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February 22nd is Founder’s Day, the birthday of Lord Robert Baden-Powell the founder of the Scout Movement and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).
Nearly all National Scout Associations throughout the world celebrate Founder’s Day as an opportunity to learn more about B.P.’s life and his work.
In 1922 Baden-Powell spoke to the 3rd International Congress on Moral Education in Geneva, Switzerland. His speech laid out a vision for Scouting as an education in peace and love in the aftermath of the ordeal of the first world war. Following this vision became the focus of the rest of his life
War’s horrible devastation had deeply influenced Powell, the old soldier and officer, to join many others in looking for alternatives to armed conflict. In his speech he suggests that Scouting can be used to foster world peace by giving young men and women an education in international goodwill.
Powell’s expansive, inspiring vision has yet to be fully realized. It is all too easy to loose sight of the international scope and possibilities of Scouting in our day to day work as Scouters. Founder’s day presents an opportunity for us to focus on this aspect of Scouting. The speech is available in a PDF file here.
Great minds travel on the same track! I’ll be using this for my SM minute too.
Thanks, Clarke. I know what I’m using for my scoutmaster minute at tonight’s meeting, now.