B-P's Blog - Health

During his lifetime Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the worldwide Scouting movement, wrote many books and articles directed to Scouters. Each Sunday I’ll publish a selection from his writings in the hope that you’ll draw inspiration and understanding from his timeless ideas. SIR GEORGE NEWMAN said recently: “National health is not dependent on doctors and nurses, but on the people themselves.” This impels me to remind Scouters that that is what we believe in our Movement, and, seeing the lamentable state of health of the nation as revealed by last year’s reports, let us press on with our effort to strengthen some portion at least of the oncoming generation: By encouraging open-air activities and fresh-air “fiendishness”; By making the boys wise on questions of feeding, clothing, teeth, diet, personal hygiene, continence, temperance, etc.; By encouraging development of body and training in physical fitness through games and athletics; By making each boy feel that he is a responsible being, and responsible therefore for the care of his body and health; that it is part of his duty to God to develop his body to the best extent. By so doing we have it in our power to do a work of national value.

January , 1931 – B-P’s Outlook