Scouting and Guiding in Switzerland

Scouting and Guiding in Switzerland is made up of numerous scouting and guiding bodies which act to provide the opportunities to scout. This could be though Swiss national Scouting and Guiding organizations, through independent troops (attached to the German Scout organization) or through international troops established in Switzerland. While the latter two are similar, there is a fundamental difference because the three independent groups while taking guidance under different national regimes it is a program developed by people in the various cities, where the presence of international groups in Switzerland is a top down targeted programs that have been developed to offer expatriates scouting and guiding in the language they are used to (mostly English) and are developed in areas with a larger expatriate community. All of which are supported the existence of KISC and Our Chalet, both acting as semi-permeant jamborees.

National Scouting and Guiding organizations

• The main national Scouting organization in Switzerland is the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement, affiliated to World Organization of the Scout Movement and World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, more than 42,000 members[1]
• Ehemaligen Pfadi Schweiz/Anciens Scouts de Suisse, affiliated to International Scout and Guide Fellowship[2]
• Feuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe, founded 1988, Catholic, affiliated to World Federation of Independent Scouts[3]
• Pfadfinderbund Seeland, interreligious and coeducational, affiliated to World Federation of Independent Scouts[4][5][6][7]
• Schweizerische Pfadfinderschaft Europas/ Guides et Scouts d’Europe Suisse, affiliated to Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe[8][9]
• Royal Rangers/Jungschar Schweiz, affiliated to Royal Rangers[10]
• Adventwacht (ADWA), Adventist and coeducational, affiliated to Pathfinder International[11]
• Hashomer Hatzair Switzerland[12]

Independent troops

• In Basel operates a single Girl Scouts troop of the German traditionalist Catholic Scout association Katholische Pfadfinderschaft Jeanne d'Arc. This troop operates within the Society of St. Pius X.[13]
• Pfadi Weiach in Stadel, Kaiserstuhl and Fisibach. The troop is interreligious, coeducational and is a former unit of the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement[14]
• IG Gewässerschutz Kollbrunn-Flusspfadi Tösstal in Kollbrunn, Sea Scouts, interreligious and coeducational[15]

International Scout and Guide units in Switzerland

• Boy Scouts of America, served by the Transatlantic Council[16][17]
• Girl Scouts of the USA, served by USAGSO headquarters[18]
• Girlguiding UK, served by British Guides in Foreign Countries[19]
• Hungarian Scouting, served by Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség - Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris[20]
• Det Danske Spejderkorps has also troops in Switzerland.
• Corpo Nacional de Escutas has a group in Geneve.[21]

International Scout centres

Two international Scout centres are located in Switzerland: Kandersteg International Scout Centre, affiliated with WOSM, and Our Chalet, affiliated with WAGGGS.

References

1. "Pfadibewegung Schweiz" (in German). Pfadibewegung Schweiz. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
2. "Wer wir sind" (in German). Ehemaligen Pfadi Schweiz. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
3. "Wir über uns" (in German). Feuerkreis Niklaus von Flüe. Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
4. "Pfadfinderbund Seeland" (in German). Stadt Grenchen. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
5. "WFIS Europe Members" (in German). WFIS-Europe. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
6. "Wer sind wir?" (in German). Pfadfinderbund Seeland. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
7. "Ein Verein mit vielen Abenteuern" (in German). Bieler Tagblatt online. 2009-09-23. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
8. "Decouvrir..." (in French). Guides et Scouts d’Europe Suisse. Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
9. "Die KPE in Europa" (in German). Catholic Scouts of Europe. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
10. "Royal Rangers/Jungschar Schweiz-25 Jahre" (in German). Royal Rangers/Jungschar Schweiz. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
11. "ADWA - Wer wir sind" (in German). Adventwacht (ADWA). Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
12. "Jugendliche erziehen Jugendliche" (in German). Hashomer Hatzair Switzerland. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
13. "KPJ Basel" (in German). Katholische Pfadfinderschaft Jeanne d'Arc. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
14. "News" (in German). Pfadi Weiach. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
15. "IG Gewässerschutz Kollbrunn (IGGSK)" (in German). IG Gewässerschutz Kollbrunn. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
16. "Districts". Transatlantic Council, BSA. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
17. Philipp Lehar/Phips (February 2012). "Boy Scouts in den bayrischen Bergen". Sarasani-Zeitschrift der Pfadibewegung Schweiz (in German). 11: 14–15.
18. "Facts about USA Girl Guides Overseas" (PDF). Girl Scouts of the USA. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
19. "Girlguiding BGIFC Units (Birthday List)". Girlguiding BGIFC. Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
20. "Our Troops, by Region and City". Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
21. "Agrupamento 1308 - Nossa Senhora de Fátima". Corpo Nacional de Escutas. Retrieved 2008-04-25.