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What was Baden-Powell's vision for Scouting?

Date: 3 May 1998

There is a lot of tradition in the Scout Movement around the world. Sometimes we wonder where a lot of it came from, and whether or not we are following Baden-Powell's vision of what Scouting should be. Are we part of a unique educational approach to learning about life, or is there something we are missing? How about going back to the Founder's own words to find out?

Lord Baden-Powell wrote: "Let us, therefore, in training our Scouts, keep the higher aims in the forefront, not let ourselves get too absorbed in the steps. Don't let the technical outweigh the moral. Field efficiency, backwoodsmanship, camping, hiking, good turns, jamboree comradeship are all means, not the end. The end is character with a purpose. And that purpose, that the next generation may be sane in an insane world, and develop the higher realization of service, active service of love, and duty to God and neighbor."

Here are a series of Web Pages that reference some of his works:

• B-P's Preface to Scouting for Boys http://www.gaelwolf.com/gaelwolf/b-p_pref.htm
• The Baden-Powell Library A Selection of excerpts from the works of Sir Robert Baden-Powell and works relating to his life and career http://www.pinetreeweb.com/bp-library.htm