Editing Scouting (section)

{{Short description|Youth movement}}
{{about|the Scout Movement||Scout (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox WorldScouting
| image   = WikiProject_Scouting_fleur-de-lis_dark.svg
| name    = Scout Movement
| country = 
| f-date  = 1907
| founder = [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]]
}}

'''Scouting''' or the '''Scout Movement''', is a youth [[social movement|movement]] using the [[Scout method]], which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows a scheme of [[informal education]] with an emphasis on practical [[outdoor activities]], including [[camping]], [[woodcraft]], [[aquatics]], [[hiking]], [[Backpacking (wilderness)|backpacking]] and [[sport]]s. A widely recognized movement characteristic is the Scout [[uniform]], by intent [[Social hierarchies|hiding all differences of social standing]] and encouraging [[Social equality|equality]], with [[neckerchief]] and [[campaign hat]] or comparable [[Headgear|headwear]]. Distinctive [[insignia]] include the [[World Scout Emblem|fleur-de-lis]] as well as [[Scout badge|merit badges or patches]]. In some countries, [[Girl Guides]] organizations, using a [[trefoil]] insignia, exist for girls to carry-out scout training.

Other programs for children who are too young to be Scouts and take the [[Scout Promise]], such as [[Wolf Cubs]] or [[Cub Scouts|Cubs]] (launched in 1916), and for those who are too old to be Scouts, such as [[Rover Scouts|Rovers]] (launched in 1918), are sometimes associated with Scouts.

In 2007,{{update needed|date=May 2025}} there were over 38 million Scouts{{dubious|date=May 2025}} and Guides in 216 countries.{{CN|date=May 2025}} The Scout Movement is a pluralist movement, not a unitary organization. Numerous local, national and international Scout organizations have been formed. International organizations include: 
* [[Order of World Scouts]] (formed 1911)
* [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]] (WOSM, formed 1922)
* [[World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts]] (WAGGGS, formed 1928 - originally and still primarily for girls-only organizations)
* [[World Federation of Independent Scouts]]
* [[World Organization of Independent Scouts]]
* [[International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe]]
* [[Confederation of European Scouts]]