Scouterna - the Guides and Scouts of Sweden (Swedish for the Scouts) is the national Scouting and Guiding organisation of Sweden. The organisation was formed in 2012 by a restructuring of the Svenska Scoutförbundet and accepted as the successor of the Svenska ScoutrÃÂ¥det by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 2013. The co-educational organisation has about 70,000 members.
The first Swedish organisations for Boy Scouts were founded in 1911 and 1912 and for Girl Guides in 1913. The movement developed mainly in two distinct branches: Non-religious units were organised in Sveriges Scoutförbundet (for boys) and Sveriges Flickors Scoutförbund (for girls) and Protestant units formed the KFUM:s Scoutförbund (YMCA Scouts for boys) and the Sveriges KFUK:s Scoutförbund (YWCA Guides for girls). Scouting and Guiding existed also within temperance organisations like the IOGT and the NTO.
In 1930, the Sveriges Scoutförbund and the KFUM:s Scoutförbund founded the Svenska Scoutunionen (Swedish Scout Union) as an umbrella organisation aiming at the external representation of Swedish Scouting and at the harmonisation of the Scout programme. The Girl Guides followed in 1931 with the foundation of Sveriges FlickscoutrÃÂ¥d (Girl Guide Council of Sweden).
In the 1960s, Swedish Scouting and Guiding became co-educational. Sveriges Scoutförbundet and Sveriges Flickors Scoutförbund merged into Svenska Scoutförbundet in 1960, and KFUM:s Scoutförbund and Sveriges KFUK:s Scoutförbund formed the KFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund in 1966. In 1968, this was followed by the merger of both national bodies into the Svenska ScoutrÃÂ¥det.
Started by a grassroots' movement within the then five member associations of the Svenska ScoutrÃÂ¥det, the unification of the Swedish Scout and Guide movement was discussed since the mid-1990s. Important steps towards this goal were the national jamborees in 2001 and 2007 as well as the introduction of a common Scout uniform in 2007. In 2010 and 2011, the general meetings of all five associations voted for the unification. The Svenska Scoutförbundet was renamed to Scouterna in 2012. The Frälsningsarméns Scoutförbund and the KFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund were fully integrated into Scouterna, and Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund and SMU Scout partly.
The current structure of Scouterna â the Guides and Scouts of Sweden reflects the historical development of Scouting and Guiding in Sweden, which originally consisted of several distinct organisations, many of them sponsored by religious institutions. Scouterna seeks to unite these movements into a single national organisation while maintaining the traditional ties between local Scout groups and their sponsoring bodies.
All local units are equally represented in the national assembly, Scouternas stämma, but their degree of integration and the form of organisational support vary.
About two-thirds of the approximately 1,100 local Scout groups are directly affiliated with the national organisation and served by ScouternaâÂÂs regional structure. These include the former Svenska Scoutförbundet units, as well as all units previously part of the Frälsningsarméns Scoutförbund and the KFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund. The latter two organisations continue to exist legally but are now fully integrated into Scouterna and no longer conduct independent activities.
The remaining groups belong to three so-called samverkansorganisationer (co-operating organisations): the Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund (temperance movement), Equmeniascout (formerly SMU Scout of the Equmenia Church), and SALT Scout (the Scouting organisation of the Swedish Evangelical Mission). These co-operating organisations maintain their own internal administrative structures but follow ScouternaâÂÂs national programme and share its uniform, values, and representation.
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Scouterna operates on several interconnected levels that together form a unified national movement.
The national level includes:
Roughly two-thirds of the Scout groups are directly integrated into ScouternaâÂÂs organisational framework. They are structured into two geographical tiers:
Example: <pre> Scouterna (National) âÂÂâÂÂâ Region Västra âÂÂâÂÂâ Skaraborgs Scoutdistrikt âÂÂâÂÂâ Active Scout (local group) </pre>
The remaining groups belong to one of three co-operating organisations (samverkansorganisationer) that retain their own governance structures while adhering to ScouternaâÂÂs national programme and educational goals.
These organisations are not attached to ScouternaâÂÂs regional or district structure, but are directly connected to the national level.
Example: <pre> Scouterna (National) âÂÂâÂÂâ Equmeniascout âÂÂâÂÂâ Abrahamsbergskyrkans Ungdom (local group) </pre>
All local Scout groups â whether integrated or part of co-operating organisations â are represented in the Scouternas stämma (National Assembly). They all follow the same national programme, educational method, and uniform, ensuring a unified Scouting identity across Sweden.
<pre> WOSM / WAGGGS (World level) âÂÂâÂÂâ Scouterna â The Guides and Scouts of Sweden (National level) âÂÂâÂÂâ Regions (based on 21 counties) â âÂÂâÂÂâ Scout Districts â âÂÂâÂÂâ Local integrated groups (â 2/3) âÂÂâÂÂâ Co-operating Organisations (â 1/3) âÂÂâÂÂâ Equmeniascout â âÂÂâÂÂâ Local groups âÂÂâÂÂâ Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund (NSF) â âÂÂâÂÂâ Local groups âÂÂâÂÂâ SALT Scout âÂÂâÂÂâ Local groups </pre>
Scouterna is divided in five age groups. Most local units cater for all age groups; some districts organise the Rover Scouts in separate regional units.
All age groups use the same Scout promise: <blockquote></blockquote> The Scout law was formulated in 1970 for all member organisations of the then Svenska ScoutrÃÂ¥det: <blockquote></blockquote> The Scout motto is Var redo! - Alltid redo! â Be Prepared! - Always Prepared!
Sea Scouting is available to all age groups within Scouterna. About 70 local units with 7,000 members are active in Sea Scouting, mostly along the coastline, especially in the Stockholm archipelago. They are organised in Sveriges sjöscouters riksskeppslag, the national council of Swedish Sea Scouts, a special interest group which coordinates the activities of the Sea Scout units.
Adult members can be awarded medals based on years of service. "Scouternas Stora Förtjänstmärke" can be awarded to active leaders for particularly meritorious efforts for the local level. "Ledfyren" can be awarded an active Scout leader under the age of 25 years who created opportunities for young people to develop according to Scouting values. The "Gustaf Adolfs-märket" can be awarded to active leaders for particular meritorious service at least on district level. The highest award in Swedish Scouting is the "Silvervargen" (the Silver Wolf) that can be awarded for extraordinary contributions to Scouting on at least national level.
The national headquarters is located in Sweden's capital Stockholm. The organisation runs its own Scout shop and the building also hosts a scouting museum, displaying objects from the history of Swedish scouting.
Scouterna and its local structures run a large number of Scout camps and huts. Internationally known is the island of Vässarö, owned by the Stockholm Scout district. The Campground at Ransbergs HerrgÃÂ¥rd near Ransäter in Värmland County was acquired by Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund in 1963; it was the venue of the World Scout Moot in 1996. Kopparbo Scout camp near Söderbärke in Dalarna County can accommodate up to 5,000 Scouts, Hörrs NygÃÂ¥rd Scout camp near Sjöbo in SkÃÂ¥ne County up to 3,000 and Kragenäs Scout camp near Tanumshede in Västra Götaland County up to 1,000.
Frustunaby is national scout facility owned by Scouterna, given as a gift to the Guides of Sweden in 1925.
The national sailing vessel of Scouterna, Biscaya av Vindalsö, was scheduled to be sold in 2016.