HOME—International Scouting—Scouting Organizations

International Scouting Organizations (details)

The Two Largest Organizations

WOSM (open) founded 1922	World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) / Organisation Mondiale du Mouvement Scout (OMMS), headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland—WOSM (OMMS in French) represents the vast majority of all the world's male Scouts, plus about 15 million female Scouts. WOSM has about 211 national Scout associations plus a number of 'umbrella' federations (since WOSM will only recognize one Scouting association in each country, multiple national associations that wish to be part of WOSM have to create—and finance—a national umbrella federations to represent them with WOSM [with the notable exception of Canada, which has two separate WOSM-recognized national associations]). WOSM-recognized associations (or branches of some associations) exist in about 178 countries (including Palestine), and total membership is 43 million. Starting in 1908, early Scouting programs in countries outside England looked to Baden-Powell's London headquarters for guidance and inspiration. But as Scouting spread and matured, the need for an international umbrella organization became apparent, and in 1922 a number of national Scout associations created WOSM. While most WOSM member associations are coed at least in some levels, many let WOSM represent their entire membership, while others let WOSM represent their male membership and WAGGGS their female membership. All members must "adhere to a Scout Promise and a Law reflecting ... the principles of Duty to God, Duty to others and Duty to self" [interestingly, despite the 'Duty to God' requirement, some WOSM member associations welcome atheists and other non-theists]. WOSM's six largest associations represent over 80% of their total world membership (Indonesia, India, Philippines, US, Bangladesh, Kenya). Indonesia alone represents over half of WOSM's total world membership!

WAGGGS (open) founded 1928	World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) / Association Mondiale des Guides et Eclaireuses (AMGE), headquarters in London, England, UK—WAGGGS (AMGE in French) is the Girl Guide/Girl Scout counterpart to WOSM (Baden-Powell founded both world Boy Scouting and world Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting). WAGGGS represents both girl-only programs that are not a part of WOSM, and they also represent the female membership in about 63 national Scout associations and umbrella federations that choose to belong to both WOSM and WAGGGS. That means that males and females in the same coed programs could be represented by separate international organizations. WAGGGS also counts a tiny number of boys and young men among its members, but its stated goal remains to meet "the needs of girls and young women". WAGGGS' five largest associations represent over 60% of their total world membership (US, India, Philippines, UK, Bangladesh)! "Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting is open to all girls and young women whatever their religion, ethnic group or background. A Girl Guide or Girl Scout accepts the Promise and the Law based on spiritual values, personal development and commitment to helping others." WAGGGS has about 194 member associations in 146 countries, and a total of 8.9 million members. WOSM and WAGGGS are not affiliated in any way, but they cooperate on matters of mutual interest. Despite friction resulting from the trend toward coed Scouting, WOSM and WAGGGS have held meetings to discuss the (unlikely) possibility of a merger.

Organizations that Represent "Independent" or "Traditional" Scouting

WFIS (open-traditional) founded 1996	World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS), headquarters in Heistenbach, Germany—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 UK Scouting which caused some UK 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. The BPSA (also B-PSA) is a multinational association, with the home association in the UK and branch associations in several other countries. In Canada they are called the Baden-Powell Service Association. The former Baden-Powell Service Association in the US has changed its name to Outdoor Service Guides. 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". WFIS also includes the International Scout Fellowship as an affiliate for former and current adult members of WFIS. WFIS is the oldest and largest of now four international organizations that promote 'traditional' Scouting. WFIS has been growing rapidly, now showing 151 member associations in 65 countries, and a total of 7.2 million members, which is about 12% of all Scouts in the world.

WOIS (open-traditional) founded 2010	World Organization of Independent Scouts (WOIS), headquarters in London, England, UK—WOIS was formed by former members of WFIS, and has about 26 member associations in 24 countries, and ~30 000 members. WOIS promotes the non-formal education of young people through the Scout Law and Promise, "promoting peace and achieving a scouting without frontiers based on traditional scouting devised by our Founder BP." They are open to any independent Scouting association that practices 'traditional' Scouting based on B-P's Scouting for Boys.

ORUS (open-traditional) founded 2021	Organização Universal de Escoteiros Independentes e Tradicionais / Universal Organization of Independent and Traditional Scouts (ORUS), headquarters in Aracaju, Sergipe state, Brazil—Similarly to WFIS and WOIS, ORUS promotes traditional Scouting based on Baden-Powell's original Scouting for Boys. Some of their member organizations have switched from WFIS or WOIS, and several are single Scout groups/troops.

