| Scouterna | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Scouterna - the Guides and Scouts of Sweden | |||
| Headquarters | Instrumentvägen 19 | ||
| Location | Stockholm | ||
| Country | Sweden | ||
| Founded | 1 January 2012 | ||
| Membership | 70,000 | ||
| Chairperson | Ida Texell | ||
| Chairperson | Viktor Lundqvist | ||
| Secretary General | Anna-Karin Hennig | ||
| Affiliation | World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts,World Organization of the Scout Movement | ||
| Website http://www.scouterna.se | |||
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 Scouting portal | |||
Scouterna - the Guides and Scouts of Sweden (Swedish forthe Scouts) is the nationalScouting andGuiding organisation ofSweden. The organisation was formed in 2012 by a restructuring of theSvenska Scoutförbundet and accepted as the successor of theSvenska Scoutrådet by theWorld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and theWorld 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 inSveriges Scoutförbundet (for boys) andSveriges Flickors Scoutförbund (for girls) and Protestant units formed theKFUM:s Scoutförbund (YMCA Scouts for boys) and theSveriges KFUK:s Scoutförbund (YWCA Guides for girls). Scouting and Guiding existed also withintemperance organisations like theIOGT and theNTO.[1]
In 1930, theSveriges Scoutförbund and theKFUM:s Scoutförbund founded theSvenska 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 ofSveriges Flickscoutråd (Girl Guide Council of Sweden).[1]
In the 1960s, Swedish Scouting and Guiding became co-educational.Sveriges Scoutförbundet andSveriges Flickors Scoutförbund merged intoSvenska Scoutförbundet in 1960, andKFUM:s Scoutförbund andSveriges KFUK:s Scoutförbund formed theKFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund in 1966. In 1968, this was followed by the merger of both national bodies into theSvenska Scoutrådet.[1]
Started by a grassroots' movement within the then five member associations of the Svenska Scoutrådet, the unification of the Swedish Scout and Guide movement was discussed since the mid-1990s. Important steps towards this goal were the nationaljamborees in 2001 and 2007 as well as the introduction of a commonScout uniform in 2007. In 2010 and 2011, thegeneral meetings of all five associations voted for the unification. The Svenska Scoutförbundet was renamed to Scouterna in 2012. TheFrälsningsarméns Scoutförbund and the KFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund were fully integrated into Scouterna, andNykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund andSMU Scout partly.[2]
The current structure ofScouterna – 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.[3]
About two-thirds of the approximately 1,100 local Scout groups are directly affiliated with the national organisation and served by Scouterna’s regional structure. These include the formerSvenska Scoutförbundet units, as well as all units previously part of theFrälsningsarméns Scoutförbund and theKFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund. The latter two organisations continue to exist legally but are now fully integrated into Scouterna and no longer conduct independent activities.[4]
The remaining groups belong to three so-calledsamverkansorganisationer (co-operating organisations): theNykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund (temperance movement),Equmeniascout (formerlySMU Scout of theEqumenia Church), andSALT Scout (the Scouting organisation of theSwedish Evangelical Mission). These co-operating organisations maintain their own internal administrative structures but follow Scouterna’s national programme and share its uniform, values, and representation.[4]
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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 Scouterna’s organisational framework. They are structured into two geographical tiers:
Example:
Scouterna (National) └── Region Västra └── Skaraborgs Scoutdistrikt └── Active Scout (local group)
The remaining groups belong to one of threeco-operating organisations (samverkansorganisationer) that retain their own governance structures while adhering to Scouterna’s national programme and educational goals.
| Co-operating organisation | Background / affiliation | Example of local group |
|---|---|---|
| Equmeniascout | Equmenia youth movement (formerlySMU Scout) of theEqumenia Church | Abrahamsbergskyrkans Ungdom |
| Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund (NSF) | IOGT-NTO temperance movement | Alanwar Scoutkår |
| SALT Scout | Swedish Evangelical Mission | Various local SALT Scout groups |
These organisations are not attached to Scouterna’s regional or district structure, but are directly connected to the national level.
Example:
Scouterna (National) └── Equmeniascout └── Abrahamsbergskyrkans Ungdom (local group)
All local Scout groups — whether integrated or part of co-operating organisations — are represented in theScouternas stämma (National Assembly). They all follow the same national programme, educational method, and uniform, ensuring a unified Scouting identity across Sweden.
WOSM / WAGGGS (World level) └── Scouterna – The Guides and Scouts of Sweden (National level) ├── Regions (based on 21 counties) │ └── Scout Districts │ └── Local integrated groups (≈ 2/3) └── Co-operating Organisations (≈ 1/3) ├── Equmeniascout │ └── Local groups ├── Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund (NSF) │ └── Local groups └── SALT Scout └── Local groups
Scouterna is divided in five age groups. Most local units cater for all age groups; some districts organise theRover Scouts in separate regional units.[5]
All age groups use the sameScout promise:[6]
Jag lovar att efter bästa förmåga följa scoutlagen. — I promise to do my best in following the Scout Law.
TheScout law was formulated in 1970 for all member organisations of the then Svenska Scoutrådet:[6]
En scout söker sin tro och respekterar andras. — A Scout seeks her/his faith and respects the faith of others.
En scout är ärlig och pålitlig. — A Scout is honest and reliable.
En scout är vänlig och hjälpsam. — A Scout is friendly and helpful.
En scout visar hänsyn och är en god kamrat. — A Scout is considerate to others and trustworthy as a friend.
En scout möter svårigheter med gott humör. — A Scout faces difficulties without complaining.
En scout lär känna och vårdar naturen. — A Scout learns about nature and is concerned with its conservation.
En scout känner ansvar för sig själv och andra. — A Scout feels responsibility for her/himself and others.
TheScout motto isVar redo! - Alltid redo! — 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 theStockholm archipelago. They are organised inSveriges sjöscouters riksskeppslag, the national council of Swedish Sea Scouts, a special interest group which coordinates the activities of the Sea Scout units.[7]
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.[8]
The national headquarters is located in Sweden's capitalStockholm. 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 ofVässarö, owned by the Stockholm Scout district. The Campground atRansbergs Herrgård nearRansäter inVärmland County was acquired byNykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund in 1963; it was the venue of theWorld Scout Moot in 1996. Kopparbo Scout camp nearSöderbärke inDalarna County can accommodate up to 5,000 Scouts, Hörrs Nygård Scout camp nearSjöbo inSkåne County up to 3,000 and Kragenäs Scout camp nearTanumshede inVästra 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.[9]
The national sailing vessel of Scouterna,Biscaya av Vindalsö, was scheduled to be sold in 2016.