From a small camp on a tiny island in 1907 to 57 million members worldwide. Here is the full story, plus facts that will genuinely blow your mind.
Key moments from 1857 to today.
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell is born on 22 February in London. He will go on to change the lives of hundreds of millions of young people around the world.
During the Second Boer War in South Africa, Baden-Powell successfully defends the town of Mafeking for 217 days against a much larger enemy force. He becomes a national hero overnight. During the siege he even uses boys as scouts and messengers, planting the seed for the movement to come.
Baden-Powell holds the very first Scout camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, England. Just 22 boys from different social backgrounds attend. This is the moment Scouting is born.
Baden-Powell publishes "Scouting for Boys", which becomes one of the best-selling books in history. In the same year, Australian Scouting is established, making it one of the earliest national Scout movements in the world.
The Girl Guides movement is founded, initially led by Baden-Powell's sister Agnes. His wife Olave later takes over and becomes the World Chief Guide, dedicating her life to the movement just as her husband did to Scouts.
The first World Scout Jamboree is held at Olympia, London. Over 8,000 Scouts from 27 countries attend. At the end, Baden-Powell is acclaimed Chief Scout of the World by the crowd.
The Jamboree at Arrowe Park, England, marks Scouting's 21st birthday. An astonishing 50,000 Scouts from around the world attend. Baden-Powell is gifted a Rolls-Royce and a trailer as a token of the movement's gratitude.
Robert Baden-Powell dies on 8 January in Nyeri, Kenya, aged 83. His final message to Scouts read: "Be Prepared." He is buried in Nyeri overlooking the slopes of Mount Kenya.
The 6th World Scout Jamboree is held in Austria, the first to take place after World War II. It is a moment of international reunion, friendship and hope for young people across the world.
The 16th World Scout Jamboree is held at Cataract Scout Park, New South Wales. It is the first Jamboree ever held in the Southern Hemisphere, putting Australian Scouting on the global map in a spectacular way.
Over 43,000 Scouts gather in South Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree. Scouting continues to grow as one of the largest youth movements on the planet.
Three figures every Scout should know.
Military hero, artist, author and educator. He created Scouting to help young people develop character, practical skills and a spirit of adventure. His full title was Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell.
"Scouting for Boys", published in 1908, is one of the best-selling books of all time. His nickname "B-P" is still used by Scouts around the world today.
Wife of B-P and one of the most important figures in the history of youth movements. She worked alongside her husband to grow both Scouts and Guides into global organisations.
She was appointed World Chief Guide in 1930 and held that role until her death in 1977, spending nearly 50 years championing the movement for girls and young women worldwide.
Considered the father of Australian Scouting. Just months after "Scouting for Boys" was published in 1908, John Thurston established the very first Scout troop in Australia in Melbourne.
His swift action made Australia one of the earliest nations to adopt the Scout movement, and the program has been growing here ever since.
The numbers behind the movement.
Five youth sections, each with its own age range and identity. Which one are you?
Six facts about Scouting that will genuinely blow your mind.
"Scouting for Boys" was originally released in 6 fortnightly parts costing just 4 pence each. That is cheaper than a chocolate bar. It still became one of the best-selling books in the world.
Baden-Powell was ambidextrous. He could write with both hands at the same time, producing mirror-image text simultaneously. He was also a talented artist who illustrated many of his own books.
The Scout handshake uses the LEFT hand, not the right. Baden-Powell adopted this from the Ashanti warriors of West Africa, who put down their shield to shake with the left hand. Giving up your shield is the ultimate sign of trust.
At the 1929 Jamboree, 50,000 Scouts cheered Baden-Powell so loudly and for so long that the cheering lasted 7 full minutes. He had to beg the crowd to stop before he could speak.
The world's oldest active Rover Scout was still involved in the movement at the age of 102. Scouting is not just for kids. Once a Scout, always a Scout.
Australian Scouts were among the very first in the world. The movement reached Australia in the same year "Scouting for Boys" was published, before most other countries had even heard of it.
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