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''Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship Through Woodcraft'' is the first book published on the Scout Movement . It was written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell , founder of the Scout Movement. It is based on his boyhood experiences, his experience with boys during the Second Boer War at the Siege Of Mafeking in 1899 , and on his experimental camp on Brownsea Island , England in August , 1907 .

The book was a revised version of his earlier book entitled, '' Aids To Scouting For N.C.O.s And Men '' published in 1899 . This earlier book was a military manual used by the British Army to train Army scouts. Upon his return to England, immediately following the Boer War, Baden-Powell learned that British schools had been using his books to teach boys lessons on observation and deduction. His decision to revise his military book into a book for boys came about on his attendance at the anniversary celebration of the Boys' Brigade . Baden-Powell noted to the Brigade's founder, Sir William Alexander Smith , that the Boys' Brigade could have ten times its membership (which was about 50,000 boys at that time) if it became more appealing to the boys. Smith then challenged Baden-Powell to re-write his book in a style that would make it accessible to boys.

The book was published in six parts in the early part of 1908 and was issued in book form on May 1 , 1908 . It inspired the formation of many Scout Troops in Britain as well as in other countries.

''Scouting for Boys'' has been translated into many languages.

The original 1908 version was re-published in 2004 in Hardback (ISBN 0192805479) and 2005 in Paperback (ISBN 0192802461).


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