Born: Robert Stephenson Smyth Powell in London on February 22, 1857.

His father was Rev. Baden Powell. Father died when Robert was 3 years old.

As a tribute to Rev. Powell, the family name was changed to Baden-Powell.

In Scouting, usually known simply as “BP”. In 1929, was created Baron Baden-Powell, of

Gilwell. Thereafter known as Lord Baden-Powell

At 18 he failed his college exams Joined the British Army as an Calvary officer

◦ Sent immediately to India In 1880, sent to Afghanistan to quell tribal conflicts

◦ British pulled out within a year At 26, promoted to Captain and sent to S. Africa

◦ Boers were fighting with the Zulu’s In 1890, stationed in Malta

◦ promoted to Major◦ Sent on intelligence missions posing as a Butterfly Collector

Participated in the Ashanti Expedition in 1895◦ Gold Coast of Africa (Ghana) where tribes were fighting over control of the slave

trade◦ Promoted to Lt. Colonel

1897 promoted to full Colonel commanding the 5th Dragoon Guards in India

While in India, B-P’s first military book entitled “Reconnaissance and Scouting was published.

British officers did not “rough it”. Each was assigned 7 servants to see to their every need.

As commander of a Calvary regiment, B-P used his creativity to design new training techniques◦ Training must be fun◦ Best if conducted in small groups◦ Should encourage self-discipline◦ Offer opportunities for accepting responsibility◦ Handbooks work well◦ Advancement based on training achievement

Those that passed received the rank of “Scout” Emblem was a Fleur-de-lys

In 1899 B-P sent to S. African Boer War◦ B-P Commander-in-Chief of the Rhodesian Frontier Force◦ Dutch, British and native tribes fighting over land and

sovereignty B-P defends the city of Mafeking from the Boers

(Dutch)◦ Siege lasts 217 days◦ His book “Aids to Scouting” is published

Covers outdoor skills needed for military personnel

◦ B-P becomes a national hero◦ Promoted to Major-General

B-P sets up a new S. African army Designs uniforms himself

◦ Khaki shirt with soft collar◦ Round brimmed campaign hats◦ Implements his training techniques

Morale and enthusiasm so high, the soldiers adopted the slogan “Be Prepared”

◦ Each division divided into 4 “Districts”◦ Districts divided into “Troops”◦ Troops divided into “Patrols” of 6 men

Each has a “patrol leader”

In 1904 B-P becomes Inspector General of Great Britain and Ireland◦ Tours England and finds many schools, YMCAs, and other

youth military groups are using his book Aids to Scouting as a handbook

◦ Over 50,000 boys participating throughout England◦ B-P believes participation could be much bigger if boys

performed more fun, non-military type activities◦ He envisions a movement that could help the

impoverished youth of England Begins to modify his Aids to Scouting book to include outdoor

camping skills and citizenship

In 1906 B-P receives a book entitled The Birch-bark Roll of the Woodcraft Indians◦ Authored by Ernest Thomson Seton◦ An American boys group focused on Indian lore and

frontier skills◦ The two men meet in London and agree to merge their

ideas to form a boy’s organization The Boy Scouts was born

◦ Each area would be set up as a “Council”◦ Achievement awards were changed from feathers to

merit badges

In 1907 B-P published his outline for the Boy Scouts◦ Received wide acceptance

Object: To make the rising generation, of whatever class or creed, into good citizens

Subjects: activities such as tracking, woodcraft, lifesaving, health, thrift, self-sacrifice, discipline, responsibility, chivalry, and patriotism

Organization: patrols, led by a Scoutmaster

On July 29, 1907 B-P held the first Boy Scout summer camp◦ Brownsea Island, off southern coast of England◦ Invited 21 boys to attend◦ Issued S. African army uniforms◦ Created patrol names (Wolves, Bulls, Ravens)

The first Boy Scout campfire was held on July 31, 1907◦ B-P told stories about his military career

The last day of camp, the scouts played games◦ Scout planned, and led

In 1908, a re-written handbook “Scouting for Boys” was published◦ Outlined the Scout Oath, Law, rank advancement to First

Class and merit badges.◦ Created the official scout salute and uniform

Tens of thousands of boys joined within a few years B-P always planned on Scouting to be a part of

other organizations◦ Boys wanted to be Scouts, and only Scouts◦ Led to a stand-alone Boy Scout organization

By 1909, scouting had spread to India and Canada

Small island off the coast of southern England Baden-Powell had visited the site as a boy with

his brothers Birth of Scouting in August 1907

◦ 20 Boys arranged in 4 patrols:Wolves, Ravens, Bulls and Curlews

◦ Boys received brass fleur-de-lis badges, the first use of the Scout emblem, and colored knot on shoulder indicating patrol.

