An Official History of Scouting – a world celebration
This book celebrates 100 years of adventure. I am always amazed at Scouting’s achievements – in public life, promoting peace, in disaster relief and reconstruction. This is a world story and the story continues!’
Peter Duncan, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom
The Scout Association provides adventurous activities and personal development opportunities for 400,000 young people aged 6-25. Worldwide, there are over 28 million young people enjoying the benefits of Scouting across 216 countries and territories.
In 2007, Scouting celebrates its World Centenary with a year of special events and activities including the 21st World Scout Jamboree in July and August at Hylands Park, Essex. It will be the biggest World Scout Jamboree ever with 32,000 Scouts from nearly every country in the world. Across the UK, Scouts will be taking part in Centenary projects in their communities to celebrate adventure, international friendship and helping change the world for good.
To mark the occasion, Hamlyn has published An Official History of Scouting – the world’s first, complete history of Scouting. With a foreword from Lord Robert Baden-Powell, grandson of the Founder and an introduction by Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, the book is a beautifully illustrated celebration of the world’s largest youth Movement.
Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941) a decorated soldier held an experimental camp on Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset. He brought together 20 boys from both public schools and working class homes and put them into camp under his leadership. Following the publication of Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell’s worldwide bestseller, the whole world now knows the result of that camp.
An Official History of Scouting chronicles the astonishing growth of the Scout Movement from such tiny beginnings to its global membership today. Following Baden-Powell from his childhood and early years, through his army career, the narrative documents his pivotal role in the siege of Mafeking to the first experimental camp on Brownsea Island. It takes up the story of the Movement as it begins its rapid expansion around the world – the courageous part played by Scouts in the two World Wars right up to Scouting’s work in the present day, helping to change lives with health-education, literacy and other programmes.
Written by experts at The Scout Association, the book draws extensively on previously unseen images, documents and artefacts drawn from The Scout Association's archive. Be prepared to be surprised:
- While in Russia in 1886, Robert Baden-Powell was briefly arrested as a spy
- While under siege in the small township of Mafeking, Baden-Powell still found time to correct the printer’s proofs of his book Aids to Scouting for NCOs and Men. The proofs were smuggled out of the town and back to Britain.
- Scouting for Boys was one of the best selling books in the world, behind only the Bible, the Qu’ran and Mao Zedongs Little Red Book
- Some 250,000 members of Scouting fought in the First World War
- During the London Blitz, Scouts guided Fire Engines to the places they were most needed
- Although banned by the Nazis, the 11th Jersey Scout Troop continued to meet, right under the noses of the occupying forces
- As well as the Centenary of Scouting, 2007 is also the 150th anniversary of the birth of Robert Baden-Powell
- Scouting today is a million times bigger than when it started. At 8am on 1st August 2007, all 28 million Scouts will join together to celebrate the dawn of a new century of Scouting around the world.
