World Federation of Independent Scouts
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The World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS) was formed in Laubach, Germany, in 1996 by Lawrie Dring, a British Scouter with the independent Baden-Powell Scouts Association (BPSA). The UK-based BPSA, founded in 1970, is probably the most widespread and largest of the independent Scouting organizations. The BPSA was formed at least partly in reaction to the UK Scout Association's "Advance Party Report" (1966), which resulted in substantial changes to British Scouting, causing some British Scouts and Scouters to seek alternatives they felt were closer to Baden-Powell's original program.
The World Federation of Independent Scouts is open to any Scouting association that is not affiliated with another international organization. WFIS requires that member associations "follow, and use, Baden-Powell's original program, traditions, uniforms, morals, ethics, and structure as laid out in Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys, amended only for "health, environmental, first-aid, and safety reasons".
At present there are 53 WFIS-affiliated associations in 32 countries, plus one umbrella federation, with an estimated 30,000 members.
[edit] Regional divisions
The WFIS is divided into five regions:
- Africa
- Asia/Australia
- Europe
- North America
- South America
The first two of these seem to be inactive.
