(89 member associations in 43 countries, around 200 000 members, founded 1996)
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. Interestingly, Lady Olave Baden-Powell (B-P's widow) supported the BPSA and authorized the organization to use the Baden-Powell name.
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 (also B-PSA) (Baden-Powell Scouts Association) is a multinational association, with the home association in the UK and branch associations in Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, and the US. In Canada and the US, they are called the Baden-Powell Service Association.
In addition to the associations below, the International Scout Fellowship is an affiliate of WFIS for former and current adult members of WFIS.
Member Associations listed alphbetically by country (some of these, especially in Germany are single groups):
Argentina—BPSA - Argentina
Argentina—Scouts Navales de Argentina
Austria—Scouts fo Europa
Bangladesh—Independent Scouts of Bangladesh
Belgium—Onafhankelijke Scouts en Gidsen (umbrella group for 3 local Scout groups)
Bolivia—Asociación Boliviana de Scouts Independientes de Baden-Powell [provisional member]
Brazil—Asociación Escoteria Baden Powell/AEBP Brasil, 2007
Brazil—Grande Fraternidade Escoteira Impisa
Canada/Alberta—BPSA Alberta [provisional member]
Canada/British Columbia—BPSA British Columbia, 1997
Canada/New Brunswick—BPSA New Brunswick, 2006
Canada/Ontario—BPSA Ontario, 1998
Canada—ZHR Polish Scouts of Canada
Chile—Agrupación Nacional de Boy Scouts de Chile/ANBSCH (Boy Scouts of Chile), 1982
Chile—Hermandad Scout del Desierto Chile
Colombia—Asociación Colombiana de Escultismo/ACE
Costa Rica—Scouts Independientes de Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)—Association des Eclaireurs et Eclaaireuses Evangéliques de Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)—Baden Powell Scouts of Africa
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)—Scouts d'Afrique de Côte d'Ivoire (sub-assocation of Conférence Ivorienne du Scoutisme)
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)—Scouts Unitaires de Côte d'Ivoire
Czech Republic—SKAUT – cesky skauting ABS
Czech Republic—Svaz skautu a skautek Ceske Republiky
Denmark—De Gule Spejdere i Danmark (Baden-Powell Scouts of Denmark), 1984
Ecuador—Asociación de Boy Scouts del Ecuador
El Salvador—Asociación de Scouts Independiente de El Salvador/ASI-ES
France—Scouts de Chavagnes
Germany—Bund Europäischer St. Georgs- Pfadfinderinnen und -Pfadfinder/BESP
