Pathfinder Scouts Association
| Pathfinder Scouts Association | |||
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| Owner | Rover Explorer Scouts Association | ||
| Country | United Kingdom | ||
| Founded | 1982 | ||
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The Pathfinder Scouts Association (PSA) is an independent Traditional Scouting Association in the United Kingdom. The Association runs along the lines of Baden-Powell's original programme, upholding the traditions and practice set out by him in Scouting for Boys.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1982 - 2009
The 'Explorer Scouts' and 'Pathfinder Scouts Association' had been a combined independent scout association from 1982 and registered as a youth organisation in London. Fulham under the Charity 'Walham Green Youth Council'. In early 1992, some of the PSA leaders who had been members of Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (BPSA) joined the British Boy Scouts (BBS). After much consultation with the leaders of the BBS and the soon to be PSA it was decided to leave the BBS in that same year[1]
These same ex-Commissioner Warranted leaders of the BBS,[2] decided that they needed to set up the Pathfinder Scouts Association leaving behind the older name 'Explorer Scouts'. The PSA was set up for the second time and was registered as a Charity at Law in September 1993,[3]. In 1995 the founding and Chief Commissioners of the PSA were Steven Dudley-Coventry and Ray O'Donnell-Hampton. The number of groups fell after the death of Dudley-Coventry and the Association's Scoutmasters Court of Honour devolved its charitable status without consultation of the other commissioners. The Association was then officially wound up in April 1998, with the remaining badges being passed on to the British Boy Scouts.[4]
In 1999 Ray O'Donnell-Hampton and some of the older members of the previous association met and reestablished the Pathfinder Scouts Association which was registered as a Charity in October 2003 under the umbrella of the 'Rover Explorer Scouts Association' (RESA).
It began to gain membership and association from groups and lone members from around the world. They had membership and associations in USA, Canada, South America, Australia, South East Asia, Philippines, Russia, the United Kingdom and Ireland. [4]
RESA and the Pathfinder Scouts Association evolved as had been the plan in the early 1990s. Both were now active with PSA active mainly in the United Kingdom and the Rover Explorer Scouts Association being active with the older members (Rover Scouts) around the world.
[edit] 2003 - Present
In October 2003 the Bedfordshire Pathfinder Scouts Association Members of Pathfinder Scouts Association were registered with the Charity Commission, having the stated aims "to promote the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well being of children and young people aged between 5 - 18 years in Bedfordshire through the provision of Pathfinder Scouting activities. These include adventure, sport and other recreational activities." [5]
[edit] Views
In common with other members of the Traditional Scouting Movement, the main policy is to follow Baden-Powell’s original ideas, as outlined in Scouting For Boys.
[edit] Scout Law and Promise
The PSA Scout Law is derived from the original Scout Law, but written in verse:[6]
Trusty, loyal, helpful;
Brotherly, courteous, kind;
Obedient, smiling, thrifty;
Clean in body and mind.
The PSA Scout Promise is:
On my honour I promise
to do my best to do my duty to
God and my Country
To help other people at all times
and to obey the scout Law.
[edit] Uniform
The uniform worn by members of the PSA reflects that worn by all Scouts prior to the publication of The Scout Association's Advance Party Report in 1969.
- Headwear: Beret, with the Association badge in front, or Campaign Hat.
- Scarf: Of the Group colour worn with a woggle or a loose knot at the throat.
- Shirt: In non Sea or Air Groups, a khaki shirt.
- Shorts or trousers: Khaki colour. Most Scouts now wear trousers. [7]
- Belt: Brown leather, Official pattern.
- Socks: Any plain colour, worn turned down below the knee
- Boots or shoes: Brown or black.
- Shoulder badge: Indicating the Group, worn on the right shoulder.
Provision is also made for Marine Scouts.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ The consultation was about the issue of Child Protection. New BBS regulations framed in that year would not allow any "person who has a criminal conviction (whether legally 'spent' or not) in connection with offences against young people shall be Warranted as a Leader, or hold any position, at Headquarters, District or Group/Company Level." - BBS Official Handbook 1993, ISBN 1 85139 024 3,page 5. The policies of the 'Pathfinder Scouts Association' differed and both in theory and practice
- ^ Those concerned were removed from the BBS Leaders list (BBS Minutes for 1993)
- ^ Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales
- ^ a b Article on Independent Scouts in the United Kingdom
- ^ Extract from the Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales
- ^ "The Scout Laws & Promise". Pathfinder Scouts Association. http://groups.msn.com/PathfinderScouts/scoutlawsamppromise.msnw. Retrieved 2008-06-09.[dead link]
- ^ PSA uniform - badges and placement[dead link]
- ^ PSA uniform - Marine Scouts[dead link]
