The Attraction of Scouting

Today marks the 164th birthdate of Lord Baden-Powell. The founder of Scouting. Each year on February 22nd, Scouters across the world celebrate the founding of the Scouting movement. Happy Founder’s Day.

From the book, Lessons from the Varsity of Life, written by Lord Baden-Powell.

The whole scheme was then planned on the principle of being an educative GAME: a recreation in which the boy would be insensibly led to educate himself. What to call it? There’s a lot in a name. Had we called it what it was, viz, a “Society for the Propagation of Moral Attributes,” the boy would not exactly have rushed for it. But to call it SCOUTING and give him the chance to becoming an embryo Scout, was quite another pair of shoes. His inherent “gang” instinct would be met by making him a member of a “Troop” and “Patrol.” Give him a uniform to wear, with Badges to be won and worn on it for proficiency in Scouting - and you got him.

Under the term “Scout” on could hold up for his hero-worship such men as backwoodsmen, explorers, hunters, seamen, airmen, pioneers and frontiersmen.

Backwoodsmanship could be brought within the grasp of even the town boy through stalking, tracking, camping, pioneering, camp cooking, tree-felling, and other outdoor activities. These practices all would have their attraction for him, and would at the same time develop in him health, resourcefulness, intelligence, handiness and energy.