History of Scouting

Robert Stephenson Smythe BadenPowell, known as “BP”, founded

Scouting in 1907. “BP” was born on 22nd February 1857, he enjoyed playing soccer, the piano, drawing and painting, acting, sailing and generally loving an outdoor life.

When “BP” left school he joined the army and during the Boer War (1899 –1901) he became a popular hero when he defended the little town of

Mafeking for 217 days against a much larger Boer army. In Mafeking he discovered that given trust and some training boys, could not only be very useful but also enjoyed being useful.

In August 1907 he invited some boys to camp on Brownsea Island, Poole harbour. Here the boys camped (unusual in those days) and were introduced to such things as signalling, tracking, knotting and first aid.

Following the success of the camp “BP” published “Scouting for Boys” in 1908, and to his surprise thousands of boys spontaneously formed themselves into “Scout Patrols”, who then sought adult leaders to help them. In this unique way the Scout movement began. It is important to note that it was the boys themselves that made Scouting happen; they were the organisers.

Scout Patrols and Troops sprang up in Ireland almost as soon as they did in England and in 1908 Scout Troops were formed in Dublin, Dundalk and

Wicklow, some of these early Troops are still in existence today.

History of Scouting

History of Scouting From the earliest times some Scout Groups included boating in their programmes, and B.P. realised that this was a very useful programme activity. In Ireland the First Sea Scout Troops were registered in l912. In l914 the first Sea Scout Regatta was held, consisting of rowing and swimming races.

The oldest Sea Scout Trophy in Ireland - The Wood-Latimer Cup was competed for in that first Regatta and remained the premier trophy in the Sea Scout Annual Rowing Regatta until it was replaced in 2000.

The most prestigious trophy in Sea Scouting is The Fry Cup - this was first presented in 1918 for a Seamanship competition, which also has continued to the present day.

Sea Scouts also participate in the Smythe Cup, a camping skills competition started in 1916. International Scouting is an international movement with over 25 million members in over 150 countries. It is the world’s largest youth movement. Scouts gather every four years at the World Jamboree, this is where Scouts from all over the world come together to camp and share experiences. Irish Scouts have been at every world Jamboree since the first one in Olympia in 1920.

Important Dates in Scouting 1857 Birth of “BP” 1907 Camp at Brownsea Island 1908 First Scouts in Ireland 1912 First Sea Scouts 1916 First Cub Scouts 1918 First Rover Scouts 1929 Foundation of CBSI 1948 Boys Scouts of Ireland formed 1976 First Girls join SAI 2002 New Sea Scout programme launched