This is for you who would like to know some more about Scouterna – The Guides and Scouts of Sweden. You will learn more about the organisation it self, the Swedish Guide and scout program and some other fun stuff.
In Sweden the scouts and guides belong to the same organisation, The Guides and Scouts of Sweden, or just Scouterna. We're about 83000 members represented all over Sweden. All members in Scouterna are registered with WOSM, and all our female and nonbinary and other members are also registered with WAGGGS.
In Sweden we work with making young people ready for life under the motto "Raised by adventure". We have a strong focus on outdoor life, scout-law and promise, the patrol-system, symbolic framework, learning by doing, community involvement and adult support also known as the scouting method. The vision in our organisation is "Young people improving the world".
We consist of roughly 1000 local groups from Trelleborg in the south to Kiruna in the north. These are split into different districts that mainly hold regional events for the groups, and support their groups as needed. The national board is elected every other year at our big General Assembly called "Democracy Jamboree", and consists of 9 volunteers. The two chairpersons are Linn Ternefors and Tobias Hallerby. The International Commissioners Karin Fredén (WAGGGS) and Albin Junhede (WOSM) are also members of the board.
Scoutlöfte (Scout Promise)
Jag lovar att, efter bästa förmåga, följa scoutlagen.
(I promise to follow the scout law to the best of my abilities.)
Scoutlagen (The scout law)
Swedish Scout Programme Overview:
Scouterna – The Guides and Scouts of Sweden offers a cohesive and progressive youth programme aimed at supporting children and young people as they grow into confident, responsible, and compassionate individuals. The programme is built around experiential learning, meaningful relationships, and outdoor adventures – all grounded in the Scout Method and a strong value base.
Programme Philosophy:
At the heart of Swedish Scouting is the belief that personal development happens through experience. This is achieved by focusing on five interconnected areas of growth, known as the development areas:
* The Group – social development and collaboration
* The Body – physical health and challenges
* The Emotions – self-awareness and emotional growth
* The Life Questions – reflection, spirituality, and meaning
* The Mind – critical thinking, creativity, and decision making
These development areas guide all activities and help ensure that every scout has the opportunity to grow in a holistic way.
Programme Activities
All scouting activities are designed using the Scout Method, which includes: outdoor life, scout law and promise, the patrol system, symbolic framework, learning by doing, community involvement and adult support.
Whether it’s a campfire cooking challenge, a city mission, a backwoods hike, or a community service project, each activity is framed with intention and reflection to ensure growth and learning.
Symbolic Frameworks
Each age section uses age appropriate symbolic worlds (e.g., characters, metaphors, or adventure themes) to make learning meaningful and fun. For example, younger scouts might follow the adventures of fictional characters like the family scouting bears Magna and Parum, the beaver Castra, or Tofs the fox, while older scouts design and complete personal or team based projects with real world impact.
Badges & Progression
Scouts earn badges by completing activities connected to personal development and practical skills. Badges exist within themes like “Nature”, “Leadership”, “Creativity”, or “Global Citizenship”. Badge criteria are clearly defined and linked to the five development areas. Progression is not only vertical (age-based) but also horizontal – scouts choose their own challenges and reflect on their learning, often guided by personal development activities and mentor discussions, especially in older age groups. Most badges are not merit badges, but more interest badges with some being certificates that allow the safe handling of certain tools.
Participant ownership
The scouting programme is based on a system of scouts chooseing their path of progression through the age group. This is supported by symbolic framework and storytelling but also by an wide spread interest focused badge system. The concept can we visualized as a simple gamified system where the scouts ownership is increased as they age.
Youth-Led, Adult-Supported
The Swedish youth programme emphasizes youth participation and empowerment, especially from the Discoverer age group and upwards. Scouts take increasing responsibility for planning, leading, and evaluating their own activities. Adults serve as mentors and facilitators, not directors.
Global & Inclusive
Scouting in Sweden is open to all – regardless of gender, background, religion, or ability. Diversity and inclusion are key values. Additionally, the programme integrates global themes such as the Sustainable Development Goals, peace, democracy, and climate action – often using international partnerships (e.g. WOSM & WAGGGS initiatives).
Safety and Wellbeing
Scouterna maintains a strong commitment to safety, safeguarding, and emotional security through clear policies such as Säker Scout and Trygga Möten (Safe From Harm). All adults undergo relevant training to ensure a safe space for every child.
Summary Statement
Scouting in Sweden is a value based, youth led, experiential journey designed to support young people in becoming active, thoughtful, and capable citizens. With a strong pedagogical foundation, a flexible programme structure, and a clear focus on personal development, Scouterna prepares young people for life – by letting them live it.
“With the Scout Method as our compass and nature as our classroom, we empower young people to explore, reflect, and grow – together.”
— Scouterna
Internationell sekreterare | International secretary
