Scounting and Guiding is a youth movement started by Lord Baden, a Lt Col in the British Army. During the Boer war in South Africa Baden Powel Successfully defended the town of Mafeking in a siege even though his troops were vastly out-numbered. He used local boys to administer first aids, send messages and run errands. On his return to the UK he realized that boys at home could benefit from the sorts of activities similar to those performed by boys in Africa. With this idea in mind he planned an eight day camp.
On 1st August 1907, 20 boys pitched their tents on the Brownsea island, little realising that their enterprise would set the foundation of a world youth movement. Soon after his experimental camp he published an advisory manual for existing scout groups, but it immediately became the handbook of the movement that was to spread and become world scouts and guides movement. In 1910, with the help of sister Agnes, Guiding was launched to meet the increasing demand from girls wanting to join in. By the time Lord Baden died in 1941, scouting had grown into an international movement.
Scouting in India started in 1909, but as separate organisations set up by different nationalist leaders. Girls Guiding in India took a start in 1911. After Independence, on 7th Nov 1950 the different groups merged to form a single organisation. In 1951 the Girls Guide joined in and the Bharat Scouts and Guides came in to existence.
The Bharat Scouts and Guides is a non-formal value-based educational movement recognized by the government of India and patronized by the ministry of youth and sports affairs. Its purpose is to promote all – round development of young people and help them to become useful members of the society.
Some of the major objectives of the BSG are :-
- Promote empathy and feeling of brother-hood.
- Develop leadership qualities.
- Promote self-discipline and self-reliance
- Develop loyalty and patriotism
- Character building
- Service to others
- Develop spirit of teamwork
- Develop awareness about changes in nature
- Maintain healthy body and mind
- Promote love for adventure.
The methods and processes used in Bharat Scouts and Guides are :
- Learning by doing.
- Teamwork.
- Games and Activities.
- Patrol System.
