History of Scouting - Scouts et Guides de France
1907. Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941) organizes the first scout camp on Brownsea Island (GB) gathering 20 youths from sundry backgrounds. Baden Powell will be proclained World Scout Chief as early as 1920. His wife, Olave, (1889-1977) will play the same part with girlguides.
1911. Enterprising young people are attracted by scouting. Local groups spring up ; teams develop their proposals. Les Eclaireurs de France (secular) and Les Eclaireurs Unionistes de France (Protestant) are established.
1920. The Scouts de France federation is founded by Father Jacques Sevin, Canon Cornette and Edouard de Macedo.
1921. Foundation of the French federation of girl scouts uniting three independant sections, secular, protestant and jewish.
1922. Chamarande, a mansion in the Dpt. of Essonne, houses the national training camp for Scouts de France leaders, thanks to Father Sevin’s initiative. With the Guides de France, Argeronne, in the Dpt.of Eure, will play a similar part.
1923. Foundation of the Guides de France Association by Albertine Duhamel, for catholic girls. Marie Diemer establishes the paedagogic principles of Jeannettes (aged 9-12) and of elder girl guides (aged 17-19). Foundation of sea scouts and of Eclaireurs Israélites de France.
1927. Initiation in Berck, Dpt. of Pas de Calais, of extension scouting intended to welcome physically or mentally handicapped children. Such a branch appears in 1932 with Les Guides de France, to welcome handicapped youths.
1933. Creation, under Madeleine Delbrel’s implulse, of La Charité de Jésus whose first team settles in Ivry/Seine.
Jul. 1937- March 1938 : two scouts,Guy de Larigaudie and Roger Drapier open the first car rally Paris-Saïgon : 12000 km and 16 countries visited in a second hand car, without any assistance.
Pierre Joubert publishes his first scout drawings. From then onward, and until 1956, his art will side with the scout movement. The artist opens the way to a tradition of comic strips, later continued by Bernard Dufossé, Laurent Vicomte, Kieffer or Moffrey.
1939. Les Scouts de France amount to 75000 members, and Les Guides de France to 23000. Those will mark the theatre of that time with the creation of Les Comédiens Routiers with Léon Chancerel as early as 1930, and after WWII with the creation of A Coeur Joie a movement launched by Cesar Geoffray, with such composers as Francine Cockempot.
1940-1944. German Occupation : Scout movements are forbidden in the North Zone. They will remain active underground.
1947. Le Jamboree de la Paix gathers 25000 scouts from 42 countries in Moisson (Yvelines). Just out of a world conflict, the Scout Movement supports peace.
1949. Michel Menu updates the Scout branch (12-17) with the Raider proposal.
1952.Purchase of Jambville Mansion (Yvelines) for a training centre and a place for gatherings. With the Guides de France, the Feux Nouveaux centre, in Melan, (Alpes de Haute Provence) will be built from 1961 onward.
1953. Rally of Les Guides de France’s teams in Jambville. New wording of the Guide Law in Lady Baden Powell’s presence. Michel Rigal is appointed General Commissioner for the Scouts de France and Marie-Thérèse Chéroutre General Commissioner for Les Guides de France.
1954-1962. The war in Algeria rouses tensions within Les Scouts de France ; especially in 1957 with the crisis in the Rover branch about Jean Muller’s files.
1960-1966. Updating in the paedagogy for Les Scouts de France (1964) and Les Guides de France (1966) while Vatican II Council is in process. The 12-17 branch splits into two branches : 12-14 and 14-17 are the ages of the new branches. Opposed to these new disposals, some join Les Scouts d’Europe or found Les Scouts Unitaires de France (1971).
1973. Meeting of 10 000 scout and guide leaders in La Trivalle (Dpt.Hérault), in a a context marked by May 1968 events. To share proposals and to give sense to one’s life, such ideals are part of the programme. Invitation to Hope is heralded there.
1975. Publication by Les Scouts de France of Baden-Powell aujourd’hui (Baden Powell Today). The basic elements of scouting are clearly asserted.
1982. Les Scouts de France are open to girls.
1985. First national jamboree for the scout branch in Jambville. 15 000 youths meet.
1991. Foundation, during the Gulf War of the Muslim movement of scouting in France, with the assistance of Les Scouts de France.
1994. Jamboree Bleu for 5000 girls guides in Richelieu.
2004. Merging of Les Scouts de France and Les Guides de France into one Movement : Les Scouts et Guides de France. The Association gathers 5000 leaders during its first National Encounter in May 2006, and 15 840 youths for the 11-14 jamboree in July 2006.