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World Federation of Independent Scouts
World Federation of Independent Scouts.svg
Country Worldwide
Founded 1996
Founder Lawrie Dring
Membership 7.2 million (2020)
President Klaus Tegeder

The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) is a non-governmental international Scouting organization with over 7 million members in 151 affiliated Scout organizations in 65 countries. WFIS was formed in Laubach, Germany, in 1996 by Lawrie Dring, a British Scouter with the independent Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (BPSA).

The World Federation of Independent Scouts is open to any Scouting association that is not affiliated with another international organization. WFIS requires that member associations "follow, and use, Baden-Powell's original program, traditions, uniforms, morals, ethics, and structure as laid out in Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys," amended only for "health, environmental, first-aid, and safety reasons."

The current President of the WFIS World Council is Klaus Tegeder, who was elected for a five-year term in 2007 and reelected in 2012 and 2017. He is the former President of WFIS-Europe and still leads a German Scout troop.

The World Federation of Independent Scouts has experienced strong growth, the affiliate Scout organizations collectively had an estimated 200,000 members in 3562 Scout Groups in 2010.

WFIS Worldwide Committee

The WFIS Worldwide Committee is the chief executive body of the World Federation of Independent Scouts and is composed of elected volunteers. WFIS-Worldwide acts as an umbrella association for each of the regional Scout organisations.

Current members of the WFIS Worldwide Committee

Name Position
Klaus Tegeder President
Fabian Figueroa Vice-President
Silvana Silva Mauriello Secretary
Per Stigaard Treasurer
Marc Bruyneel Wood Beads (Wood Badge) Coordinator

Regional divisions

The WFIS is divided into seven regions:

  • Africa
  • America
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Oceania
  • South East Asia

List of members

Including prospected members

WFIS Africa

5860 members in 2010

Country Group
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Comoros
Congo
Ethiopia
Ghana
Ivory Coast / Cote D´Ivoire
Kenya
Mali
Nigeria
Rwanda
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda

WFIS Asia

155,303 members in 2010

Country Group Membership status
India Hindustan Scouts and Guides Association full member
Scout Bharti
The Scouts/Guides Organisation
Shriram Bajpai Scouts & Guides Organisations
Federation of India for Sports, Scouting and Education Prospect Member
Future Scouts & guides Prospect Member
Indian Scouts and Guides Organisations
Japan Independent Scouts of Japan prospect member
Nepal Metro Scouts Nepal
Nepal Independent Scouts Association

WFIS Europe

10,834 members in 2010

Country Group Membership Status
Austria Scouts of Europa full member
Belgium Onafhankelijke Scouts en Gidsen - Scouts et Guides Indépendants
Czech Republic Skaut - Český skauting ABS
Svaz skautu a skautek Ceske Republiky
Skaut SSV prospect member
Denmark De Gule Spejdere i Danmark – Baden-Powell spejderne full member
France Scouts de Chavagnes
Germany Bund Europäischer St. Georgs-Pfadfinderinnen und -Pfadfinder
Bund Unabhängiger Pfadfinder, Stamm Cassiopeia
Christliche freie Pfadfinderschaft Goldenstedt
Christliche Pfadfinderschaft Dreieich
Deutscher Pfadfinderbund e. V. gegr. 1911 (DPB 1911)
Europäischer Pfadfinderbund - Georgsritter e. V.
Europäischer Pfadfinderbund St. Georg
Freie Deutsche Waldläufer Olpe
Freier Pfadfinderbund Asgard
Freier Pfadfinderbund St. Georg
Freie Pfadfinderschaft Kreuzritter
Independent Scout Association
Pfadfinder im Mühlenbecker Land
Pfadfinderbund Weltenbummler e.V.
Pfadfindertrupp Frederick Selous
Solmser Pfadfinderschaft
Ireland Baden-Powell Scouts Slyguff
Italy Associazone Amici Delle Iniziative Scout
Associazione Esploratori e Guide Italiani
Associazione Indipendente Scout
Associazione Sezione Scout di Gela
Assoraider
Federazione del Movimento Scout Italiano - FederScout
Fedarazione Italiana di Scautismo Raider – FIS Raider
Kosovo National Scout Center of Kosovo
Latvia Latvijas Kristīgie Skauti (Christian Scouts of Latvia)
Malta Baden-Powell Scouts Malta
Romania Asociatia Cercetasilor Traditionali din Romania
Russia Russian Union of Scouts
Spain Associació Catalana de Scouts - Catalan Association of Scouts
Asociación de Scouts Independientes de Madrid - Independent Scouts of Madrid
Asosiación Juvenil Group Scout Independiente Gilwell
Federación Scout de la Comunidad Valenciana
Scout Group Alpha
Scouts Independientes del Principado de Asturias
Asociación de Scouts Independientes de Extremadura prospect member
Grupo Scout San Pío
Scouts Magma
Switzerland Feuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe full member
Turkey Kapif
United Kingdom Baden-Powell Scouts' Association
Ukraine Rodzvinsky

