scouting

Definition | Aim | Principles | Method | Sources | Scout Promise | Scout Law

Scouting

The Scout Movement is defined as a voluntary, non political, educational movement for young people, open to everybody, without national, racial or religious discriminations according to the Aim, the Principles and Method which defined its Founder, as these are mentioned below.

Aim
The Aim of the Scout Movement is to contribute to the development of the youth in order to utilize their body, mental, social and spiritual abilities as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.

Fundamental Principles
Scouting is based on three general principles, which represent the fundamental laws and its beliefs. These are mentioned as "Duty to God", "Duty to others" and "Duty to ourselves."
With the title "Duty to God", the first of the previous mentioned principles is defined as "persistence to the mental values, faith to the religion which expresses them and acceptance of the responsibilities which originate from it."
"Duty to others" is defined as "dedication to your country as well as propulsion of the local, national and international peace, understanding and cooperation" and "participation to the development of the society, with recognition of the human dignity and the development of nature."
In the end "Duty to ourselves" is defined as "responsibility for the development of the body", which means that a human has to take up the responsibility for the development of his abilities.
Mean for the formulation of these principles with an understandable and attractive way for young people is the Scout Promise and Law, which all the Scout organizations owe to have.

Method
The Scout Method is regarded as "a system of a progressive personal education" with the help of:
- The factual application of the Scout Promise and Law.
- The erudition as a result of the action.
- The participation in small groups which contain, under the instruction of adults, progressive discovery and acceptance of responsibility and education for self-government having as a goal the development of the character and the acquirement of abilities, self-confidence, reliability and possibilities in order a person to  be able not only to cooperate but also to lead.
- Progressive and attractive programs with different activities, based on the interests of the participants, which contain games, useful skills and offer to the society and are carried out mainly outdoors, near the nature.
- The personal example of the Leader.
The elements of the Scout Method that have been mentioned, compose an inseparable entity and form a complete method only as an entity of interdependent and symmetric factors.

Sources
- For us, Greek, Scouting has a particular value because as a main source has the Ancient Greek Civilization.
The "Ageli" (Pack) of Sparta, the "Efivia" of Athens, "Likidis" and "Agelatis" of Crete, the whole organization of youth at the Ancient Greece testify this.
The pedagogical principles of Socrates, Aristotle, Plato for the finding of the Good, the Beautiful and generally of the values is a bench of the Scouting Method and the Fundamental Principles of Scouting.
- Christianity has an important role in developing the fundamental principles of scouting and is one of its main sources.
The Scout Law and Promise is full of the messages of the Holy Writ and Duty to God is an important part of the Scout Promise.
- At last older and newer European Civilization with philosophers like Rabelais, Montaigne, Fenellon, Rousseau, Pestallossi, Montessori, Decroly, Ferriere etc. establish the Scout Method.


The Scout Promise of Greece
On my honour I promise that I will 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

The Scout Law of Greece

1. A Scout is truthful and keeps his word.
2. A Scout is worthy and trustful, obedient and keeps the law.
3. A Scout is useful to his family and the community.
4. A Scout is friendly and polite to all and a brother to every Scout.
5. A Scout respects himself and others, is careful of his words and actions.
6. A Scout loves nature and protects the environment.
7. A Scout is cheerful and optimistic.
8. A Scout is thrifty and makes good use of his time.
9. A Scout is industrious and progresses using his skills.
10. A Scout is determined, brave and confident and takes responsibility for his actions.


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