In this Topic:

Participation

Promise and Law

Scout Uniform, Scout Salute and Scout Handshake

Scouts and Flags

Scouting History

Discussion with the Scout Leader

2

IntroducingTenderfoot Level

The Tenderfoot

This level offers a starting point for a new member in the troop. For those Cubs whose

time has come to move up from the pack, the Tenderfoot level is a stepping stone

linking the pack with the troop. For those scouts who have joined from outside the

group, this will be the beginning of their scouting life.

The Journey Life in the Troop is a journey. As in

any journey one embarks on, there

needs to be proper preparation

for the adventure ahead. This is

important so as to steer clear

of obstacles and perils, which,

with good foresight, can often be

avoided.

As Scouts we follow our simple

motto: Be Prepared!

With this in mind you can start

your preparations for the journey

ahead…

Look at the sheet on the next page so that you are able to keep track of your progress.

How do I achieve this level?

The five sections in this level can be done in any order.

If you are a Cub Scout moving up from the pack, you will have already started the

Cub Scout link badge. The Tenderfoot level is started at the same time. As you

can see some of the requirements are the same for both awards.

If you have just joined the scouting movement as part of the troop, this level will

provide you with all the basic information to help you learn what scouting is all

about.

Topic When did I learn about it?

When did I complete it? Leader for

Participation:

Meeting 1

Meeting 2

Meeting 3

Meeting 4

Meeting 5

Promise & Law

Scout Uniform, Scout Salute and Scout Handshake

Scouts and Flags

Scouting History

Discussion with the SL

3

My Progress Sheet

4

Requirements

Attend at least 5 meetings with the troop including an outdoor meeting (i.e. outside

your HQ).

a) Attend 5 meetings

After joining the troop you will be assigned to a Patrol under the guidance of a Patrol

Leader. Together with your patrol you will be able to fully benefit from the scouting

experience.

b) Outdoor activity

The ‘out’ in scouting is very important! By attending an outdoor activity you can see

how scouting adapts to situations that are different from those which we are used to in

today’s urbanised society.

Aim

Scouting is best experienced in a group. In the troop these groups are called patrols,

each one led by the Patrol Leader, with the help of the Assistant Patrol Leader and the

other scouts in the patrol. It is as part of a patrol that you will experience life in the

troop. Therefore this topic of participation will help you develop a sense of belonging

to your patrol.

Can you do it?

Attend 5 meetings with the scout

troop and get the Scout Leader

or leader in charge to sign your

attendance after each meeting.

One of the meetings that you

attend has to be an outdoor

meeting (e.g. hike, cookout, wide

game, environment clean-up

etc). After attending 5 meetings

with the troop, talk to your

leader to discuss these meetings.

Participation

5

Requirements

Show that you know and understand the Scout Law and Promise.

Aim

The Scout Promise and Law are central to every scout’s life. They do not only apply to

you as a scout but also to you as a citizen of a society. Abiding by the Scout’s Law and

Promise is not something to be reserved for the troop meeting alone, but should form

part of every aspect of your life.

Can you do it?

Discuss the scout

promise and Law with

your leader in charge.

Talk about what they

represent to you now

that you are in the troop.

Promise and Law

Promiseand Law

6

Introduction

The Scouting Movement has had an astonishing

growth in membership; from small beginnings to a

global membership which today stands at 28 million

members in 216 countries. Every scout is invested,

reciting the same promise and law that our founder

Lord Baden-Powell had proposed.

People all over the world have unwritten laws which bind them just as much as

if they had them printed in black and white. These laws come down to us from

our ancestors. Thus the Japanese have their Bushido (or laws of the old Samurai

warriors), the Native Americans have their laws of honour and we have chivalry (or

rules of the knights of the Middle Ages).

The following are the rules which apply to Scouts. You swear to obey them when you

take your oath as a Scout.