WFIS America

3643 members in 2010

Country Group
Argentina Asociación Argentina de Scouts de Baden Powell
Scouts Navales de Argentina
Bolivia Asociación Boliviana de Scouts Independientes de Baden-Powell (ABSI-BP)
Brazil Grande Fraternidade Escoteira IMPISA
Canada Baden-Powell Service Association (Canada)
Canadian Traditional Scouting Association
ZHR Polish Scouts of Canada
Chile Agrupación Nacional de Boy Scouts de Chile
Hermandad Scout del Desierto Chile
Colombia Exploradores de Rionegro
Asociación Colombiana de Escultismo (ACE)
Costa Rica Asociación Costarricense de Escultismo
Ecuador Asociación de Boy Scouts del Ecuador
El Salvador Asociacion de Scouts Independientes de El Salvador ASI-ES
Guatemala Asociación de Escultismo Ecológico Baden-Powell Guatemala
Honduras Asociación Hondureña de Escultismo Tradicional
Mexico Agrupación Scout Mexicana, A.C.
Asociación Nacional de Scouts Independientes Mexico (ANSI)
Federación Mexicana de Scouts Independientes, A.C.
Asociación Tradicionalista de Scouts Tiro y Pesca, A.C.
Panama Cuerpo de Exploradores Panameños
Paraguay Hermandad Scout de Paraguay
Peru Asociación Peruana de Escultismo – Scouts Ape
Asociación Independiente De Scouts Tradicionales Del Perú – AISTA Perú
United States Outdoor Service Guides

WFIS South-East Asia

Country Group
Bangladesh Independent Scouts of Bangladesh
China Shanghai Scout Association
South Korea Third Eye Scouting Association
Pakistan Independent Scouts of Pakistan
Nankana Sab Scout Organization
ADABKADA Scout Association
Sri Lanka Independent Scouts of Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Independent Scout Association
Dubai Scout Organization

Jamborees and international camps

WFIS has held World Jamborees in Dinamarca 2002, Colombia 2007, and México 2011.

In addition to World Jamborees, the WFIS also regularly host regional international camps, such as Eurocamp. The following camps having taken place or are scheduled:

Year Event Location, Country Theme Dates Attendance Countries
2006 Eurocamp 2006 Switzerland
2010 Eurocamp 2010 Germany
2014 Eurocamp 2014 Italy
2018 Eurocamp 2018 Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom Lifelong friendships created by Scouting 28 July to 4 August 2018 2030 21
2022 Eurocamp 2022 Austria postponed

WFIS also hosts a Jamboree On The Internet:

  • WFIS-JOTI 2010, hosted by WFIS Africa

Member Associations also regularly invite each other to their own camps, examples including:

  • The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association 2007 Centenary Camp
  • Jamboree 2008 (Northumberland)

International Scout Fellowship

International Scout Fellowship
International Scout Fellowship.svg
Country Worldwide
Founded 2007-08-01

The International Scout Fellowship is an affiliate of WFIS, but not a member. It is open to former and current adult members of WFIS, to other adult friends of Independent Scouting who wish to contribute to independent Scouting, regardless of their Scouting backgrounds.

The ISF is governed by its World Council which is composed of representatives of each member Chapter. It meets once a year, usually electronically. Its day-to-day affairs are directed by the Executive Committee, which is elected by the World Council. All positions in the ISF are staffed by volunteers. There are no paid employees.

Affiliated with the ISF is the US-based Rovering 4 Life Association.

Uniform

The badge is that of the WFIS in reverse colours. There is no set uniform of the ISF. Member chapters determine their own uniforms with the badge of the ISF. Other chapters may use casual dress such as T-shirts, etc.

The emphasis of the ISF is on tangible results in supporting Independent Scouting associations, not on formalities.

See also

  • The Scouting Portal
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