World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS)

(51 member associations in 27 countries, possibly around 30 000 members, founded 1966)

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".

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).

Member Associations listed alphbetically by country:

Argentina—Asociación Argentina de Scouts de Baden Powell/Baden-Powell Scouts of Argentina/BPSA-AR, 1970
Argentina—Sociedad Argentina de Boy Scouts Independientes
Australia—Baden-Powell Scouts of Australia, 1984 (~290 members; 3 groups around Adelaide plus 1 group in Tasmania)
Australia—Baden-Powell Scouts of Western Australia (probationary member; apparently separate from Baden-Powell Scouts of Australia)
Bangladesh—Independent Scouts of Bangladesh (probationary)
Brazil—Asociación Escoteria Baden Powell/AEBP, 2007
Canada—BPSA Federation of Canada, 1996 (umbrella federation that includes the following 4 associations):
Canada/British Columbia—BPSA British Columbia, 1997
Canada/New Brunswick—BPSA New Brunswick, 2006
Canada/Ontario—BPSA Ontario, 1998 (also includes the Traditional Explorers Association Council of Ontario/TEAC)
Canada—Canadian Independent Scout Association/CISA, 1999
Chile—Agrupación Hermandad Scout del Desierto
Chile—Agrupación Nacional de Boy Scouts de Chile/ANBSCH (Boy Scouts of Chile), 1982
Colombia—Asociación Colombiana de Escultismo/ACE
Costa Rica—BPSA - Costa Rica
Denmark—De Gule Spejdere i Danmark (Baden-Powell Scouts of Denmark), 1984
Ecuador—Asociación de Scouts Independientes "Lord Baden Powell de Gilwell"
Germany—Bruderschaft Christlicher Pfadfinder/BCP, 1983
Germany—Bund Europäischer St. Georgs- Pfadfinderinnen und -Pfadfinder/BESP
Germany—Bund unabhängiger Pfadfinder/BuP
Germany—Deutscher Pfadfinderbund gegründet 1911/DPB1911, 1953 (originally 1911) (~100 members)
Germany—Europäischer Pfadfinderbund - Georgsritter e.V.
Germany—Freie Deutsche Waldläufer Olpe/FDWL, 1962
Germany—Freier Pfadfinderbund Asgard (~80 members)
Germany—Freier Pfadfinderbund St. Georg/FPG
Germany—Independent Guide Association/IGA, 2001
Germany—Independent Scout Association/ISA, 1989
Germany—Pfadfinderbund Weltenbummler e.V., 1981
Germany—Solmser Pfadfinderschaft
Guatemala—Asociación de Scouts de Baden-Powell de Guatemala, 2003
Ireland—The Baden-Powell Scouts Association of Ireland, 1999
Italy—Associazione Indipendente Scout/ASSISCOUT
Italy—Associazione Scautistica Cattolica Italiana/ASCI, 1997
Japan—BPSA - Japan, 1999
Lithuania—Zemaitija Scout Association, 2002
Malaysia—BPSA - Malaysia, 2000
Mexico—Federación Mexicana de Scouts Independientes (Mexican Federation of Independent Scouts), 2002 (umbrella federation that includes the following 3 associations):
Mexico—Agrupación Scout Mexicana AC
Mexico—Scouts Mexicanos AC, 1975
Mexico—Scouts y Guías Baden Powell AC, 2001
Pakistan—Independent Scouts of Pakistan
Paraguay—Asociación Scout Baden Powell del Paraguay/ASBPP
Suriname—Scouts Independientes de Surinam
Switzerland—Feuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe, 1988
Switzerland—Pfadi Seeland Scouts, 2000
United Arab Emirates—United Arab Emirates Independent Scout Association
UK—Baden-Powell Scouts Association/BPSA, 1970
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.]
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
Venezuela—Federación de Boy Scouts Independiente de Venezuela/FBSIV
Yugoslavia—Okruzna Organizacija Skauta - Sverna Backa, 2002