Robert Baden-Powell initially used the terms
Scoutmaster and
Cubmaster for adult leaders (coming from the English usage of the word "master" as a synonym for "teacher"), and these terms are still used in some countries and units, including the United States. As the word
master picked up old-fashioned connotations, it was replaced by other terms such as
Scout Leader or
Scouter in many
Commonwealth countries, following
The Scout Association in the
United Kingdom.
Australia In
Scouts Australia, all five sections have a Leader, although a
Joey Leader has a much more driving role than a
Venturer Leader, who should be standing back and assisting the elected Unit Chair.
Rover Leaders stepped back during the 1970s, becoming Rover Advisors, the responsibility for the Crew passing to the elected Crew Leader. There are several different types of Leader in Australia, all of them (and all members of the Rover Section) have the opportunity to complete the Wood Badge training scheme ;
Sectional Leaders Run a Unit each week. They are the ones who attend weekly activities, sign off badge work and join Scouts for weekend activities. ;
Group Leaders Run the
Group as a whole, liaising between the
Committee, who see to the needs of the Group, hall, power, gear, etc. and the Sectional Leaders. ;
Activity Leaders Have qualifications in Adventurous activities, from Water Activities to Abseilling to Radio and Four Wheel Driving and First Aid, who put these skills at the disposal of a Region or Branch. These leaders often have another role in Scouting at the same time. ;
Leader Trainers Provide the
Training to other Leaders and usually have been in Scouting for several years. Training is not usually their only role in Scouting. ;
District Leaders Provide help and assistance to local groups. Most
Districts try to have at least one District Leader for each Section, as well as
Public Relations, Adult Training & Development and Water Activities. ;
Commissioners are responsible for the management of an aspect of Scouting and/or the leadership of other adults, as opposed to sectional leaders who run the youth program. ;
The Scout Fellowship Is a group of former Leaders who no longer have the time or desire to be a part of Scouting every week. They have the opportunity to help out occasionally when leaders are needed temporarily because of hospital or travel, at large camps such as
Jamborees and are still covered by Scout Insurance. All Leader positions are appointments for three years, when the appointment is reviewed and the Leader is renewed, reassigned or resigns. When a new Probationary Leader begins, they are presented with a Certificate of Adult Membership and complete a three-hour seminar called Intro to Scouting (or Rovering) which outlines the basic structure and procedures. After this comes the Basic Sectional Techniques course, which gives the Leader the right to wear the two-strand Turks Head or "Gilwell" Woggle. After the 2007 review of the Venturer Section, Venturer Scouts will soon be allowed to complete Venturer Basic. Leaders are then presented with a Certificate of Adult Leadership, and this is where most people stop their training, but after at least six months, Leaders then are eligible to complete the Advanced Sectional Techniques Course, which allows them to conduct more advanced activities, network with other experienced Leaders and then after successful completion of the Course be presented with the
Wood Badge. Scouts Australia is an Enterprise Registered Training Organisation (RTO:5443) and Leaders can apply to be granted a Certificate III in Business after completing the Basic Course, and a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management after the Advanced Course. Later they can also complete a Diploma of Leadership and Management or Certificate Qualifications in Outdoor Recreation through the Scouts Australia Institute of Training.
Ireland A uniformed adult member of Scouting Ireland who commits to the
Scout Promise and
Law is known as a "Scouter". Rover Scouts can also be adults, and an eligible member can be a Scouter or Rover or both. Adult members are subject to police vetting (in
either jurisdiction). Scouters who provide
Youth Programme are known as "Programme Scouters". Various
Group,
County,
Provincial and
National appointment holders in general need to be Scouters. Associate members are adult members who do not take the Scout Promise, and may include supporting Officers such as Group Secretary or County Treasurer.
Philippines In the
Boy Scouts of the Philippines, all uniformed adults, including office employees, are "Scouters." Not all Scouters are Unit Leaders, but all Unit Leaders are Scouters. The generic term for an adult in charge of a Scout unit is "Unit Leader." There are five types: :1. A "Langkay Leader" takes charge of KID Scouts. :2. A "Kawan Leader" takes charge of KAB Scouts. :3. A "Troop Leader" takes charge of Boy Scouts. :4. An "Outfit Advisor" takes charge of Senior Scouts. :5. A "Circle Manager" advises Rovers and Roverettes. Langkay Leaders and Kawan Leaders are women. Troop Leaders, Outfit Advisors, and Circle Managers may be men or women, and are often informally called "Scoutmasters."
