The core in Swedish scouting is the Scout method, the Scout law and the Scout promise.

The Scout method

In Sweden, Scouts and Guides define the Scout method under seven headings. They are:

• The Scout Law and Promise
• The patrol system
• Learning by doing
• A symbolic framework
• Nature and outdoor life
• Local and global community involvement
• Adult support and leadership

The patrol system

The patrol system has always been an important part of the Scout method: working in small groups is one of the foundations of how we do things together. A patrol is a group of 4 to 7 girls and boys who form a fixed group. It takes time to get a patrol to work and function together and it teaches us about cooperation, leadership and considerations of others and of ourselves.

Learning by doing

Robert Baden Powell, the founder of the Scout movement, has said something like: “Children want to do things. They should therefore be encouraged and led in the right direction. But let them do things their own way, let them make mistakes. This is the way to gain experience”.

Learning by doing means that you learn by doing things yourself instead of having somebody showing or telling you how something is done.

A symbolic framework

In the high-speed society we live in today it is important to be able to make room for quietness, peace and reflection. We have a long tradition of ceremonies in the Scout movement. A ceremony in our definition can mean a big variety of things all focusing on a group of people coming together to share something that they can take with them later on.

Nature/outdoor life

Nature provides many possibilities for personal development and encourages us to cooperate well within the patrol or team. Outdoor life also teaches us the importance of taking care of nature and our environment.

Even though many Scouts are of the opinion that outdoor life is the best thing about Scouting, it is only one of many methods we use to reach our bigger goal: to create a better society and give young people the opportunity to grow together.

Local and global community involvement

Scouts in Sweden are engaged and active within our communities, both in the areas where we live and in the wider world. Through this involvement we learn to fight for a better world where all people have equal value and rights.

Community commitment within Swedish Scouting often focuses on the environment and climate change, immigration, international cooperation and the UN declaration of human rights.

Adult support and leadership

I Sweden we say that the Scout movement is “an organisation led by young people, supported by adults”. We focus our work on letting younger Scouts lead the organisation and run activities themselves with support from adults and leaders.

The Swedish Scout organisation has a thorough focus on leadership educations for all ages with a consistent focus on personal development, respect and inclusion.

The Swedish Scout Law

The Scout law is our common base of values. It describes that a Scout shall always try to be honest, reliable, a good friend, positive and responsible.

• A Scout seeks her/his faith and respects others.
• A Scout is honest and reliable.
• A Scout is friendly and helpful.
• A Scout is considerate to others and trustworthy as a friend.
• A Scout faces difficulties without complaining.
• A Scout learns about nature and is concerned for its preservation.
• A Scout feels responsibility for her/himself and others. *

The word “andra” in Swedish is translated here into “others”. “Andra” is a Swedish expression for society, and the sentence as a whole means responsibility to the community in which we live.

The Scout Promise

The Scout Promise reads: “I promise to do my best in following the Scout law”.