Baden-Powell Service Association

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

This article is about the present-day Scouting organization. For similarly-named defunct group that operated in the United States from 2002 to around 2010, see Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
Baden-Powell Service Association
140px
Headquarters Washington, Missouri[1]
Country United States
Founded 2006 (2006)[1]
Membership 50 Groups[2]
Commissioner David Atchley[1]
Affiliation World Federation of Independent Scouts[3]
Website
bpsa-us.org
 Scouting portal

The Baden-Powell Service Association (BPSA) is a traditional and inclusive co-ed scouting organization in the United States that takes its name from the Scouting movement founder, Robert Baden-Powell.[4] The BSPA is a member of the World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS).[3]

History

The BPSA formed with an adult-only component, Rovers, in 2006. David Atchley, an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, joined up in 2008, after being asked to leave his local Greater St. Louis Area Council after attempting to create a non-discrimination policy for the Cub Scout pack he was Cubmaster for. He started forming youth units. In 2009, Atchley became commissioner.[1][5]

By 2011, the association had a handful of units.[4] BPSA reincorporated in 2012 plus added 35 more groups between then and July 2013.[6] In January 2013, a chapter was founded in Portland, Oregon with 80 members and 30 registered leaders while a 45-member strong group, the 5th Brooklyn Scouts, was found that same year.[7][8] In 2014 after a Seattle, Washington United Methodist Church’s troop charter was revoked for having a gay leader, the troop moved to be chartered by the BPSA.[9]

Program

The BPSA is part of a "back to basics" movement designed to return Scouting to the basic principles laid out by Baden-Powell in 1907.[4] BPSA members use a two finger salute same as Cub Scouts.[7]

The BPSA is split into 4 age levels, or sections:[1]

  • Otters (ages 5 to 7)
  • Timberwolves (8 to 10)
  • Pathfinders (11 to 17)
  • Rovers (18+)

BPSA's highest award for Pathfinders is the George Washington Scout Award.[10] The highest award for Rovers is the Baden-Powell Award.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Baden-Powell_Service_Association&oldid=686653055"