The Promise and Law

Scouting is a game and like every other game it has rules which must be followed. It

is not really much fun to play games which have no rules. Even those games which

you make up with your friends will have particular rules because without them you

will not know what you can or cannot do. The game of scouting does not have many

rules, but the ones that exist are all important. These rules are the promise and the

law.

The first time you make your Scout Promise is one of the most important things

you do as a scout. Before you are invested as a scout, you must be able to recite

the Promise and the Law and explain them in your own words. Everyone involved

in Scouting has to accept the Scout Law and as you grow older you will come to

understand more fully the meaning of these important guidelines.

Promise and Law

7

ON MY HONOUR, I PROMISE THAT I WILL DO MY BEST,

TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD AND MY COUNTRY,

TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES,

AND TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW.

The Scout Promise

It is important to learn and understand the meaning of these words, and then to

always try to fulfil this promise. You make this promise ‘on your honour’ and that

means you yourself are entrusted to carry it out. No one, be it your mother or father,

teacher or scout leader, is going to be with you all the time, so you must rely on your

honesty to yourself to keep your Promise. Honouring this promise is not something

impossible to realise and you should try as hard as you can to do so.

In the first part of the Promise you agree to get to know God and to learn all that you

can about your religion. This will include attending religious services, offering prayers

of praise and thanks with other Scouts and respecting other persons’ beliefs.

To help others at all times is the service a scout undertakes, often by beginning to

do a good turn every day. There is always someone who needs a helping hand. You

will soon find that by doing good deeds you, in turn, feel better too!

The Scout Law

The Scout Law sets out how you should behave in your every day life. Accepting it

as your code will award you many happy and worthwhile days.

1 A SCOUT’S HONOUR IS TO BE TRUSTED.

2 A SCOUT IS LOYAL AND OBEDIENT.

3 A SCOUT’S DUTY IS TO BE USEFUL AND TO HELP OTHERS.

4 A SCOUT IS A FRIEND TO ALL AND A BROTHER TO ANY SCOUT.

5 A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS, KIND AND CONSIDERATE.

6 A SCOUT IS CHEERFUL IN ADVERSITY.

7 A SCOUT MAKES GOOD USE OF HIS TIME AND AVOIDS WASTE OF

AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

8 A SCOUT IS CLEAN IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED.

Promise and Law

8

1 A scout honour is to be trusted

A Scout is the kind of person on whom everybody can depend. When you ask a trusted friend for help, you can rely on getting that help. If you want to be trusted yourself, you always have to behave in a way that shows others that they can rely on you. Thus, when you agree to go on a hike, you are there on time; if you become ill and are unable to attend an activity you inform your Patrol Leader; if you have a job to do for the patrol, you do it to the best of your ability and by the time promised; if you are told something in confidence, you keep it to yourself; if you are trustworthy, you will never lie, cheat or steal. Above all, there is no need for parents, teachers or scouters to check on you, as they all trust you.

2 A scout is loyal and obedient

Loyalty means that you are faithful to someone or something. When you believe that something or someone is right you will speak up for them even when they are not popular. It may involve doing things that may not be popular because you believe that those things must be done.

Loyalty starts at home. You behave as your parents would like you to behave. You show appreciation for what your parents do and speak to others about your home in a way that shows your love for it.

In scouting a troop can only be at its best when every member is loyal. Therefore it is important to support your leaders and patrol leaders.

A Scout is loyal to the government of his country. This means upholding the laws, which are there for everyone’s good, and doing what you can for the community in which you live. A scout should obey all orders as obedience is the basis of all discipline.

Without discipline and orders you may soon find yourself in trouble. Of course, obedience also has its limits. In most situations, a Scout obeys quickly and cheerfully an order from anyone who has the right to give it, but equally, he does not obey an order to do something wrong, no matter who tells him to do so.

Promise and Law

9

3 A scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others

A Scout must be prepared to help people.

There are many ways one can be of help;

at school you could help your teachers

and classmates; at home you should

be punctual at mealtimes, help with

the washing up and keep your room

tidy. It is important to make sure you

do not cause anxiety to your parents.

