page_title: Baden-Powell Scouts' Association
section_title: Aims, methods and ideals
hierarchical_section_title: Baden-Powell Scouts' Association / Aims, methods and ideals
caption_attribution_description: English: BPSA Scouts practising climbing skills
context_page_description: The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is a worldwide youth organisation originating in the United Kingdom, with friendly relationships with similar traditional scouting organisations in various countries. Baden-Powell Scouting focuses on the importance of tradition in the scout movement.
  The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association shares the heritage of the youth scouting movement, however they believe in a traditional way of scouting which closely follows the programme set out by Lt. General Robert Baden-Powell in his book: Scouting for Boys.
  The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association was formed in the United Kingdom in 1970 by the Reverend William Dowling when it was felt that the Scout Association was abandoning the traditions and intentions set out by Baden-Powell in 1908. The Baden-Powell Scouts retain the belief that the essence of the movement should be based on outdoor activities related to the skills of explorers, backwoodsmen and frontiersmen.
  It is a voluntary, non-formal educational charity association for young people. It is an independent, non-political, and non-military organisation. The B-PSA believes this programme should be available to everyone.
context_section_description: The main policy is Traditional Scouting – which is taking Baden-Powell's original nine Scout Laws and the later 10th Scout Law and using them, along with Baden-Powell's original training programme and rank system.
  Once a Scout is invested Baden-Powell believed that he would continue to live the Scout Law. This law is kept by Scouts from the age of ten and Adult Leaders must renew their promise on regular occasions. The original Scout Law, written by Baden-Powell, appeared in 1908. The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association uses his 1911 version, which is as follows:
  A Scout's honour is to be trusted
  A Scout is loyal to the King and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers.
  A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.
  A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs.
  A Scout is courteous.
  A Scout is a friend to animals.
  A Scout obeys orders of his patrol leader or Scout master without question.
  A Scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties.
  A Scout is thrifty.
  A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
  The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association hold to the ideals of Scouting that were created by Baden-Powell. The association's heritage dates back to the foundations of Scouting in the UK in 1908. The association follows a charter set down in their Policy Association Rules. They have no paid Executive Staff or Leaders.
  The traditional programme also develops a sense of duty, personal discipline and honour. In addition to a wide range of activities Scouts in the B-PSA continue to practise traditional Scouting skills:
  lighting fire by friction
  navigating by means other than a compass
  backwoods cooking
  camping in self erected "bivvys"
  The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association are members of the World Federation of Independent Scouts. The Baden-Powell Scouts use the original programmes and wear traditional uniforms. Wolf Cubs continue to use the Grand Howl at the beginning and end of their meetings.
  The advancement program for members of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is symbolised by the earning of badges and awards.  
  In Wolf Cubs this consists of Tenderpad, First Star and Second Star – working towards the final award of Leaping Wolf. The First and Second Stars are worn on the Cub's cap, this positioning leading them to sometimes be referred to as one, then both, eyes open.
  In the Scouts section they use the same ranks as in Scouting for Boys with Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, and the Scout Cord.  Senior Scouts can earn the Bushman's Thong (with variations for Air and Sea Scouts) and the St. George's Scout award, which takes the place of the Queen's Scout award. Rover Scouts are able to earn the Baden-Powell Award.
  The requirements for these badges, and the overall designs of the award badges, remain true to the pre-1967 Boy Scouts Association requirements and designs, with the stars on the original awards being replaced by the initials B and P, and the word "BOY" being replaced by "B-P".
caption: BPSA Scouts developing climbing skills, August 2008
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