World Federation of Independent Scouts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids World Federation of Independent Scouts |
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| Country | Worldwide | ||
| Founded | 1996 | ||
| Founder | Lawrie Dring | ||
| Membership | 7.2 million (2020) | ||
| President | Klaus Tegeder | ||
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The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) is a large international group for Scouting organizations. It's not run by governments. More than 7 million Scouts are part of WFIS! They come from 151 different Scout groups in 65 countries around the world. WFIS was started in Laubach, Germany, in 1996. It was founded by Lawrie Dring, a British Scouter from the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
WFIS welcomes any Scout group that is not already part of another big international Scouting organization. To join WFIS, groups must follow the original Scouting program. This program was created by Robert Baden-Powell in his book Scouting for Boys. They can make small changes for safety, health, or environmental reasons.
The current President of WFIS is Klaus Tegeder. He was first chosen in 2007 and has been re-elected since then. He used to be the President of WFIS-Europe and still leads a Scout troop in Germany.
The World Federation of Independent Scouts has grown a lot. In 2010, about 200,000 members were in 3562 Scout groups. Now, there are over 7 million members!
Contents
Leading the Way: The WFIS Worldwide Committee
The WFIS Worldwide Committee is the main team that runs the World Federation of Independent Scouts. It's made up of volunteers who are chosen to serve. This committee helps guide all the regional Scout organizations around the world.
Who's on the WFIS Worldwide Committee?
Here are the people currently leading WFIS:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Klaus Tegeder | President |
| Fabian Figueroa | Vice-President |
| Silvana Silva Mauriello | Secretary |
| Per Stigaard | Treasurer |
| Marc Bruyneel | Wood Beads (Wood Badge) Coordinator |
Scouting Around the World: WFIS Regions
WFIS is divided into seven main areas to help manage its many groups. These areas are:
- Africa
- America
- Asia
- Europe
- Middle East
- Oceania
- South East Asia
WFIS Members: A Global Family
Here are some of the countries and groups that are part of WFIS. This list includes groups that are full members and those that are planning to join.
WFIS Africa
In 2010, there were 5,860 members in WFIS Africa.
| Country | Group |
|---|---|
| Burkina Faso | |
| Burundi | |
| Comoros | |
| Congo | |
| Ethiopia | |
| Ghana | |
| Ivory Coast / Cote D´Ivoire | |
| Kenya | |
| Mali | |
| Nigeria | |
| Rwanda | |
| Tanzania | |
| Togo | |
| Uganda |
WFIS Asia
In 2010, WFIS Asia had 155,303 members.
| 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
In 2010, there were 10,834 members in WFIS Europe.
| 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
In 2010, WFIS America had 3,643 members.
| 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 |
Big Scout Gatherings: Jamborees and Camps
WFIS holds special international events called World Jamborees. These are huge camps where Scouts from all over the world come together! Past World Jamborees have been held in Denmark (2002), Colombia (2007), and Mexico (2011).
Besides World Jamborees, WFIS also hosts smaller international camps for different regions, like Eurocamp. Here are some of these camps:
| Year | Event | Location, Country | Theme | Dates | Attendance | Countries |
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| 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 has a special online event called Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI). For example, WFIS-JOTI 2010 was hosted by WFIS Africa.
Member Scout groups also invite each other to their own camps. Some examples include:
- The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association 2007 Centenary Camp
- Jamboree 2008 (Northumberland)
International Scout Fellowship: For Adults
| International Scout Fellowship | |||
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| Country | Worldwide | ||
| Founded | 2007-08-01 | ||
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The International Scout Fellowship (ISF) is a group that works with WFIS. It's for adults who are current or former members of WFIS. It's also for other adults who want to help independent Scouting, no matter their past Scouting experience.
The ISF is led by its World Council, which has representatives from each member group. They usually meet online once a year. A smaller Executive Committee handles the daily tasks. All people in the ISF are volunteers and do not get paid.
The US-based Rovering 4 Life Association is also connected to the ISF.
ISF Uniforms
The ISF uses the WFIS badge, but with different colors. There isn't one set uniform for the ISF. Each member group decides its own uniform. Some groups might wear special T-shirts or casual clothes. The main goal of the ISF is to help independent Scouting groups, not to focus on strict rules about uniforms.
See also
- The Scouting Portal