Poland '''Scoutmaster of Polish People's Republic''' was the highest honourable rank in
ZHP during
Polish People's Republic from 1965 until 1989. To gain the rank someone should have been serving as a Scoutmaster, have received positive assessment of the service and finally have submitted a record of his (or her) activity to the
Chief Scout. Nomination to this rank was celebrated yearly on the occasion of
National Holiday of Polish Restitution on 22 July. The insignia of this rank was a red & white
felt tee under the
Scouting Cross and a red & white
chevron in the shape of a
Fleur-de-lis worn on the left sleeve of their
Scout uniform. This rank was given to approximately 6000 people, which significantly diminished its initial purpose. Nominations to the rank were ended with collapse of
Polish People's Republic and holders were proposed to return to Scoutmaster. Attempts to change the rank's name to
Scoutmaster of Republic of Poland were abandoned because of protests of majority of traditional Scout groups of ZHP. Since 1990 the system of Instructor Ranks of
ZHP no longer includes the rank of Scoutmaster of Polish People's Republic.
South Africa Scouts South Africa (then called Boy Scouts of South Africa) decided in the early 90s to change the name of a Scoutmaster to Scouter. The reason for this change was due to negative connotations of the word
master. The terms
Troop Scouter and
Pack Scouter are used for adult leaders of Scout Troops and
Cub Packs. Rover Crews are mentored by a Rover Scouter.
United Kingdom The Scout Association The Scout Association used the term
Scoutmaster originally, but the term
Scout Section Team Leader is now used. Other adult leaders in the Scout Troop are called
Scout Section Team Members. Terms used in other sections are
Beaver Section Team Leader,
Beaver Section team Member,
Cub Section Team Leader,
Cub Section Team Member,
Explorer Section Team Leader,
Explorer Section Team Member, and so on. The Scout Group is led by a
Group Lead Volunteer. When
Rover Scouts existed, there were
Rover Scout Leaders and
Assistant Rover Scout Leaders. Collectively all adult leaders are called
Scouters. One of the leaders may take on the role of
Quartermaster, although this role can also be taken on by a parent or other member of the Group Trustee Board. Traditionally the primary adult Scout Leader is called
Skip, short for
Skipper, but recently more often by their first name. Similarly, the primary Cub Scout Leader is called
Akela, after the leader of the Wolf pack in
The Jungle Book, although this is more common.
Explorer Scouts can help out at younger sections as a
Young Leader. At District level a
District Lead Volunteer may appoint a
District Beaver Team Lead,
District Cub Team Lead and a
District Scout Team Lead and a
District 14-24 Team Lead (Explorers and Network) as well as a District Youth Lead. At County Level a
County Lead Volunteer may appoint similar roles to District Level. Changes aimed at developing a "teams based volunteering" culture adopted from 2023 included introduction of the term
lead volunteer to replace the term Commissioner.
Baden-Powell Scouts' Association ;Adult leaders The
Baden-Powell Scouts' Association continue to use the traditional title of
Scoutmaster. Other adult leaders in the Scout Troop are called
Assistant Scout Masters. Other titles include
Cub Scout Master,
Assistant Cub Scout Master and so on. The Group is led by a
Group Scout Master. In common with
The Scout Association, adult leaders are sometimes referred to as
Scouters. ;Youth leaders In the Scout and Senior Scout sections, youth leaders include Senior Troop Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, Quartermaster, and Instructor.
United States Scouting America In
Scouting America, in all Scouting units above the Cub Scout pack, units serving adolescent Scouts, leadership of the unit comprises both adult leaders (Scouters) and youth leaders (
Scouts). In fact, this is a critical component of the program. In order to learn leadership, the youth must actually serve in leadership roles. Adult leaders may be either men or women in all positions. A
Scouts BSA troop is run by the
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), who is elected by the troop, and their assistant, who is appointed by the SPL. These and the other youth leaders are advised and supported by the adult leaders.
Girl Scouts of the USA Volunteers are important in the
GSUSA, but their roles are less defined than in Scouting America.
Other countries In other countries,
Scouter refers to any adult leader, professional Scout employee, or any Scout alumnus. == See also ==