The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) 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 (BPSA).
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.
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.
Current members of the WFIS Worldwide Committee Name PositionKlaus TegederPresidentFabian FigueroaVice-PresidentSilvana Silva MaurielloSecretaryPer StigaardTreasurerMarc BruyneelWood Beads (Wood Badge) Coordinator
Regional divisions The WFIS is divided into seven regions: Africa America Asia Europe Middle East Oceania South East Asia
List of members Including prospected members
WFIS Africa 5860 members in 2010 Country GroupBurkina FasoBurundi Comoros Congo Ethiopia Ghana Ivory Coast / Cote D´Ivoire Kenya Mali Nigeria Rwanda Tanzania Togo Uganda
WFIS Asia 155,303 members in 2010 Country Group Membership status India Hindustan Scouts and Guides Association full member Scout Bharti The Scouts/Guides OrganisationShriram Bajpai Scouts & Guides OrganisationsFederation of India for Sports, Scouting and Education Prospect MemberFuture Scouts & guidesProspect Member Indian Scouts and Guides Organisations Japan Independent Scouts of Japan prospect member NepalMetro Scouts Nepal Nepal Independent Scouts Association
WFIS Europe 10,834 members in 2010 Country Group Austria Scouts of Europa Belgium Onafhankelijke Scouts en Gidsen - Scouts et Guides Indépendants Czech Republic Skaut - Český skauting ABS Svaz skautu a skautek Ceske Republiky Skaut SSV Denmark De Gule Spejdere i Danmark – Baden-Powell spejderne France Scouts de Chavagnes Germany Bund Europäischer St. Georgs-Pfadfinderinnen und -Pfadfinder Bund Unabhängiger Pfadfinder, Stamm Cassiopeia Bund Unabhängiger Pfadfinder Christliche freie Pfadfinderschaft Goldenstedt Christliche Pfadfinderschaft Dreieich Deutscher Pfadfinderbund e. V. gegr. 1911 (DPB 1911)Deutscher Pfadfinder Bund 1911 Europäischer Pfadfinderbund - Georgsritter e. V. Europäischer Pfadfinderbund St. Georg Freier Pfadfinderbund Asgard Freier Pfadfinderbund St. Georg Independent Scout Association Pfadfinder im Mühlenbecker Land Pfadfinderbund Weltenbummler e.V. Pullution Police Solmser Pfadfinderschaft Ireland Baden-Powell Scouts Slyguff 2nd Cavan Scouts Italy Associazione Esploratori e Guide Italiani Associazione Indipendente Scout (Assiscout)Associazione Indipendente Scout Associazione Sezione Scout di Gela Assoraider Baden-Powell Scouts Italia Confederazione Italiana dello Scautismo Cristiano Federazione del Movimento Scout Italiano - FederScout Fedarazione Italiana di Scautismo Raider – FIS Raider Kosovo National Scout Center of Kosovo Latvia Latvijas Kristīgie Skauti (Christian Scouts of Latvia) Malta Baden-Powell Scouts Malta Poland Zrzeszenie Harcerskie Piąta Portugal União dos Escoteiros Portugueses (UEP) Romania Asociatia Cercetasilor Traditionali din Romania Russia Russian Union of ScoutsSpain Associació Catalana de Scouts - Catalan Association of Scouts Asociación de Scouts Independientes de Madrid - Independent Scouts of Madrid Grupo Scout Alpha Asosiación Juvenil Grupo Scout Independiente Gilwell Federación Scout de la Comunidad Valenciana Scouts Independientes del Principado de Asturias Grupo Scout San Pío X Asociación de Scouts Independientes de Córdoba Grupo Scout Hotara Grupo Scout Margyp Grupo Scout Picos del Oso Grupo Scout Espinardo Grupo Scout Cicónidas 345 Grupo Scout Aéreos Torrejón Switzerland Feuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe Turkey Kapif United Kingdom 1st Blackwater Valley Scout Group Baden-Powell Scouts' Association Phoenix Independent Scouts Association Scouts and Guides of Saint Joseph Ukraine Scout Association Rozvidnyk
WFIS America 3643 members in 2010 Country Group Argentina Asociación Argentina de Scouts de Baden Powell Scouts Navales de Argentina Bolivia Asociación Boliviana de Scouts Independientes de Baden-Powell (ABSI-BP) Brazil Grande Fraternidade Escoteira IMPISA Canada Baden-Powell Service Association (Canada) Chile Agrupación Nacional de Boy Scouts de Chile Hermandad Scout del Desierto Chile Colombia Exploradores de Rionegro Asociación Colombiana de Escultismo (ACE) Costa Rica Asociación Costarricense de Escultismo Ecuador Asociación de Boy Scouts del Ecuador El Salvador Asociacion de Scouts Independientes de El Salvador ASI-ES Guatemala Asociación de Escultismo Ecológico Baden-Powell Guatemala Honduras Asociación Hondureña de Escultismo Tradicional Mexico Agrupación Scout Mexicana, A.C. Federación Mexicana de Scouts Independientes, A.C. Asociación Tradicionalista de Scouts Tiro y Pesca, A.C. Panama Cuerpo de Exploradores Panameños Paraguay Hermandad Scout de Paraguay PeruAsociacion Scout MarianistaAsociación Independiente De Scouts Tradicionales Del Perú – AISTA Perú United States Outdoor Service Guides
WFIS South-East Asia Country Group Bangladesh Independent Scouts of Bangladesh China Shanghai Scout Association South Korea Third Eye Scouting Association Pakistan Independent Scouts of Pakistan Nankana Sab Scout Organization ADABKADA Scout Association Sri Lanka Independent Scouts of Sri Lanka United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Independent Scout Association Dubai Scout Organization
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:
Year Event Location, Country Theme Dates Attendance Countries 2006 Eurocamp 2006 Switzerland 2010 Eurocamp 2010 Germany 2014 Eurocamp 2014 Italy 2018 Eurocamp 2018 Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom Lifelong friendships created by Scouting 28 July to 4 August 2018 2030 21 2023 Eurocamp 2023 Germany 29 July to 5 August 2023 1300 16 2027 Eurocamp 2027 Italy
WFIS also hosts a Jamboree On The Internet: WFIS-JOTI 2010, hosted by WFIS Africahttp://joti.wfis-africa.org/ WFIS-JOTI 2010
Member Associations also regularly invite each other to their own camps, examples including: The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association 2007 Centenary Camp Jamboree 2008 (Northumberland)
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.
See also The Scouting Portal
References
External links WFIS Worldwide