In the United States today, over two and a half million members compose the coalition of the Boy Scouts of America. However, this program that instills trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoor skills, is not exclusive to this country. Together with the U.S., over forty nations across the globe also participate, contributing to the worldwide Scout population of over 28 million. Usually, words such as camping, hiking, good deeds, and the outdoors come to mind when the Boy Scouts are mentioned. But, those activities were not on the mind of the one who initiated this now worldwide organization. Here are some facts about how the Boy Scouts got started and how this movement came to America:
The founder of the Boy Scouts was, in fact, a spy. Robert Baden-Powell, the unintentional leader of this troop, was a British agent who was involved in espionage.
- Baden-Powell carried a ‘nature journal’ with him during his missions. However, he brought this along for a very different reason than that of most. Being a talented artist, this undercover spy hid beneath the title of an entomologist who was studying butterflies and other insects. When he would stop to draw one of these insects, he would actually hide secret information within these pictures. On the wings of the butterfly, the spy could enclose a secret pattern that would reveal the elevation contours of the region.
- Robert Baden-Powell discovered something shocking when stationed in India. Most of his fellow men did not know how to survive in the wilderness or perform basic first aid! As a result, the future leader of the Boy Scouts put together the handbook Aids to Scouting to give to his men. Unbeknown to Baden-Powell, his little book became popular among English boys who longed for adventure.
- When the spy returned to England, he discovered how famous his handbook had become. Later, in 1907, Baden-Powell took a group of young boys on an excursion off the coast of England and taught them necessary skills of survival.
- The following year, he published another book, Scouting for Boys, which led to another growth in the size of the Scouts. A rally was held soon after at the Crystal Palace in London, and over 10,000 were in attendance.
- During these events, similar groups were forming in America. William D. Boyce, a businessman from Chicago, was travelling through England when he became lost in the midst of dense fog. He stumbled upon a small boy, who then led him to safety. Boyce wanted to tip the young man for his great help, but the boy replied that he could not accept money for doing a good deed, since he was a Boy Scout.
- Boyce was so impressed with the character and actions of this young boy that he desired to learn all he could about Scouting. During this excursion, he was introduced to Baden-Powell himself. After the meeting, Boyce went home to Illinois and incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8th, 1910.
To learn more about the Boy Scouts, click here:
https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/did-a-spy-start-the-boy-scouts
