

This table summarizes the totals for the six international organizations with youth members plus the non-aligned associations. There are 487 national associations with youth members, plus another 38 "umbrella" federations that do not themselves have youth members, for a total of 525 Scouting organizations in 188 countries (the country total includes those countries where Scouting exists, but is not yet recognized by the international organizations). The 52 associations and 4 federations that belong to both WOSM and WAGGGS are counted in each group's total, but are counted only once for the grand total.

Fragmented Scouting. While most countries typically have two or three Scouting associations, there are six countries where Scouting is incredibly fragmented:

• Germany—40 associations [plus dozens of unaffiliated single groups] !
• Lebanon—31 associations
• Spain—24 associations
• Italy—21 associations
• Canada—15 associations
• France—15 associations

Here are links to our pages that describe the many interesting aspects of a Scouting world that is probably more varied and dynamic than you thought:

• Non-aligned Scouting Associations (82 associations in 20 countries)
• Unaffiliated Single Groups (55 groups in 3 countries)
• Adult-only Scouting Associations (97 associations in 59 countries)
• Scout-like Organizations (we've found more than a dozen, and there've got to be more)

• All National (and local) Scouting Associations in Every Country (all 194 countries in the world, listing all known Scouting associations in each)

Last Revision to This Page: 9 March 2008
Copyright © 2001-08 by Troop 97 BSA