This may entail letting them know

where and with whom you are going

out, and the time you will return. It

also means that if you do get delayed

you must try to get a message to them

so that do not worry unnecessarily.

You can train yourself to be observant

and notice when other people need help.

Much of your Scout Training, e.g. first

aid, conservation and communications,

will help you help others.

4 A scout is a friend to all and a brother to any scout

Friendship is like a mirror. When you smile at a person and offer a helping hand,

you will receive a smile in return and help when you need it yourself. You make a

friend by being one. Friendship begins by thinking about the other person’s needs

rather than your own. Scouting is often called a brotherhood because all the scouts

throughout the world, no matter their race or denomination, are your brothers. This

brotherhood is built on friendship and this friendship is very important in the scout

movement.

5 A scout is courteous, kind and considerate

This is another way of saying that you should be a well behaved and polite person.

First of all, courtesy, like everything else, begins at home. A ‘please’ and a ‘thank

you’ are easily said. By doing little chores you can make your parents feel that you

appreciate what they do for you. Some think it is smart or grown-up to be rude or

pushy. A Scout never makes that mistake. Try to be polite and good mannered at all

times. It is really a matter of thinking of others before yourself.

Kindness is a quality that we all appreciate. A Scout is a person who tries to help

people by being kind and gentle with them. A Scout is also kind to animals which are

part of God’s wonderful kingdom. If you have a dog or a cat you are probably kind to

it already, and will see that it is well cared for and given food and shelter. As a Scout,

you will often be out of doors and so you will come to know animals in their natural

surroundings. No good Scout would kill, injure or disturb any animal unnecessarily.

Promise and Law

10

6 A scout is cheerful in adversity

A Scout looks on the bright side of everything that happens. This is especially true when things seem to go wrong. Even in the toughest situation, if you look hard enough, you will find something to be cheerful about. When facing difficulties the first thing to do is try not to grumble and complain. Sometimes that may indeed be all that you can do! After a while you may be able to see some humour in the situation and crack a joke. When your Patrol laughs and is in good spirits things that seemed hard become a little easier. See whether you can get a reputation of being the one who always cheers up the Patrol!

7 A scout makes good use of his time and avoids waste of and damage to property

You possess the ability to think, reason and to absorb information and you should make good use of these abilities. This part of the Scout Law tells you that you should not misuse any of your talents. It is particularly important to make good use of your time. Therefore if you have homework to do, get it done at once thus saving time for something else that you may wish to do. By proper time management you will be able to fit in all kinds of interesting things into each day.

You may also have many possessions. You should look after your books, clothes, bicycle, sporting gear etc. Look after other people’s belongings with the same care and attention as if they were your own. Public property, such as trees and seats at bus stops, belong to us all, and a scout takes care not to damage any of them. Our natural resources are the land, air, sea water and the plants and animals around us. As these resources are limited, we have to use them carefully. There are some people in the world today who thoughtlessly waste them. At the same time there are others who, either professionally or in their leisure time, are looking after our resources. They are planting trees, collecting litter, keeping a watch on the pollution of the air and sea, running sanctuaries etc. A Scout can help in his or her own way. This is particularly so when camping. During a camp the site should not be disturbed unnecessarily and when the camp is over try to leave the site clean and as natural as possible so that the land owner cannot even see where the camp was. In fact you should leave it in a better state than that in which you found it!

8 A scout is clean in thought, word and deed

A Scout keeps his clothes, body and mind clean. There is no need to worry about getting dirty when playing or working, provided that you are prepared to clean up thoroughly afterwards. In the same way, keeping a clean mind does not mean that you will be able to keep away from everybody who acts in an indecent way. That would be impossible. However, you do not have to imitate them, stay in their company or accept their standard of speech or conduct.

11

Scout Uniform, Scout Sign, Salute and Handshake

Requirements

Know the correct way to wear the Scout uniform and what the Scout sign, Salute and

Handshake mean.

Aim

A uniform attracts respect.

