• Full Name: Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell

• Date of Birth: February 22, 1857, Paddington, London, England, UK

• Date of Death: January 8, 1941, (Age 83) Nyeri, Kenya

• Cause of Death: Died of Natural Causes

• Spouse: Olave St Clair Soames

• Quote: “Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your time comes to die, you can die happy in the feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but, have done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live and die happy.”

Scouting is a worldwide movement that could not have existed without its founder, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. So who is this man who created a worldwide organization? Baden-Powell was a British Army officer, writer, and author. After receiving his education at Charterhouse School in Surrey, he joined the British Army, serving from 1876 to 1910. This time of Baden-Powell's life inspired the scouting movement.

The scouting movement, one of Baden-Powell’s greatest achievements, could not have been reached without his involvement in the British Army. Influenced by many world leaders of his time, he found great interest in teaching and writing. Several of his military books, intended for military reconnaissance and training, were also read by boys. Baden-Powell’s book Scouting for Boys is well known as the inspiration for the scouting movement. On his return from Africa in 1903, Baden-Powell’s military training manual, Aids to Scouting had become a bestseller and was used by teachers and youth organizations. In August 1907, he hosted a camp on Brownsea Island, off the southern coast of the United Kingdom, to test out his ideas and was thrilled with its rapid success.

This scouting movement has influenced my life and many others’ lives in various ways. This movement paved the way for the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Both of these organizations offer new opportunities for our youth. To this day, thanks to Baden-Powell’s ideals, we have two organizations dedicated to helping youth grow and better equipping them with life skills needed for a brighter future in our ever-changing world.