Pathfinder Scouts Association

Pathfinder and Rover Explorer Scouts' Association
Headquarters Wolverhampton
Country United Kingdom
Founded 1982
Founder Ray O'Donnell-Hampton
Chief Commissioner Adrian McDowell
Website
http://rolandphilippsrovercrew.weebly.com

The Pathfinder and Rover Explorer Scouts' Association (P-RESA) is an independent Traditional Scouting Association in the United Kingdom and Internationally. The Association program runs along the lines of Baden-Powell's original Scouting for Boys. upholding the traditions and practice set out by BP, using the 1938 Boy Scouts' Association Policy Organisation & Rules (POR) as its basis.

Organisation

Sections

Section Ages
Wolf Cubs 8–11
Pathfinders 11-18
Rover Explorer Scouts' 18+

Wolf Cubs

In 1916, Lord Baden-Powell set up Wolf Cubs for the younger brothers of the Scouts who were desperate to join in the fun. Wolf Cubs are based around ‘Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book’. Where a young boy brought up by a Wolf pack has to learn to develop to be a self sufficient man. Leaders take their names from the Jungle Book story.

Wolf Cub Law and Promise

The Wolf Cub Promise is:

I promise to do my best,
To do my duty to God and the Queen,
To keep the Law of the Wolf Pack, and do a good turn every day.

The Law of the Wolf Cub Pack is:

The Cub gives in to the Old Wolf;
The Cub does not give in to himself.

Motto: "Wolf Cubs" - Do my Best

Wolf Cub Uniform

Pathfinders

In 1906 and 1907 Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant general in the British Army, wrote a book for boys about reconnaissance and scouting. Baden-Powell wrote Scouting for Boys (London, 1908), based on his earlier books about military scouting, with influence and support of Frederick Russell Burnham (Chief of Scouts in British Africa), Ernest Thompson Seton of the Woodcraft Indians, William Alexander Smith of the Boys' Brigade, and his publisher Pearson. In the summer of 1907 Baden-Powell held a camp on Brownsea Island in England to test ideas for his book. This camp and the publication of Scouting for Boys are generally regarded as the start of the Scout movement.

The movement employs the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking, and sports.

Pathfinder Law and Promise

The P-RESA Law is derived from the original Scout Law:

  1. A Scouts' honour is to be trusted.
  2. A Scout is loyal to The Queen, His Country, His Scouters, His Parents, His Employers and to those under Him.
  3. A Scouts' duty is to be useful and help others.
  4. A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what Country, Class or Creed the other may belong.
  5. A Scout is courteous.
  6. A Scout is kind to animals.
  7. A Scout obeys the orders of his parents, Patrol Leader, or Scout Master without question.
  8. A Scout smiles and whistles in all difficulties.
  9. A Scout is thrifty
  10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.

It is perhaps rather difficult to remember the different heads of the law. The following is easily learned and is a good way of memorising the headings:

Trusty, loyal and helpful,
Brotherly, courteous, kind,
Obedient, smiling and thrifty,
Pure as the rustling wind.

The Pathfinder Promise (Scout Promise) is:

On my honour I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and the Queen,
To help other people at all times.
To obey the Scout Law.

Motto:"Pathfinders" - Be Prepared.

Pathfinder Uniform

The uniform worn by members of the P-RESA reflects that worn by all Scouts prior to the publication of the Chief Scouts' Advance Party Report by The Scout Association in 1967.[1]

Sea Pathfinder Uniform

Rover Explorer Scouts

Rover Scouts, Rovers, Rover Scouting or Rovering is a service program associated with Scouting for men and women, with no upper age limit. A group of Rovers is called a 'Rover Crew'.

The Rover program was originated by The Boy Scouts Association in the United Kingdom in 1918 to provide a program for young men who had grown up beyond the age range of the Boy Scouts.

Rover Explorer Scouts' Law and Promise

Rover Explorer Scouts' use the same Law and Promise as Pathfinders.

Motto:"Rover Explorer Scouts' " - Service.