People immediately look up to

a person wearing a uniform.

When a scout wears the uniform

he is representing the whole

worldwide scouting organisation

and therefore it is especially

important that at this time he

conducts himself in the proper

scouting way.

Can you do it?

a) Show your leader in charge

the correct way to wear your

uniform; explain what the

different badges represent.

b) Know how to render the scout

salute and its meaning.

c) Know the scout handshake

and its meaning.

12

Scout Uniform, Scout Sign,Salute and Handshake

The Scout Uniform

The Scout SignThe Scout sign is made with the

right hand. With the palm facing

out and the thumb holding down

the little finger, thehand is held up

at shoulder level. The three fingers

held upward are symbolic of the

three parts of the Scout Promise:

Honour to God, Help Others, Obey the Scout Law.

The Scout SaluteTo salute position your fingers in the same manner

as for the scout sign (i.e. with the palm facing out

and the thumb holding down the little finger) and

then bring the tips of the three fingers smartly to

the right side of your forehead. The hand travels up

to the forehead by the longest way, therefore your

arm should swing outto the side before you bring

it up to your brow. The hand travels back down by

the shortest way and therefore it is brought straight

down in front of you to finish the salute.

The Scout Handshake

The left handshake is a sign of trust introduced by

our founder Robert Baden-Powell. After the Ashanti

Chief surrendered to Baden-Powell in 1890, the latter

saluted him with his right hand. In return the Ashanti

chief offered his left hand and said, “In our land only

the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left

hand, because to do so we must drop our shields and

our protection.”

13

Flags and Scouts

Requirements

• Explain the history of the Maltese national flag.

• Describe the different parts of the Maltese flag.

• Show the right way to carry a flag at a parade.

• Hoist, break and lower the National flag at a troop meeting or camp.

• Mention how you can show respect to the National or Group flag.

Aim

As a scout, in our promise we

say:

ON MY HONOUR, I PROMISE

THAT I WILL DO MY BEST,

TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD AND

MY COUNTRY, …

Thus the flag, which is a

representation of the country,

should be shown its proper

respect.

Can you do it?

Show your leader that you

know how to handle the

national flag and discuss

its history.

Flags and Scouting

14

The Maltese Flag

The History of the Maltese flagCount Roger the Norman arrived in Malta in 1090

and liberated the island by defeating the occupying

Arabs. Tradition states that Count Roger gave us our

national colours in 1091 before leaving the island. His

banner was a chequered red and white flag and he

gave us a set from this banner. The Maltese were

very proud of their new red and white banner and within a few years it could be seen

flying above all the important buildings in Malta; white for faith and red for courage

and patriotism. In 1427 King Alfonso of Spain, then ruler of Malta, officially recognised

the Maltese Flag. During the reign of the Knights of St. John our forefathers hoisted

their flag side by side to that of the Knights as a sign of national pride. Throughout

the cen turies, our colours have been carried high and proud as the symbol of our

Nation.

The Maltese Flag through the centuriesSince the arrival of the Normans the Maltese colours have remained white and red.

However over the years, under different rulers, the flag changed to reflect that

particular time. Thus during the times of the Knights, the French and the British,

several insignia and flags where introduced to represent the Maltese people. The

last change to the flag occurred in 1964 when Malta became independent. Below

are some examples:

1530 – 1798 1875 - 1898

1900 - 1943 1943 – 1964

1964 onwards

Flags and Scouting

15

Displaying and carrying the National Flag

It is customary to display the National Flag of Malta only from sunrise

to sunset on buildings and stationary outdoor flagpoles. However, it

may also be displayed at night on special occasions and, in such

events, it should be illuminated. No flag or pennant may be placed

above the National Flag or to its right.

When carried in a parade with other flags, the National Flag should be either on the

right of the line of march or, if together in a line of other flags, in front of the centre

of that line. All flags should be carried on a flag staff and in an appropriate parade

sling. Scouts should hold the staff smartly and in an upright position with their right

hand (thumb pointing up). If need be, the staff can be leaned forward to let the flag

fly freely.

