World Federation of Independent Scouts


The World Federation of Independent Scouts is a non-governmental international Scouting organization with over 7 million members in 151 affiliated Scout organizations in 65 countries. WFIS was formed in Laubach, Germany, in 1996 by Lawrie Dring, a British Scouter with the independent Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
The World Federation of Independent Scouts is open to any Scouting association that is not affiliated with another international organization. WFIS requires that member associations "follow, and use, Baden-Powell's original program, traditions, uniforms, morals, ethics, and structure as laid out in Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys," amended only for "health, environmental, first-aid, and safety reasons."
The current president of the WFIS World Council is Klaus Tegeder, who was elected for a five-year term in 2007 and reelected in 2012 and 2017. He is the former president of WFIS-Europe and still leads a German Scout troop.
The World Federation of Independent Scouts has experienced strong growth, the affiliate Scout organizations collectively had an estimated 200,000 members in 3562 Scout Groups in 2010.
WWW wfis-worldwide.org/wordpr...

WFIS Worldwide Committee

The WFIS Worldwide Committee is the chief executive body of the World Federation of Independent Scouts and is composed of elected volunteers. WFIS-Worldwide acts as an umbrella association for each of the regional Scout organisations.

Regional divisions

The WFIS is divided into seven regions:

List of members

Including prospected members

WFIS Africa

5860 members in 2010
CountryGroup
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Comoros
Congo
Ethiopia
Ghana
Ivory Coast / Cote D´Ivoire
Kenya
Mali
Nigeria
Rwanda
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda

WFIS Asia

155,303 members in 2010
CountryGroupMembership status
IndiaHindustan Scouts and Guides Associationfull member
IndiaScout Bhartifull member
IndiaThe Scouts/Guides Organisationfull member
IndiaShriram Bajpai Scouts & Guides Organisationsfull member
IndiaFederation of India for Sports, Scouting and EducationProspect Member
IndiaFuture Scouts & guidesProspect Member
IndiaIndian Scouts and Guides OrganisationsProspect Member
JapanIndependent Scouts of Japanprospect member
NepalMetro Scouts Nepalprospect member
NepalNepal Independent Scouts Associationprospect member

WFIS Europe

10,834 members in 2010
CountryGroup
AustriaScouts of Europa
BelgiumOnafhankelijke Scouts en Gidsen - Scouts et Guides Indépendants
Czech RepublicSkaut - Český skauting ABS
Czech RepublicSvaz skautu a skautek Ceske Republiky
Czech RepublicSkaut SSV
DenmarkDe Gule Spejdere i Danmark – Baden-Powell spejderne
FranceScouts de Chavagnes
GermanyBund Europäischer St. Georgs-Pfadfinderinnen und -Pfadfinder
GermanyBund Unabhängiger Pfadfinder, Stamm Cassiopeia
GermanyChristliche freie Pfadfinderschaft Goldenstedt
GermanyChristliche Pfadfinderschaft Dreieich
GermanyDeutscher Pfadfinderbund e. V. gegr. 1911
GermanyEuropäischer Pfadfinderbund - Georgsritter e. V.
GermanyEuropäischer Pfadfinderbund St. Georg
GermanyFreier Pfadfinderbund Asgard
GermanyFreier Pfadfinderbund St. Georg
GermanyIndependent Scout Association
GermanyPfadfinder im Mühlenbecker Land
GermanyPfadfinderbund Weltenbummler e.V.
GermanyPullution Police
GermanySolmser Pfadfinderschaft
IrelandBaden-Powell Scouts Slyguff
Ireland2nd Cavan Scouts
ItalyAssociazione Esploratori e Guide Italiani
ItalyAssociazione Indipendente Scout
ItalyAssociazione Sezione Scout di Gela
ItalyAssoraider
ItalyBaden-Powell Scouts Italia
ItalyConfederazione Italiana dello Scautismo Cristiano
ItalyFederazione del Movimento Scout Italiano - FederScout
ItalyFedarazione Italiana di Scautismo Raider – FIS Raider
KosovoNational Scout Center of Kosovo
LatviaLatvijas Kristīgie Skauti
MaltaBaden-Powell Scouts Malta
PolandZrzeszenie Harcerskie Piąta
PortugalUnião dos Escoteiros Portugueses
RomaniaAsociatia Cercetasilor Traditionali din Romania
RussiaRussian Union of Scouts
SpainAssociació Catalana de Scouts - Catalan Association of Scouts
SpainAsociación de Scouts Independientes de Madrid - Independent Scouts of Madrid
SpainGrupo Scout Alpha
SpainAsosiación Juvenil Grupo Scout Independiente Gilwell
SpainFederación Scout de la Comunidad Valenciana
SpainScouts Independientes del Principado de Asturias
SpainGrupo Scout San Pío X
SpainAsociación de Scouts Independientes de Córdoba
SpainGrupo Scout Hotara
SpainGrupo Scout Margyp
SpainGrupo Scout Picos del Oso
SpainGrupo Scout Espinardo
SpainGrupo Scout Cicónidas 345
SpainGrupo Scout Aéreos Torrejón
SwitzerlandFeuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe
TurkeyKapif
United Kingdom1st Blackwater Valley Scout Group
United KingdomBaden-Powell Scouts' Association
United KingdomPhoenix Independent Scouts Association
United KingdomScouts and Guides of Saint Joseph
UkraineScout Association Rozvidnyk

