Traditional Scouting is "old-fashioned" or "back to basics" Scouting in some form, often with an emphasis on woodcraft activities. One form of Traditional Scouting, the "Traditional Scouting movement", aims to return Scouting to traditional style and activities; rejecting the trend of modernizing Scouting to appeal to more youths or identifying programs for younger children as Scouting. Baden-Powell-ism or Baden-Powell-ists follow Robert Baden-Powell's model of Scouting or his book Scouting for Boys. Yet others reject even Cubs and Rovers programs and some organizational structures which were used by Baden-Powell as they are outside original Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Traditional Scouting is very popular in some groups in Canada and America where William Hillcourt was an advocate. In Britain, one form of Traditional Scouting is associated with rejection of changes made within The Scout Association from 1967 following The Chief Scouts' Advance Party Report and the advent of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association in 1970. The Pathfinder Scouts Association, the European Scout Federation, formed in 1959, and the British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association, formed in 1908, are also associated with Traditional Scouting. Trail Life USA emphasizes traditional scouting for young men. American Heritage Girls is a similar scouting organization for young women. Note: The Boy Scouts of America uses the term "Traditional Scouting" differently, to refer to its traditional programs of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Venturing or membership programs as opposed to their non-Scouting subsidiary of Learning for Life.
Background
Traditional Scouting is often based on Baden-Powell's book Scouting for Boys, often extended with the sources that heavily influenced "Scouting for Boys": Ernest Thompson Seton'sThe Birch Bark Roll. and Daniel Carter Beard's The Boy Pioneers: Sons of Daniel Boone, making changes only for advances in health and safety practices, environmental concerns, and lightweight equipment.
Differences
There are several differences between modern Scouting and Traditional Scouting:
Scouting games, Patrol totems and calls, and advancement are based on standards rather than competition.
Advancement is based strictly on the mastery of Scoutcraft skills and Proficiency Badges: There are no Scout spirit, Scoutmaster conference, or Board of Review requirements. Traditional Scouting is analogous to a game played to teach Citizenship strictly through indirect methods.
All leaders are volunteers, no one gets paid.
The inexpensive uniform is designed to be used as a practical outdoor method, rather than as expensive indoor clothing for "formal occasions." The uniform should be a joy to wear in the wilderness.
Modern Scouting sees itself as anything done by a worldwide organization whereas Traditional Scouting is seen as a popular movement following a scheme.
Modern Scouting involves ever younger age groups and increased adult involvement and family activities.
