THE SWEDISH GUIDE AND SCOUT COUNCIL
(Svenska Scoutr}det - SSR)
http://www.scout.se/

This is a co-operative body for the Swedish Guide and Scout associations.
Over the years it had developed co-operative bodies for boy- as well as girl
scouting in Sweden, and after the merge to co-educational associations a joint
committee was formed in 1968 origin from these two bodies - The Swedish Guide
and Scout Union, with the working title The Swedish Guide and Scout Council.
In 1982 the name was changed to be solely The Swedish Guide and Scout Council.

SSR is a member of WAGGGS and WOSM.
The Swedish Guide and Scout Council deal with most international matters as
well as joint questions and projects concerning the five associations (~150000
members).    All five associations have mixed boys and girls and they have
their own leadership training within their own organisations, through the
local troop, on a district level, on a regional level and on a national level.

Trefoil/Gilwell courses are arranged every year.  Leaders are from almost all
age groups.  It is usual that a group has leaders of quite different age.
Leaders are both old scouts and parents.  I believe there is a majority of
non-parents.  It is not a tradition that parents follow their kids through the
different age groups; instead they tend to stay in the same age group a number
of years.  There is no notion of ranks (like Star, Life, Eagle as in the BSA)
in any of the scouting associations.  There are however merit badges.  The
scout uniform differs in the five associations.  Usually half uniform is worn
- shirt and scarf.  The Gilwell scarf is the same for the five associations
and is worn over the collar.
Amongst other things, in Stockholm, G|teborg (Gothenburg) and Malm| there are
Reception Teams to receive and help you with contacts into the country.
Contact The Swedish Guide and Scout Council before you come to Sweden.
(Some facts of Sweden - almost 9 million people in Sweden, the biggest towns
are Stockholm - capital of Sweden, G|teborg (Gothenburg) and Malm|, Sweden is
measuring 1574 km (977 miles) from max. south-north, 499 km (310 miles) max.
east-west and the total surface area is 449964 km^2 (173731 sq.miles), from
south to north by road ~2100 km (~1305 miles). Sweden is a country with an
extensive coastline, a very nice archipelago, woods, countryside, mountains
and alp scenery.)
The council also represents Swedish guiding and scouting in the world
associations and other members countries as well as other organizations,
authorities and keeping in contact with the public.

   Postal address:                Visiting address:
     Svenska Scoutr}det             Igeldammsgatan 22
     P.O. Box 49005                 Stockholm
     S-100 28 Stockholm           Telephone:     + 46 (0)8 650 35 35
     Sweden                       Telefax:       + 46 (0)8 653 07 43


THE SALVATION ARMY GUIDE AND SCOUT ASSOCIATION
(Fr{lsningsarmens Scoutf|rbund - FA)
Founded 1916, 3000 members in 55 groups.
FA Scout is a branch of the local Salvation Army Young People's Corps.  The
program is characterized by traditional scout activities with outdoor life,
international awareness and community involvement.  But the aim also includes
definite guidance towards making a personal decision to accept the Christian
faith and life style.
There are four sections of activities, both boys and girls take part in all
four.  The shirt is medium blue with a red scarf that is worn underneath the
collar.
Minior scout      (7-9 yrs)
Junior scout     (10-11 yrs)
Patrol scout      (12-14 yrs)
Senior scout     (15-20 yrs)
Troop leaders must be 18 years of age.


THE SWEDISH YWCA-YMCA GUIDE AND SCOUT ASSOCIATION
(KFUK-KFUMs Scoutf|rbund)
The YMCA-Scout Association was founded 1911 and the YWCA-Guide Association in
1921.  In 1960 they merged to form The Swedish YWCA-YMCA Guide And Scout
Association.  18000 members in 430 groups.
Some of the scout groups originate from local YWCA-YMCA groups.  But many have
other parents organizations.  There are Baptist scouts, Adventist scouts,
Blue-band scouts, Methodist scouts, Swedish Salvation Army scouts, although
most groups are independent and not in any way associated with the local YWCA-
YMCA group or with any church.
The aim of all activities is to give the members various experiences,
understanding and knowledge of outdoor life, with consciousness of the
environment, questions of faith and moral issues, a sense of international
responsibility and involvement in public affairs.
There are five sections of scouting, both boys and girls take part in all
five.  The shirt is medium blue with a white (or the group's colour) scarf
that is worn underneath the collar.
Beaver scouts     (5-7 yrs)
Minior scouts     (8-9 yrs)
Junior scouts     (10-11 yrs)
Patrol scouts     (12-15 yrs)
Rover scouts     (16-  yrs)


THE TEMPERANCE GUIDE AND SCOUT ASSOCIATION
(Nykterhetsr|relsens Scoutf|rbund - NSF)
Scouting began as an activity within the Swedish Temperance Movement in 1927.
Four decades it was run by two different associations, NTO's Guide and Scout
Association and IOGT's Guide and Scout Association.  In 1970 they were united
and became NSF.  7000 members in 120 groups.
A fundamental principle of NSF, along with the Guide/Scout law and promise,
learning by doing, the patrol system, outdoor life and international, is
personal temperance.  Members over 12 years of age make a temperance pledge.
This means they do not drink any beverage with more than 2.25 % of alcohol by
volume.
There are four sections of scouting, both boys and girls take part in all
four.  The shirt is medium blue with a dark-blue scarf that is worn underneath
the collar.
Beaver scouts     (7 yrs) as a trial activity
Minior scouts     (8-9 yrs)
Junior scouts     (10-11 yrs)
Patrol scouts     (12-15 yrs)
Senior scouts     (16-  yrs)


THE GUIDE AND SCOUT ORGANISATION OF THE SWEDISH COVENANT
YOUTH
(Svenska Missionsf|rbundets Ungdom-scout - SMU-scout)
Founded 1931, 35000 members in 545 groups.
The Guide and Scout Organisation of The Swedish Covenant Youth is part of the
activities within youth work of the Swedish Covenant Church.
The program is characterized by traditional scout activities with outdoor
life, questions of faith and moral issues, learning by doing, the patrol
system, international awareness and responsibility, community involvement and
guidance towards a personal Christian faith and life style.
There are four sections of scouting, both boys and girls take part in all
four.  The shirt is green with a brick-red scarf that is worn over the collar.

Nying scout don't wear full uniform, just a yellow scarf.
Nying scout     (7-9 yrs)
Scout          (10-12 yrs)
Teenage          (13-15 yrs)
Senior scouts     (16-18 yrs)
After 18 years of age you become leader.  There is 1 sea scout troop.


THE SWEDISH GUIDE AND SCOUT ASSOCIATION
(Svenska Scoutf|rbundet - SSF)
Founded 1912, 82000 members in 635 groups.
The Swedish Guide And Scout Association is a non-political organization, which
runs scout activities for children, young people and adults, from 7 years of
age and upwards.
There are five sections of scouting, both boys and girls take part in all
five.  The shirt is medium blue with a white (or the group's colour) scarf
that is worn underneath the collar.
Beaver scouts     (7 yrs)
Minior scouts     (8-9 yrs)
Junior scouts     (10-11 yrs)
Patrol scouts     (12-14 yrs)
Senior scouts     (15-18 yrs)
Members over 18 years old are leaders and can also form a rover scout unit.
There are about 150 sea scout troops along our coasts.