Suomen Partiolaiset
Encyclopedia
Suomen Partiolaiset - Finlands Scouter ry (The Guides and Scouts of Finland, GSF) is the national Scouting
and Guiding
association of Finland
. Scouting was founded in Finland in 1910 as part of tsarist Russia, registered with the central organization of the tsarist Russian Scout movement
Русский Скаут. Finnish Scouting was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
in 1922. Guiding started in 1910 and was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
. In 1972 the Girl Guide Association and the Boy Scout Association merged and formed Suomen Partiolaiset. The association has about 75,000 members.
In Finland, the Scouting movement was viewed early on as an alternative to the Pioneers
communist youth organization, which was active for some time in the Baltic nation.
Scouting is one of the most popular hobbies in Finland. To live with nature, act according to its conditions and protecting and honoring it, is one of the cornerstones of Finnish Scouting. Another important objective is to learn social abilities. Finnish Scouts and Guides learn how to become knowledgeable and active citizens, at ease with other countries and cultures.
In this country of thousands of lakes and abundance of green forests, hikes and camps are a vital part of Scouting. Outdoor activities greatly put the knowledge and skills of the Scouts to the test. Winter camps and skiing tours in the midst of the snow is a thrilling experience.
All groups plan and execute their own programs and emphasize special interests. Community involvement and service to help members become active, responsible members of society are stressed in the program.
Sea Scouts carry out many kinds of activities related to sailing and undergo an extensive training program in seamanship, with an emphasis on safety. They have large on-the-water gatherings every year and a Sea Scout camp every four years.
The Finnish Scouts have close international ties with Scouts in other countries, particularly Scandinavia
n countries. They have also expanded its international connections to Russia through youth exchanges between the two countries. Scouts in Finland are actively involved in development projects in Africa and have raised funds for the immunization program for Nepal.
my native country and mankind
by fulfilling the Guide and Scout ideals in my life.
), a Scouting
troop in Kauniainen
, Finland
was established in 1910. Toimen Pojat is the oldest continuously operating Scout troop in Finland
. During the Russian ban on Scouting
in the 1910s before the Finnish independence in 1917, the troop operated underground. Many traditions that distinguish the troop formed during that period.
. The only exception is Finlands Svenska Scouter r.f. serving the Swedish minority in Finland
and the Åland Islands. 11% of the 7-10 year olds and 13% of 10-14 year old Finns are members of the organization. Girl Scouts represent 56% of the total. There are about 900 Scout troops.
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
and Guiding
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
association of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Scouting was founded in Finland in 1910 as part of tsarist Russia, registered with the central organization of the tsarist Russian Scout movement
Russian Association of Scouts/Navigators
The Russian Association of Scouts/Navigators , or RAS/N , is the national Scouting federation of Russia, which became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 2004...
Русский Скаут. Finnish Scouting was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
in 1922. Guiding started in 1910 and was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
. In 1972 the Girl Guide Association and the Boy Scout Association merged and formed Suomen Partiolaiset. The association has about 75,000 members.
In Finland, the Scouting movement was viewed early on as an alternative to the Pioneers
Pioneer movement
A pioneer movement is an organization for children operated by a communist party. Typically children enter into the organization in elementary school and continue until adolescence. The adolescents then typically joined the Young Communist League...
communist youth organization, which was active for some time in the Baltic nation.
Programme
The Finnish Scout organization is a nonpolitical, nonsectarian and multilingual organization, as evidenced by the name of the organization itself, using both the Finnish and Swedish languages. Its religious neutrality is reflected in the Finnish Scout promise, which begins "I promise to love my God..."Scouting is one of the most popular hobbies in Finland. To live with nature, act according to its conditions and protecting and honoring it, is one of the cornerstones of Finnish Scouting. Another important objective is to learn social abilities. Finnish Scouts and Guides learn how to become knowledgeable and active citizens, at ease with other countries and cultures.
In this country of thousands of lakes and abundance of green forests, hikes and camps are a vital part of Scouting. Outdoor activities greatly put the knowledge and skills of the Scouts to the test. Winter camps and skiing tours in the midst of the snow is a thrilling experience.
All groups plan and execute their own programs and emphasize special interests. Community involvement and service to help members become active, responsible members of society are stressed in the program.
Sea Scouts carry out many kinds of activities related to sailing and undergo an extensive training program in seamanship, with an emphasis on safety. They have large on-the-water gatherings every year and a Sea Scout camp every four years.
The Finnish Scouts have close international ties with Scouts in other countries, particularly Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries. They have also expanded its international connections to Russia through youth exchanges between the two countries. Scouts in Finland are actively involved in development projects in Africa and have raised funds for the immunization program for Nepal.
Scout Promise
I will love my God and my neighbour,my native country and mankind
by fulfilling the Guide and Scout ideals in my life.
Oldest unit
Toimen Pojat (Unga Fribyggare in SwedishFinland-Swedish
Finland Swedish is a general term for the closely related cluster of dialects of Swedish spoken in Finland by Swedish-speaking Finns as their mother tongue...
), a Scouting
Suomen Partiolaiset
Suomen Partiolaiset - Finlands Scouter ry is the national Scouting and Guiding association of Finland. Scouting was founded in Finland in 1910 as part of tsarist Russia, registered with the central organization of the tsarist Russian Scout movement Русский Скаут...
troop in Kauniainen
Kauniainen
Kauniainen is a small town and a municipality of inhabitants in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. It is surrounded by the city of Espoo, in Greater Helsinki...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
was established in 1910. Toimen Pojat is the oldest continuously operating Scout troop in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. During the Russian ban on Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
in the 1910s before the Finnish independence in 1917, the troop operated underground. Many traditions that distinguish the troop formed during that period.
Structures
Suomen Partiolaiset is divided in 18 Scout districts, which resemble the former Finnish provincesProvinces of Finland
The state of Finland consisted of six provinces between the years 1997 and 2009. The provincial authority was part of the central government's executive branch, not directly elected. The system was created in 1634, and its makeup was changed drastically in 1997, when the number of the provinces...
. The only exception is Finlands Svenska Scouter r.f. serving the Swedish minority in Finland
Finland-Swedes
Swedish-speaking Finns constitute a linguistic minority in Finland. They maintain a strong identity and are alternatively seen either as a distinct subgroup of the Finnish people or as a separate ethnic group or even as a distinct nationality...
and the Åland Islands. 11% of the 7-10 year olds and 13% of 10-14 year old Finns are members of the organization. Girl Scouts represent 56% of the total. There are about 900 Scout troops.