Swiss Guide and Scout Movement
Encyclopedia
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement (SGSM) (Pfadibewegung Schweiz (PBS), Mouvement Scout de Suisse (MSdS), Movimento Scaut Svizzero (MSS), Moviment Battasendas Svizra (MBS)) is the national Scouting
and Guiding
association of Switzerland
. Scouting was founded in Switzerland in 1912 and was among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
in 1922 and among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
in 1928. The originally separate Swiss Guide Federation (Bund Schweizerischer Pfadfinderinnen (BSP)) and Swiss Scout Federation (Schweizerische Pfadfinderbund (SPB)) merged in 1987. The SGSM has 45,000 members in 600 local groups (as of 2010).
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement is mixed at all levels. The only thing that still reminds of the old separation between Girl Guides and Boy Scouts is that some of the terms for different levels (in one or more of the three major languages spoken in Switzerland) are different.
The young age of Swiss leaders is a tradition. Even members of the district or national committees are rarely older than 30. The result is more freedom at the unit level, no discrimination, and a very important experience in leadership for young people.
The mandatory parts of the Swiss uniform are the shirt, the neckerchief, any kind of good hiking boots, a fire lighter and a Swiss army knife
. Optional parts are belt, Scout jeans, hat, dagger, etc. A youth receives his/her neckerchief and vulgo (Scout name) from his unit leader in an initiation ceremony.
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement is a member of Jugend und Sport ("Youth and Sports"), a governmental institution affiliated with the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
, which promotes sports among youth. Camps for youth in the 5-20 age range are subsidized by J+S, and also receive some basic material (wool blankets, denim square units, ropes, spades, etc.) from J+S for these occasions. J+S is also deeply involved in leader training, because unit leaders are basically special youth sport trainers.
, French
, and Italian
---use different terms for sections:
Special Scout units include Sea Scout
s around the major lakes and Extension Scouting
for handicapped kids.
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 Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Scouting was founded in Switzerland in 1912 and 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 and 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 1928. The originally separate Swiss Guide Federation (Bund Schweizerischer Pfadfinderinnen (BSP)) and Swiss Scout Federation (Schweizerische Pfadfinderbund (SPB)) merged in 1987. The SGSM has 45,000 members in 600 local groups (as of 2010).
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement is mixed at all levels. The only thing that still reminds of the old separation between Girl Guides and Boy Scouts is that some of the terms for different levels (in one or more of the three major languages spoken in Switzerland) are different.
The young age of Swiss leaders is a tradition. Even members of the district or national committees are rarely older than 30. The result is more freedom at the unit level, no discrimination, and a very important experience in leadership for young people.
The mandatory parts of the Swiss uniform are the shirt, the neckerchief, any kind of good hiking boots, a fire lighter and a Swiss army knife
Swiss Army knife
The Swiss Army knife is a brand of pocket knife or multi-tool manufactured by Victorinox AG and Wenger SA. The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by US soldiers after World War II due to the difficulty they had in pronouncing the German name....
. Optional parts are belt, Scout jeans, hat, dagger, etc. A youth receives his/her neckerchief and vulgo (Scout name) from his unit leader in an initiation ceremony.
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement is a member of Jugend und Sport ("Youth and Sports"), a governmental institution affiliated with the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport is one of the seven departments of the Swiss federal government, headed by a member of the Swiss Federal Council.-Organisation:...
, which promotes sports among youth. Camps for youth in the 5-20 age range are subsidized by J+S, and also receive some basic material (wool blankets, denim square units, ropes, spades, etc.) from J+S for these occasions. J+S is also deeply involved in leader training, because unit leaders are basically special youth sport trainers.
Sections
The association is divided in five sections according to age. The different languages---Swiss GermanSwiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
---use different terms for sections:
- Beaver ScoutsBeaver ScoutsBeaver Scouts, often shortened to Beavers, is the youngest section of Scouting operated by The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. The core age range for Beaver Scouts is six to eight years, though exceptions can be granted. Individual sections of Beaver Scouts, known as a Colony, are run by...
: Biber , Castors , Castori - ages 5 to 6 - Brownies and CubsCub ScoutA Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
: Wölfli , Louveteaux , Lupetti - ages 7 to 9/10 - Guides and ScoutsBoy ScoutA Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
: Pfadi , Éclais , Esploratrici/Esploratori - ages 10/11 to 13/14 - VenturesVenture ScoutVenture Scouting is a section of the Scout Movement, mostly in countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, for young people roughly in the 14 – 20 age range.-Australia:...
: Pio , Pico , Pionieri - ages 14/15 to 16 - Rovers: Rover , Route , Rover - ages 17 and older
Special Scout units include Sea Scout
Sea Scout
Sea Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement, with a particular emphasis on water-based activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and rowing. Depending on the country and the available water these activities are on lakes, rivers or sea in small or large ships. Sea Scouting...
s around the major lakes and Extension Scouting
Extension Scouting
Extension Scouting is a programme within Scouting which caters for young people with special needs. Extension Scouting for young people with special needs was originally called Scouts Malgré Tout, which is French for "Scouts Despite Everything"...
for handicapped kids.
Scout Motto
There are different mottos for each section- Beaver Scouts:
- Brownies and Cubs: My Best translates as Mis Bescht in Swiss GermanSwiss GermanSwiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
- Guides and Scouts: Always Prepared translates as Allzeit bereit in German, Toujours prêt in French and Sempre pronto in Italian
- Ventures: Together Further translates as Zäme Wiiter in Swiss GermanSwiss GermanSwiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
- Rovers: Act Consciously translates as Bewusst Handeln in German
Scout Promise
(With the help of God,) with your help and happily I promise to do my best:- To study in details the values of our Scout Law
- To search or the meaning of my life
- To be involved in the community where I live.
Scout Law
Guides and Scouts, we wish:- To be honest and sincere
- To listen to and respect others
- To rejoice in all that is beautiful and give joy to others
- To be thoughtful and helpful
- To share
- To choose to the best of our abilities and to commit ourselves
- To protect nature and respect life
- To face difficulties with confidence
See also
- Kandersteg International Scout CentreKandersteg International Scout CentreKandersteg International Scout Centre is an international Scout centre in Kandersteg, Switzerland. The centre provides lodges, chalets and campsites covering 17 hectares of land. It is open to Scouts year round, as well as to non-Scouts for most of the year...
- Walter von BonstettenWalter von BonstettenWalther von Bonstetten was an early Swiss Guide and Scout Movement Scouting notable.In 1913 he was among the founders of the Pfadicorps Patria in Bern, one of the early Swiss Scout units...
- Pfadi WinterthurPfadi WinterthurPfadi Winterthur is a team handball club from Switzerland. Currently, Pfadi Winterthur competes in the Swiss First League of Handball.The club developed out of an informal handball team which won the competitions during the national jamboree of the Schweizer Pfadfinderbund in 1938...
- Our ChaletOur ChaletOur Chalet is an international Girl Guide/Girl Scout centre and one of four World Centres of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts . The others are Our Cabaña, Sangam, and Pax Lodge. Our Chalet is just outside of Adelboden, in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. Located in the...
- Luc PanissodLuc PanissodLuc Panissod born 1949, of France, is currently Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement . He previously held the role of Deputy Secretary General of WOSM and was made acting WOSM Secretary General in mid-November 2007 in replacement of Eduardo Missoni, following an...
- Maurice MachenbaumMaurice MachenbaumMaurice Machenbaum of Switzerland is the appointed treasurer of the World Scout Committee, the main executive body of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...