As a sign of respect a scout in full uniform should always salute the Maltese Flag.

When in the presence of a scouting flag or another country’s flag a scout should

stand at ‘alert’ while it passes.

Flags and Scouting

16

The George Cross

The George Cross was instituted by King George VI himself to

recognize civilian heroism during the Second World War. He awarded

this medal to the men and women of the British Commonwealth who

had shown “acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous

courage in circumstances of extreme danger.”

During the Second World War, Italian and German bombers wrought havoc on the

Maltese Islands. The problem of lack of supplies was soon felt and hunger struck the

islands. Nonetheless the Maltese people resisted and withstood the enemy bombings

bravely.

On the 15th of April 1942, King George VI presented the George Cross to the brave

people of Malta in recognition of their efforts during the island’s siege.

The George Cross consists of a plain silver

cross with the royal cipher “G.VI” in the

angle of each limb. In the centre is a

representation of St. George slaying the

Dragon, surrounded by the inscription “For

Gallantry”.

As it happens St George is also the Patron

Saint of all Scouts and, when looking at the

National Flag, we should also remember the

notable role the Scouts played during the

war in doing their duty to their country.

On 28th December 1943 a representation of

the George Cross was added to the Maltese

Flag. It first appeared on a blue canton

(area) until Malta gained independence in

1964, when the blue canton was replaced

by red fimbriation (lining).

“To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the

Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and

devotion that will long be famous in history.”

George R.I.

Flags and Scouting

17

Coat of Arms

The Maltese Coat of Arms is the emblem of the country. The present

coat of arms is described as a shield showing a heraldic representation

of the National Flag. Above the shield is a mural crown in gold with a sally port and

eight turrets (although only five are visible) representing the fortifications of Malta

and denoting a City State. The shield is surrounded by two branches, olive on the

right and palm on the left. These are symbols

of peace and traditionallyassociated with

Malta. The branches are tied together at the

base with a white, red-backed, ribbon, upon

which are written the words ‘Repubblika ta’

Malta’ in capital letters in black.

The Maltese coat of arms appears on the

flag of the President of Malta. It also

appears on the 10c, 20c and 50c Maltese

Euro coins.

Flag Break and Flag Down

These are very special moments in a Scout’s day. Make sure you know how to hoist and lower a flag properly to show due respect. These ceremonies should be carried out at the start and close of every meeting.

Flag break – hoisting the flag

• The members of the Troop are to fall in and form a horseshoe facing the flag and standing at ease; leaders present stand on either side of the flagpole.

• The Scouts are brought to the alert position and all those not directly facing the flag turn towards it.

• A Scout walks up to the flag and pulls briskly on the halyard to raise the folded flag to the top of the flagpole.

• The Scout then sharply tugs the halyard or the ‘breaking’ rope to let the flag unfold.

• Once it has unfolded the Scout makes fast the rope, steps back and salutes; the rest of the Troop salutes in time with the Scout.

Flags and Scouting

18

Flag down – lowering the flag

This ceremony is undertaken in a similar way:

• The Troop is assembled again in the horseshoe shape and brought to the ‘alert’.

• The Scout walks to the flag, unties the rope holding it in position and lowers the flag slowly ensuring it does not touch the ground as this is considered disrespectful.

• The Scout then steps back and, still facing the flag, stands at the alert for a few seconds. No salute is given at this time. He or she then returns to his or her place before the Troop is dismissed.

• The flag may then be folded and prepared for the next time.

Flags at Camp

The ceremonies of flag break and flag down are essentially the same at camps as at meetings however it is quite appropriate for everyone to be dressed in camp kit together with scarf and beret.

While it is desirable to have the whole troop gathered together for these ceremonies, this may not always be possible. Thus for instance if at Flag Down, which should be at a fixed time before sunset, the whole troop cannot assemble, then two pre-selected Scouts will go to the flagpole. A long blast on a whistle is given and everyone stops wherever they are, whatever they are doing, and stands to attention facing the flag. The flag is then lowered slowly. Then another signal, such as two short blasts on the whistle, is given as the signal to ‘carry on’. The Scouts then attend to the flag by folding it and preparing it for the next day.

