Norwegian Guide and Scout Association

The Norwegian Guide and Scout Association (Norwegian: Norges Speiderforbund, NSF) is a Norwegian Scouting and Guiding association founded in its present form in 1978, when the Norwegian Boy Scout Organization (founded in 1911 and among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922) and the Norwegian Girl Guide Organization (founded in 1921 and an early member of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) merged.

Norges Speiderforbund
Norwegian Guide and Scout Association
Headquarters	St. Olavs gate 25, 0166 Oslo
Country	Norway
Founded	1978
Membership	18,500
Affiliation	Speidernes Fellesorganisasjon, WOSM, WAGGGS
Website speiding.no

NSF is a member of Speidernes Fellesorganisasjon, the national Scouting and Guiding federation of Norway. NSF is also a member of WOSM and WAGGGS.

History

Scouting was founded in 1909 and gained recognition by the World Bureau in 1922, as a founding member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

In 1910, the 1st Christiania Scouts was established as Norway's first Scout group. In 1911 the 2nd Christiania was founded and then in February of the same year, "Norwegian: Norsk Speidergutt-Forbund". This was the beginning of the Scout Movement in Norway.

The head of the Danish Pikespejerforbund came in 1916, at the invitation of Queen Maud to Christiania and gave a lecture, which resulted in a working committee, but no Association. "Norwegian: Norges KFUK-speidere" was founded on 3 November 1920. Association's oldest squad, Trondheim 1 (NSPF) was established on 2 October 1915 in Trondheim. An article in Stavanger Aftenblad 20 April 1910 says that Scout work has already spread to the girls. "Norwegian: Norsk Speiderpikeforbund" official foundation date is 1 July 1921. This is a selected day that marked an association of individual groups and troops.

The 14th World Scout Jamboree in 1975 took place in Norway.

On April 23 1978 unit Norsk Speidergutt-Forbund (NSF) og Norsk Speiderpikeforbund (NSPF) merged to form the Norges speiderforbund (NSF).

In 1985, Dr. Gisle Johnson was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.

Purposes

Scouting's main purpose is to develop young members into independent and responsible adults. This is achieved using a training program with many outdoor recreation and practical activities, teamwork in small groups (patrol system), and by actively using the "learning by doing" method.

Program

Program of the Norges speiderforbund is structured into five themes:

Outdoor Life Creativity Friendships Community Involvement Life quality

The program is structured to provide members with progression to continually meet new challenges.

To be adapted to the individual member's level of development, the program is divided up into age groups by grade (division varies):

• Beavers – ages 6 to 8
• Cubs/Brownies – ages 8 to 10
• Scouts/Guides – ages 10 to 16
• Rovers – ages 16 to 24

Structure

As of 2015, NSF had 18,500 members, organised in 29 districts and 6 corps with 450 local groups.

Activities

The main activities of the Norges speiderforbund takes place in work units (see age groups above) in Scout groups. The meetings are regular, often weekly, and with several trips a year. Most Scout groups offer their members a camp of about one week's duration each summer.

NSF also have some events on the regional and federation level. At the federal level there's national jamboree, held every four years. The next Norwegian national Jamboree will be held in Bodø in 2017.

Regional competitions are where patrols compete in Scouting skills. The best patrols in each region qualify for the Norwegian Scouting Championships (NM). Each national Scouting championship and region banner competition lasts a weekend. Some typical exercises during these events are the orienteering, the pioneering, circular track with nature study, citizenship and first aid.

As part of the Norges Speiderforbund of Community Involvement, the Scout campaign has been held every year since 2004. This is a fundraiser that goes to NRC projects.

Circuits

NSF is divided up into 29 circuits. Groups include members of the same circuit. The circles are the link between the Federation and groups.[1]

Asker og Bærum krets

Aust-Agder krets

Follo krets

Finmark krets (Non Activity)

Fredrikstad krets

Glåmdal krets

Grenland krets

Gudbrandsdal krets

Hedmark krets

Helgeland krets

Hordaland krins

Hålogaland krets

Nedre Buskerud krets

Nord-Troms krets

Nord-Trøndelag krets

Oslospeiderne

Romerike krets

Romsdal og Nordmøre krets

Ryvarden krets

Salten krets

Sogn og Fjordane krets

Sunnmøre krets

Sørlandet krets

Sør-Trøndelag krets

Tele-Busk krets

Vesterlen krets

Vestfold krets

Vestoppland krets

Østre Østfold krets

Øvre Buskerud krets

National jamboree

Every four years there is a week-long national jamboree for all NSF members, and usually also participants from other nations. Between national jamborees there are usually circuit camps every four years, and group camps every two years. The following regions have hosted national jamborees:

Norsk Speidergutt-Forbund (NSF)

1914 Christiania (Oslo)

1916 Bergen

1920 Trondheim

1924 Hamar

1928 Åndalsnes

1932 Mandal

1936 Jeløya

1940 Tromsø (Cancelled due to WW2)

1948 Mandal

1952 Verdal

1956 Voss

1960 Brunlanes

1964 Bodø

1968 Lillehammer

1972 Røros

1976 Åndalsnes

Norsk Speiderpikeforbund (NSPF)

1923 Brandbu

1925 Stabekk

1929 Steinkjersannan

1933 Jørstadmoen

1937 Mandal

1948 Borre

1953 Olberg

1957 Rømoen

1961 Ringerike

1965 Følling

1969 Kongsted (in Fredrikstad)

1973 Alvdal

1978 Ulven in Os

Norges Speiderforbund (NSF)

1981 Åsnes

1985 Notodden

1989 Skaugum

1993 Eidskog (Ingelsrud)

1997 Austrått (at Austråttborgen)

2001 Urban 2001 (Fredrikstad)

2005 Fri:05 (Ingelsrud/Eidskog)

2009 Utopia (Åndalsnes)

2013 Stavanger 2013 (Stavanger/Hafrsfjord)

2017 Nord 2017 Bodø

2021 Agenda 2021[2] Korsgård, Askim[3]

Ideals

Guide and Scout Law

1. A Guide and a Scout are open to God and His word.
2. A Guide and a Scout feel responsibility for themselves and others.
3. A Guide and a Scout are helpful and considerate.
4. A Guide and a Scout are a good friend.
5. A Guide and a Scout are honest and reliable.
6. A Guide and a Scout know nature and protect it.
7. A Guide and a Scout think and act on their own and try to understand others.
8. A Guide and a Scout do their best in hard times and difficulties.
9. A Guide and a Scout are modest and try to manage on their own.
10. A Guide and a Scout work for peace and understanding among people.

Guide and Scout promise

I promise, to the best of my ability,
to be open to the word of God,
to help others and
to live according to the Guide and Scout Law.

Scout motto

Alltid Beredt: Always Prepared.

References

1. Circuits of Norwegian Guide and Scout Association (in Norwegian)
2. "Agenda2021".
3. "Er du vår neste landsleirsjef?" [Are you our next National Jamboree Camp Chief?]. speiding.no (in Norwegian Nynorsk).

External links

• Official website