Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, more affectionately known
as "B.-P.", was born in London, England, on February 22, 1857.
At the age of 12 he received a scholarship from Charterhouse
School, one of England's famous public schools. The school was
then located in London, but it soon moved to Godalming in Surrey.
There were some woods just outside the school, these were "out-
of-bounds" for the pupils. It was here that B.-P. practised
stalking wildlife. He is said to have snared rabbits and cooked
them over a small fire so that smoke didn't give him away to the
school masters. (This was to be valuable training for later in
his career.)
Choosing a military career, B.-P. served in campaigns in India,
Afghanistan and South Africa. He became world famous during the
Boer War for the defense of Mafeking, a small town in South
Africa. With 800 men, he was besieged by a force of 9,000 Boer
soldiers. His small force held out against these immense odds
for 217 days -- until a relief column of British soldiers
arrived.
At Mafeking B.-P. organized his "Messenger Cadets". Trained in
efficiency, obedience and smartness, they performed many tasks --
relieving soldiers for active defense of the town. After the
Boer War, B.-P. organized the South African Constabulary and
designed a uniform for them that later became the basic Boy Scout
uniform.
While still in Africa, B.-P. wrote "Aids to Scouting" -- a manual
designed to train soldiers to become army scouts. Many youth and
organizations in Britain used ideas from this manual as the basis
of adventurous programs. He discussed this matter with Sir
William Smith, the founder of the Boy's Brigade, and other
leading youth workers. He planned a camp to test his program
ideas. The camp...
Please login to view the full essay...