How to fold a flag:

19

Can you do it?

a) Discuss the history of your

group with your leader.

b) Show an understanding of how

scouting started.

My Group History and Setupand Scouting History

Requirements

• Learn about how your group is set up and about its history.

• Understand the history and origins of scouting.

Aim

As you start your Tenderfoot level you are likely to be one of the newest scouts in your

patrol. You should be proud to form part of that particular patrol. In turn, that patrol

is one of a group of patrols making up your Scout Troop. Together with other sections

such as the Cub Pack and Venture Unit, your Troop forms part of a Scout Group, a

group whose scarf you are proudly wearing. However, things do not stop here! Your

Scout Group, together with a further thirty nine groups, is a member of The Scout

Association of Malta. The Scout Association of Malta (SAM) is itself a full member of

the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), which represents 156 national

organisations. In fact there are only six countries worldwide without scouting. Try to

look these up!

Knowing where we come from helps us to move forward. Therefore by knowing about

your group and the history of scouting you will be able to better enjoy your scouting

experience.

My Group History and

Setup

20

Your patrol typically consists of around eight other

scouts, and it is named after some type of animal.

From now on your patrol is like your family. You will

learn from each others’ strengths and weaknesses,

so that together you will form a great team led by

your patrol leader. The Patrol Leader (PL) is like your

big brother and is responsiblefor the whole patrol.

He is helped out by the Assistant Patrol Leader

(APL) who is usually the second eldestscout in the

patrol. Your troop may have a Senior Patrol Leader

(SPL) who would be slightly older than the Patrol

Leaders and who helps the leaders in running the

programme.

Your scout leaders are the adults helping out in your group, without whom activities

would not be able to take place. They are responsible for preparing camp and

meeting programmes, coming up with new activities, making sure you are safe and

do not get into trouble, and fixing the toilet at headquarters when it is blocked! The

Scout Leader (SL), also known as Skipper, together with his/her Assistant Scout

Leaders (ASLs), make up the scout leaders. The other sections in your group have

a similar structure.

Below the age of ten, new members

joining the scouting movement enrol

in the Cub Pack section. Above the

age of fifteen, they join the Venture

Unit section. Some groups may also

have a Beaver Colony (for children

aged between 5-7yrs), and a Rover

Crew (for scouts aged 18-24 yrs).

The Group Scout Leader is in charge

of the whole group. Further roles

within your scout group may be

allocated to different people such as

the Quartermaster who is in charge

of the stores and equipment. You will

get to know these as you integrate

with the group.

To get a better idea of who’s who in your group, ask around the other scouts, and,

if your group has a website, have a look there as well. Try to learn about the history

of your group. Your group may have a library or keep records. There may be albums

and photos, old newsletters, press releases, trophies, awards, etc.

My Group History and

Setup

Central District

South District

North District

Gozo District

21

Malta is divided into four scouting districts: South, Central, North and

Gozo. Each scout group belongs to a particular district depending on

its location.

An experienced leader is in charge of each district and is known as the District

Commissioner. These district commissioners are joined by other commissioners

at the headquarters of The Scout Association of Malta, aptly named Island

Headquarters (IHQ), in Floriana. These other commissioners include, amongst

others, the Commissioner for Cubs, Commissioner for Scouts, Commissioner for

Ventures, Commissioner for Training etc. The overall head of the Scout Association

of Malta is the Chief Scout.

The Scout Association of Malta was formed in 1908 and was the first scout association

formed outside of the British Isles.

Scouting History

22

From the humble beginnings of a camp for 21 boys

on Brownsea Island in 1907, scouting has grown into

a worldwide movement of millions of boys, girls, men

and women from every race, religion and culture.

