The Brownsea Island Adventure

At dawn on August 1, 1907, Lord Baden-
Powell sounded the kudu horn and formed
21 boys into four patrols to test his scheme
on Brownsea Island off the coast of
England. He named the four patrols after
animals: the Curlews, the Ravens, the
Wolves, and the Bulls. Each patrol was
signified by a color of cloth, and each boy
wore a fleur-de-lis on his cap. Each patrol
had a leader, who carried a short staff with
a white flag painted with a picture of the
patrol animal. Thus, the world's first Boy
Scout troop was assembled.

Each day, B-P would introduce a new skill, demonstrate it, and lead the boys in games and competitions that practiced the skill. The boys' favorite activities included observation, tracking, fire building, swimming, and first aid.  Every evening, B-P would lead the boys around the campfire, where he was the campfire leader, song leader, and storyteller.  Legend has it that Lord Baden-Powell would always take a small amount of ashes from the campfire and then spread those ashes into the next campfire.  Ashes taken from a past campfire are sprinkled into the flames of the next. The
next morning when the ashes are cold, they are stirred, and each Scout is given some ashes to maintain the lineage for those yet to join us. If more than one Scout brings ashes to the same campfire, the lists with the location of all campfires are combined and passed on with the ashes. According to tradition, only those present at the campfire carry away ashes.  The joining of these ashes with the flames of this new fire, symbolize the continuity of Scoutings' ideals and the brotherhood between fellow Scouters around the world. With greetings from Scouts around the world, may the brotherhood of scouting be strengthened once more by tonight's fire.


A recommitment to Scouting (Leader)
On my honor I will do my best
To carry on the traditions of Scouting
To the Scouts who follow in my footsteps
And to commit myself to live by the Scout Oath and Law.


Boy Scout Oath (unison)
On My Honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
to help other people at all time;
to keep my self physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.


The Founder's Prayer - written by B.P. for use in international
Father of us all, we meet before Thee here today,
numerous in the lands we come from and in the races we represent,
but one in our Brotherhood under Thy Divine Fatherhood.
We come before Thee with hearts grateful and gladdened
by the many blessings Thou hast granted us and thankful that our Movement has prospered as acceptable in Thy sight.  In return we would lay on Thine Altar, as our humble thank-offering, such sacrifice as we can make of self in service for others.  We ask that during our communion here together we may under Thy Divine Inspiration, gain a widened outlook, a clearer vision of all that lies open before us and our opportunity.  Thus we may then go forth with strengthened faith to carry on our mission of heightening the ideals and powers of manhood, and helping through closer understanding
to bring about Thy happier Rule of Peace and Goodwill upon Earth