FISIT (open-traditional) founded 2023	Fédération Internationale des Scouts Indépendants et Traditionnels (FISIT) / International Federation of Independent and Traditional Scouts, headquarters in Saint-Pierre, Île de la Réunion, France—FISIT was formed by former members of WOIS and ORUS. Like the other independent organizations, it accepts national Scout associations and local Scouting groups, and expects its members to use Baden-Powell's original Scouting for Boys as their manual. Their initial membership is about half associations and half individual groups, with about half in Africa and the rest split between Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

Predominantly European Organizations

FSE (Christian-only) founded 1956	Fédération du Scoutisme Européen / Federation of European Scouting (FSE), headquarters in Château-Landon, France—FSE's full name is l'Union internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe - Fédération du Scoutisme Européen (UIGSE-FSE) [International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe - Federation of European Scouting]. The organization has 26 member associations in 25 countries with about 71 000 members. UIGSE-FSE was founded by a group of German and French Catholic youth leaders. Although open to Christians in general, the organization is predominantly Roman Catholic in membership, and is officially recognized by the Holy See: "The International Union is composed of Catholic scouting associations. It acts and makes decisions according to the rules of this faith. However, with an open mind towards ecumenism, the International Union welcomes associations to other Christian confessions, in the conditions defined by the Religious Directory." Membership is thus Christian only, under Roman Catholic practices. Scouts from 'different confessions' (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) are not allowed to mix in the same group: "The intangible rule of the International Union is not to gather in the same group youths of different confessions, in order to avoid in their minds any risk of relativism or scepticism." Male and female youth must be in separate units. The UIGSE-FSE Promise requires Scouts to pledge to serve both God and the Church.

CES (open) founded 1978	Confédération Européenne de Scoutisme / Confederation of European Scouts (CES), headquarters in Brussels, Belgium—Known in English as the Confederation of European Scouts (to match the "CES" abbreviation), CES states that it provides the "authentic Scouting of Baden-Powell". CES split from FSE due to disagreements over religious philosophy. "CES stresses the European dimension of its Scouting program", and emphasizes that it is "open to all, without distinction of confessional [religious] or social origin." This is a small organization mostly in a few European countries plus Brazil.

OWS (Christian-only) founded 1911, re-started 1991	Order of World Scouts (OWS), headquarters in Dorset, England, UK—In 1909, a group of troops withdrew from Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts Association and formed the British Boy Scouts (BBS) (apparently out of concern that B-Ps association was too "official" and militaristic). While some early troops were coed, a public outcry caused them quickly to split into semi-separate BBS and BGS (British Girl Scouts) associations. The BBS/BGS program soon spread to several other British Commonwealth countries. As a result, in 1911, members of the BBS led by Sir Francis Vane (a former official of B-P's Boy Scouts Association) organized the Order of World Scouts. The Order had some early success, then largely collapsed after its founder and primary financial benefactor declared bankruptcy in 1912. Largely disappearing for nearly 80 years, the Order was revived in 1991. Today OWS appears to consist primarily of the BBS/BGS plus an Australian and a Polish organization. OWS formerly included several branches of the USTA (Unión de Scouts Tradicionales de America / Union of Traditional Scouts of America; USTA follows not only Baden-Powell's original practices, but also the Woodcrafter practices started by Ernest Thompson-Seton after he left the BSA). The OWS constitution requires that all members "demonstrate by teaching and example of life the Christian Faith". The policies of the BBS further state: "The Association is first and foremost a Christian organisation and seeks to serve the Christian Church as a means of advancement of the Christian Faith." The BBS defines 'Christian' as a person "who can accept the ecumenical version of the Nicene Creed". An interesting American connection was "The American Boy Scouts" (ABS), an association started by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in June, 1910 (only four months after publisher William Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America) (Hearst resigned from the ABS in December, 1910). The American Boy Scouts affiliated with the Order of World Scouts in 1911, and renamed themselves "The US Boy Scout" in 1913. This association was the target of a lengthy lawsuit by the Boy Scouts of America, which ended successfully for the BSA in 1919, after testimony from Baden-Powell on behalf of the BSA. The US Boy Scout then reorganized as the "American Cadets" and "US Junior Military Forces Inc.", and soon disappeared.

Other

ISGF (adult only)
founded 1953

International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF) / Amitié Internationale Scoute et Guide (AISG), headquarters in Brussels, Belgium—Organized in 1953 as the International Fellowship of Former Scouts and Guides (IFOFSAG, renamed to ISGF in 1996), this international organization is designed to provide a means for adults to maintain interest and/or involvement in Scouting. It is recognized by both WOSM and WAGGGS, and many ISGF members are also active Scouters in associations that are part of those organizations. ISGF has around 67 National Scout and Guide Fellowships, with about 55 500 members in 39 countries, as well as individual members from other countries. In addition to ISGF, there is the similar International Scout Fellowship for former and current adult members of WFIS, as well as three adult-oriented associations affiliated with the Order of World Scouts: Scuola Nazionale Formazione Scout in Italy, and The Order of the Redeemer and The Scout History Association, both in the UK.