The Formation of the Scouts
The Scouting movement began in the early 20th century, founded by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. Baden-Powell, an Officer in the British Army, was inspired to create an organization that would prepare young boys for adulthood through outdoor activities, skills training, and a code of conduct emphasizing duty, honor, and self-reliance. The first experimental camp at Brownsea Island marked the birth of the Boy Scouts, leading to the publication of “Scouting for Boys” in 1908. This book outlined the principles and practices of scouting, quickly capturing the imagination of youth across the globe.
The Formation of the Kibbo Kift
While the Boy Scouts thrived, not all members were content with its direction. John Hargrave, an influential figure in the Scouts who ran the Woodcraft side of the organisation came to disagree with the increasing militarism in the Scouts, particularly during and after World War I. As his complains were not heard, Hargrave envisioned a more whole approach to youth development, one that united outdoor skills with artistic, intellectual, and spiritual growth, something most people at the time thought was impossible. In 1920, he founded the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift.
The Refounding of the Kibbo Kift
Then, in 2024, the Kindred came back to home soil with this very course!