Nowadays, the 1st of August 1907, the day the Brownsea

Camp started, is considered to be the beginning of

scouting. A hundred years later in 2007 a worldwide

celebration known as ‘scouting sunrise’ took place,

where scouts around the world renewed their promise

as the sun rose on the next 100 years of scouting.

Baden-Powell, known as B-P, was an

officer in the British Army. He was

seen by many as a hero. He was born

on 22nd February 1857, a day now

celebrated worldwide as Founder’s

Day. Whilst attending school, B-P

was known to enjoy escaping to the

woods behind his school and there

practice being a scout. After finishing

secondary school he passed an

examination to join the army, earning

a commission with the 2nd Hussars.

His career with the army took him to

various exotic places, such as India,

Afghanistan, most of southern Africa,

and even Malta. In fact, Baden-

Powell spent three whole years here

(between 1890 and 1893), as the military

assistant to the British governor, Sir

Henry Smyth, who was his uncle. Within

the army, B-P had impressed with his

training skills and his work. He proposed

scout training, and men who completed

such training were given a badge in the

shape of

an arrowhead. He wrote a book called

Aids to Scouting, which proved to be very

popular. When he returned to England

years later, he found that many young

boys around the country had bought a

copy and were putting it into practice.

Scouting’s founder Robert Baden-Powell. (Author: Szentkiralyi)

Lieut. Gen. Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (1857–1941) with his wife Olave Baden-Powell (1889–1977) and their three children in 1917, at home near Horley in Surrey, England.

Scouting History

23

However, the event which drew B-P into the spotlight was the siege of

Mafeking. Then a Colonel, B-P was trapped in the town of Mafeking in

what is now the Republic of South Africa, during the Second Boer war

in 1899. Heavily outnumbered, he managed to resist for 217 days

before the siege was lifted. What made his victory so impressive to the public was

the way in which it was achieved. He made use of dummies to make the enemy

believe the defenders were more numerous. He made use of fake mines and used

other tricks. He returned to England a national hero.

He was impressed by the popularity of Aids

to Scouting and an idea began to form

in his mind. He thought about devising a

programme specifically targeted at young

boys. He held an experimental camp on

Brownsea Island to see how twenty-one

boys from different backgrounds, split into

four patrols, managed to get along and put

into practice his ideas. The camp was a total

success, and based on what he had learnt

from that experience he published Scouting

for Boys in 1908. This was a huge success,

ranking as the fourth bestseller book of the

20th century! Boys started forming patrols

all over England and beyond and B-P soon

felt that there was a need for an official association. Scouting had really started

off. In 1910, B-P founded the Girl Guide movement, to allow girls to participate in

scouting.

A Jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally together at a national or

international level. The first jamboree was held in 1920 at Olympia Park in London,

when the Scout Movement had grown considerably internationally. Here, B-P was

proclaimed Chief Scout of the World, a move which was initiated by Maltese scouts

present at this jamboree!

Scouting continued to grow internationally,

as well as evolve with the times. B-P saw

scouting in action during the First World

War when scouts assisted in hospitals,

acted as messengers and were of help

to the authorities.

B-P died on the 8th of January 1941 at

the age of 83 in Kenya, where he had

gone to retire from his hectic life. His

gravestone bears a circle with a dot

in the centre which is the trail sign for

“Going home”, or “I have gone home”. Gravestone of Robert Baden-Powell in Kenya.

Robert Baden-Powell at the Fourth World Jamboree at Godollo, Hungary.

24

Can you do it?

After you have gained an

understanding of what

scouting is about, join the

Scout Leader (or the leader

in charge) to discuss your

journey. Remember that it is

a discussion not a lecture!

Participate in the discussion

to fully understand your

experience in the troop.

Discussion with SL

Requirements

Have a discussion with the Scout Leader.

Aim

You are now ready to start your journey. You

need to understand what the journey is about

and what lies ahead.

Where will this journey take me? What will I

encounter along the way?

The Scout Leader will guide you towards a

better understanding of this journey during

your time in the troop.