Think

Scouting is about your approach to yourself, to others and to life. It is not just something you do for a couple of hours a week.

When Scouting was founded by Baden-Powell, he started with his methods of Scouting learned during the Boer war. He then adapted it into his book aimed at young people; Scouting for boys. The basic principles have been summarised into the Scout law, which is a good start for an approach to life, as well as Scouting. When you learn the Scout law, think how you can adapt it for what surrounds you and also the wider world.

1. A Scout is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout is friendly and considerate.
4. A Scout belongs to the world-wide family of Scouts.
5. A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
6. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
7. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

Baden-Powell was a good friend of Rudyard Kipling, and the Jungle book was used for leader names when the Wolf cubs were founded. Another of Kipling’s works, the poem If, is one of the most famous poems and another highly recommended source for you to think about how you approach life and others. Watch this video of it being read by actor John Hurt, and at the end remember it was written a century ago for men but can easily be changed for women too.