◦ After passing tests on knots, tracking, and the national flag, given another brass badge, a scroll with the words Be Prepared, to wear below the fleur-de-lis

World Jamborees held in 1973 and 2007

In 1909, the King of England knighted B-P In 1910 B-P initiated the Cub Scout program to

prepare both boys and adults for scouting In 1919, the King gave land at Gilwell Park to serve as

the official Boy Scout training center Site of the first Boy Scout Jamboree and Wood Badge

leadership training course In 1920, site of the first Boy Scout World Jamboree

◦ B-P named Chief Scout of the World B-P died in 1937

Jamboree: etymology is "19th century, origin unknown”,possibly from Swahili word for hello: jambo

Meaning: rowdy, boisterous gathering First World Jamboree – 1920

◦Kensington Olympia - London, England◦8,000 Scouts◦34 nations

In 1909, William Boyce visited London and became lost◦ A Boy Scout helped him find his way and would not accept a

tip, for Scouts were expected to do a good turn daily◦ Boyce was so impressed, he wrote to B-P about bringing

scouting the America The BSA was established in 1910

◦ President Theodore Roosevelt was named Chief Scout Citizen◦ Merged with the Sons of Daniel Boone, a backwoods boys

group founded by Daniel Carter Beard In 1912, the Boys Life magazine was created Arthur Eldred becomes the first Eagle Scout Scout dues were 25 cents

Daniel Carter Beard (1850-1941)◦ Original Founder of the Sons of Daniel Boone (aka Daniel

Boone Scouts)◦ Author of American Boys’ Handy Book◦ Served as one of the first National Scout Commissioners◦ Served for thirty years◦ Helped establish Camp Fire Girls◦ Boyhood home in Covington, KY is a National Historic

Landmark Private home. Cannot go in. Several memorial plaques and monuments in and around property

Waite Philips (1883-1964)◦ Rich oilman from Tulsa, OK◦ Donated his New Mexico ranch to the BSA

Became the 127,000 acre Philmont Scout Ranch Abreu family own some of original property. CAPT Mike Abreu is PMW-202

Dr. James West (1876-1948)◦ The first Chief Scout Executive of the BSA◦ Served from 1911-1943◦ Instrumental in guiding the development of the BSA

Conflicts between Seton and Beard over control of BSA

Boy Scouts - 1910 Cub Scouts – 1930, but experimental until 1934 Explorer Scouts - 1949 Venturing - 1998

1914 – 100,000 scouts nationwide 1920 – First World Jamboree held in London 1937 – First US Jamboree held 1939 – Philmont Scout Ranch established 1941 – Webelos established 1945 – 1 million scouts in the US 1982 – 1 million Eagle scouts 2000 – 100 million boys have been scouts 2010 – 17th National Jamboree held in Wash. D.C. 2013- Site for National Jamboree establish in WV

The highest rank in British scouting is First Class, with the Chief Scout Gold Award earned by completing merit badges

The BSA ranks of Star, Life and Eagle were also initially merit badge awards available to First Class scouts◦ Eagle became the highest rank in 1911◦ The King of England wanted the highest rank in scouting

to be the “Kings Scout”◦ In 1910, the highest BSA rank was “Wolf Scout”

As of 2008, there have been 1.8 million Eagle scouts in the US – 2% of total scout membership

President Ford (Eagle) Sec. of Defense Robert

Gates (Eagle) Willie Banks (Eagle) “Guy” Bluford(Eagle) Mike Rowe (Eagle) Steven Spielberg (Eagle) Sam Walton (Walmart)

(Eagle)

Henry Aaron – Home run king

Walter Cronkite – TV newsman

Henry Fonda – actor Pres. Kennedy Bill Gates – Microsoft Jimmy Stewart – actor

Official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America – First edition printed in 1911

Boys’ Life monthly magazine. First published in 1911 The magazine's mascot is Pedro the Mailburro, signs his

letters with the signature "UU", meant to represent the hoofprints of a burro.

1st Edition 12th Edition