Long: The Beginning of Guiding
Anne Riddick (riddick_a@KOSMOS.WCC.GOVT.NZ)
Thu, 3 Nov 1994 11:56:16 +1200
The Beginning of Guiding (Action Story)
Divide your Unit up into the following groups and individuals and
have them practise their action. As you read the story pause as the
actions, or words or sounds are made.
Groups: England - Stand up and say "Eh Ba Gum" ('gum' pronounced as
'goom')
Army - Stand up and shoot everyone saying "eh-eh-eh"
Africa - play tom-tom
India - play flute like snake charmer
New Zealand - sing one line of "God Defend New Zealand"
Individuals: Lady B.P. - stand up and wave and say "Hello, hello,
hello"
B.P. - stand up, give military salute and say "A jolly
game"
All: Scouts - throw imaginary hats in air and shout "Yahoo"
Guides - stand, salute and say "Be Prepared"
Brownies - stand and say "Lah, Lah, Lah"
World - say "Big Round World" and make world with arms
Catcall whistle after "he fell in love with her"
The Story
On February 22, 1857, Robert Baden-Powell was born in England. This
man was later to become famous under the name of B.P., as the
founder of SCOUTS and GUIDES. He spent a number of years in a
boarding school and when he was 18 he joined the ARMY. As a soldier
Baden-Powell travelled to many countries including AFRICA and INDIA.
He became famous during the Boer War as a colonel in the ARMY.
After the Boer War, B.P. returned to ENGLAND where he found that
many of the books he had written for the ARMY were being used by
teachers and other youth leaders to help them in their work with
boys. He decided to try out his own ideas and held a camp on
Brownsea Island with a group of London boys. These boys were later
to become the first SCOUTS. The girls of that day seeing what fun
their brothers were having, decided they would like to become
SCOUTS. Soon patrols of girls calling themselves such things as
lions, tigers, and vultures sprung up all over ENGLAND.
In 1909 Baden-Powell invited all the SCOUTS of ENGLAND to a parade
at Crystal Palace in London. This huge building was actually made
of glass. B.P. stood at the front of the building and saluted all
the SCOUTS as they marched in. Imagine his surprise when he saw a
group of girls coming along at the end. He was not very pleased but
did allow them to enter the building. When he was later inspecting
the SCOUTS he also inspected the girls. He asked them what they
wanted and they said that they too would like to join his movement.
Baden-Powell said that his game was for boys only, but he would see
what could be done. At home he thought about the girls and talked
about them with his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. The result was not
girl scouts but GIRL GUIDES. In NEW ZEALAND Colonel Cossgrove, a
friend of Baden-Powell's in the ARMY, started the Peace SCOUTS in
1908 and their younger sisters, Fairy SCOUTS in 1918. In 1923 they
changed their khaki and white uniforms for blue and brown ones and
became GUIDES and BROWNIES.
Guiding and Scouting quickly spread throughout the WORLD and soon
there were GUIDES and SCOUTS not only in ENGLAND and NEW ZEALAND but
in AFRICA, INDIA and many other countries.
B.P. left the ARMY and devoted all his time to Scouting and Guiding.
He travelled constantly and on one voyage he met Miss Olave St.
Clair Soames. He fell in love with her (WHISTLE), and she became
his wife. Olave Baden-Powell later became WORLD Chief GUIDE. She
was affectionately known to GUIDES all over the world as LADY B.P.
LORD B.P. and LADY B.P. were both born on February 22nd. A Belgian
Guider suggested that we make this a special day and it became
Thinking Day. (The SCOUTS call it Founder's Day). On Thinking Day
we remember the GUIDES and BROWNIES all over the WORLD.
B.P. died in 1941 in AFRICA. On his tombstone is the tracking sign
for "I have gone home".
The WORLD Chief GUIDE, LADY B.P. carried on the work of the Founder,
travelling all over the WORLD inspiring groups of SCOUTS and GUIDES
wherever she went. She visited NEW ZEALAND in 1948 and 1967. LADY
B.P. died peacefully in her sleep on 25 June 1977 in Surrey,
ENGLAND, and is buried with her husband in AFRICA.
Aren't we lucky to be part of the WORLD association of Girl GUIDES
and Girl SCOUTS!
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
