(80 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 BPSA (Baden-Powell Service Association).
According to a 2010 report by the WFIS World Council, WFIS membership grew phenomenally in Asia in 2010, now representing 78% of WFIS worldwide membership:
Europe, 10 834
South America, 2654
North America, 453
Southeast Asia, 21 130
Caribbean, 536
Africa, 5860
Asia, 155 303
TOTAL, 198 482 (shows 1712 extra members for reasons unknown)
Member Associations listed alphbetically by country:
Aruba—SEAL Scouting (Sea Air Land Scouting)
Austria—name unknown (listed in 2010 WFIS World Council report)