WFIS America

3643 members in 2010
CountryGroup
ArgentinaAsociación Argentina de Scouts de Baden Powell
ArgentinaScouts Navales de Argentina
BoliviaAsociación Boliviana de Scouts Independientes de Baden-Powell
BrazilGrande Fraternidade Escoteira IMPISA
CanadaBaden-Powell Service Association (Canada)
ChileAgrupación Nacional de Boy Scouts de Chile
ChileHermandad Scout del Desierto Chile
ColombiaExploradores de Rionegro
ColombiaAsociación Colombiana de Escultismo
Costa RicaAsociación Costarricense de Escultismo
EcuadorAsociación de Boy Scouts del Ecuador
El SalvadorAsociacion de Scouts Independientes de El Salvador ASI-ES
GuatemalaAsociación de Escultismo Ecológico Baden-Powell Guatemala
HondurasAsociación Hondureña de Escultismo Tradicional
MexicoAgrupación Scout Mexicana, A.C.
MexicoFederación Mexicana de Scouts Independientes, A.C.
MexicoAsociación Tradicionalista de Scouts Tiro y Pesca, A.C.
PanamaCuerpo de Exploradores Panameños
ParaguayHermandad Scout de Paraguay
PeruAsociacion Scout Marianista
PeruAsociación Independiente De Scouts Tradicionales Del Perú – AISTA Perú
United StatesOutdoor Service Guides

Jamborees and international camps

WFIS has held World Jamborees in Dinamarca 2002, Colombia 2007, and México 2011.
In addition to World Jamborees, the WFIS also regularly host regional international camps, such as Eurocamp. The following camps having taken place or are scheduled:
YearEventLocation, CountryThemeDatesAttendanceCountries
2006Eurocamp 2006Switzerland
2010Eurocamp 2010Germany
2014Eurocamp 2014Italy
2018Eurocamp 2018Newbury, Berkshire, United KingdomLifelong friendships created by Scouting28 July to 4 August 2018203021
2023Eurocamp 2023Germany29 July to 5 August 2023130016
2027Eurocamp 2027Italy

WFIS also hosts a Jamboree On The Internet:
  • WFIS-JOTI 2010, hosted by WFIS Africa
Member Associations also regularly invite each other to their own camps, examples including:

International Scout Fellowship

The International Scout Fellowship is an affiliate of WFIS, but not a member.
It is open to former and current adult members of WFIS, to other adult friends of Independent Scouting who wish to contribute to independent Scouting, regardless of their Scouting backgrounds.
The ISF is governed by its World Council which is composed of representatives of each member chapter. It meets once a year, usually electronically. Its day-to-day affairs are directed by the executive committee, which is elected by the World Council. All positions in the ISF are staffed by volunteers. There are no paid employees.
Affiliated with the ISF is the US-based Rovering 4 Life Association.

Uniform

The badge is that of the WFIS in reverse colours.
There is no set uniform of the ISF. Member chapters determine their own uniforms with the badge of the ISF. Other chapters may use casual dress such as T-shirts, etc.
The emphasis of the ISF is on tangible results in supporting Independent Scouting associations, not on formalities.