Baden-Powell Service Association

This article is about the present-day Scouting organization. For similarly-named defunct group that operated in the United States from 2002 to around 2010, see Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
Baden-Powell Service Association
Headquarters Washington, Missouri[1]
Country United States
Founded 2006 (2006)[1]
Membership 50 Groups[2]
Commissioner David Atchley[1]
Affiliation World Federation of Independent Scouts[3]
Website
bpsa-us.org

The Baden-Powell Service Association (BPSA) is a traditional and inclusive co-ed scouting organization in the United States that takes its name from the Scouting movement founder, Robert Baden-Powell.[4] The BSPA is a member of the World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS).[3]

History

The BPSA formed with an adult-only component, Rovers, in 2006. David Atchley, an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, joined up in 2008, after being asked to leave his local Greater St. Louis Area Council after attempting to create a non-discrimination policy for the Cub Scout pack he was Cubmaster for. He started forming youth units. In 2009, Atchley became commissioner.[1][5]

By 2011, the association had a handful of units.[4] BPSA reincorporated in 2012 plus added 35 more groups between then and July 2013.[6] In January 2013, a chapter was founded in Portland, Oregon with 80 members and 30 registered leaders while a 45-member strong group, the 5th Brooklyn Scouts, was found that same year.[7][8] In 2014 after a Seattle, Washington United Methodist Church’s troop charter was revoked for having a gay leader, the troop moved to be chartered by the BPSA.[9]

Program

The BPSA is part of a "back to basics" movement designed to return Scouting to the basic principles laid out by Baden-Powell in 1907.[4] BPSA members use a two finger salute same as Cub Scouts.[7]

The BPSA is split into 4 age levels, or sections:[1]

BPSA's highest award for Pathfinders is the George Washington Scout Award.[10] The highest award for Rovers is the Baden-Powell Award.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Schremp Hahn, Valerie (6 December 2012). "Baden-Powell Service Association brings inclusiveness to scouting". Monterey Herald. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Scout Finder". Baden-Powell Service Association, US. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Members". Members. WFIS Americas. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Hallowell, Billy (18 February 2013). "9 Faith-Based (and Secular) Alternatives to the Boy Scouts of America Amid Furor Over Gay Ban". The Blaze. AP. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Thakkar, Neal (14 August 2012). "Take Five: David Atchley creates 'non-discriminatory' alternative to Boy Scouts". STL Beacon. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Connor, Tracy (28 July 2013). "Wiccans, earth-lovers, do-gooders: There's a 'scouting' group for your kid". NBC News. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  7. 1 2 Wollan, Malia (3 June 2013). "Earning Merit Badges and Learning Knots Under New Flags". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ McDonough, Katie (11 January 2013). "Brooklyn dad welcomes girls, gay members to new scouts troop". Salon.com. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Boy Scouts’ change of course is good news for local chapter". The Seattle Times. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Pathfinder". Pathfinder. BPSA-US. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Rover". Rover. BPSA-US. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
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