Rover Explorer Scouts' Uniform

A Rover Explorer Scout wears uniform as for a Pathfinder, but with the following differences:-

Rover Explorer Sea Scouts' Uniform

A Rover Explorer Sea Scout wears uniform as for a Sea Pathfinder, but with the following difference:-

Outlanders Promise

Overseas members residing in the UK may take the Outlanders Promise:

On my honour I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and the Country in which I live,
To help other people at all times.
To obey the Scout Law.

God can be replaced with one of the following for the selected religions:

Members who have taken the Outlanders promise, wear The Outlanders badge in place of the Tenderfoot Badge.

History

1982 - 2009

The 'Explorer Scouts' and 'Pathfinder Scouts Association' had been a combined independent scout association from 1982 and registered as a youth organisation in Fulham, London. under the educational Charity Status of 'Walham Green Youth Council'. In the 1980s the members of The 'Explorer Scouts' and 'Pathfinder Scouts Association' joined the Baden Powell Scouts Association. In early 1992, some of the PSA leaders who had been members of Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (BPSA) joined the British Boy Scouts (BBS). After failing to gain agreement on many issues to do with traditional scouting, these members left the BBS group and set up 'The Pathfinder Scouts Association', which incorporated an adult section dealing with the training and building up of good leadership through the 'Rover Explorer Scout Association'.[1] The new Association was registered as a Charity at Law in September 1993, leaving behind the older name 'Explorer Scouts'.[2]

In 1995 the founding and Chief Commissioners of the PSA were Ray O'Donnell-Hampton and Steven Dudley-Coventry. After much disagreement about the quality of Scouting tradition, Ray O'Donnell-Hampton handed in his warrant and left the Association. The number of groups fell after the death of Dudley-Coventry and the Association's 'Scoutmasters Court of Honour' dissolved its charitable status without consultation with commissioners past or present . The Association was then officially wound up in April 1998, with the remaining badges being passed on, again without any consultation, to join the British Boy Scouts.

In 1999 Ray O'Donnell-Hampton and some of the older members of the previous association met and re-established the Pathfinder Scouts Association which was registered as a Charity in October 2003 under the umbrella of the 'Rover Explorer Scouts Association' (RESA).[3]

The Association quickly began to regain membership and had association with new members and groups including many lone Scouts' from around the world. There are membership, affiliations and associations in USA, Canada, South America, Australia, West Indies, Philippines, RESA Delta - Malaysia, China, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Sri Lanka & Indonesia,[4] Holland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland.[5]

2003 - Present

The Pathfinder Scouts Association (PSA) and The Rover Explorer Scouts' Association (RESA), had for a while divided into separate associations, so that each was able to build its own area of expertise.

In October 2003 the Bedfordshire Pathfinders affiliated members of the Pathfinder Scouts Association were registered with the Charity Commission, having the stated aims "to promote the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well being of children and young people aged between 5 - 18 years in Bedfordshire and other areas through the provision of Pathfinder Traditional Scouting activities. These include adventure based on Baden Powell's Scouting for Boys, sport and other recreational activities."[3] The Bedfordshire Pathfinders were affiliated to the Rover Explorer Scouts Association, until they folded in 2007[1]

On 29 July 2011, Ray O'Donnell-Hampton retired as Chief Commissioner, investing Adrian McDowell as the New Chief Commissioner of P-RESA, seeing both associations merging together and becoming more active around the world.[1]

The ceremony took place at the Associations' International Headquarters (IHQ) 'The Den', East Anglia, England.[1] Adrian was awarded the 3-bead Wood Badge and Ray was bestowed with the title of Chief Commissioner Emeritus.

Groups

The only registered Group is the Roland Philipps Rover Crew.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 RESA date link 2012 August
  2. ↑ Central Register of Charities maintained by the Charity Commission for England and Wales
  3. 1 2 This has now become defunct due to changes in Charity Law (i.e.; Any charity not earning over £10.000 a year moves into different status under new charity laws).
  4. ↑ http://deltabp.webs.com/ RESA Delta
  5. ↑ Article on Independent Scouts in the United Kingdom
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