What is Rover Scouting or Rovering?
The Rovering 4 Life Association is designed for adults of any age, in decent health, and living anywhere in the world, who are interested in practicing traditional Rover Scouting, based on the ideals and adventures suggested by Scouting's founder Robert Baden-Powell. The Rover Scouting program has great potential to support adults throughout their lives in their continuing quests for self-development and transformation, offering a framework for support and encouragement of personal development, belonging to a circle of friends living with principles by a Code of Honor, giving back to the community meaningfully, and spending more time in the outdoors. Lord Robert Baden-Powell founded Rovering in 1918 as "a Brotherhood of the Open Air and Service," and later, "a jolly Brotherhood." He also said, "Rover Scouting is a preparation for life, and also a pursuit for life." Rovering is often limited in large, popular Scouting programs (where it exists) to ages 18-25; however, traditional independent Scouting has brought the program back for adults of all ages. Rovering is led by its members, who form a Crew joining originally as Squires, and progress to becoming "Knights" at a Round Table, making their decisions in consensus as much as possible and via democracy when a vote is needed.
What do Rovers do?
These are just some of the possibilities that Rovers can accomplish:
--Having monthly meetings to discuss plans for outings and service, learn Scoutcraft, and enjoy fellowship with each other.
--Holding meetings outdoors as much as possible.
--Going on nature outings regularly, for a day or a weekend, including but not limited to: camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, small boat sailing, white water rafting, rock & tower climbing, high ropes and other obstacle courses, axe & knife throwing, archery (bow & arrow), rifle/shotgun/pistol shooting, orienteering (compass/map) adventures, learning first aid & emergency preparedness, wilderness survival, mountain biking, trail running.
--Conducting service projects in the community, such as improving & maintaining trails in our public nature areas and parks, volunteering at soup kitchens, Goodwill, and other social service organizations, advocating for causes we choose to support, promoting organic gardening & farming methods and providing demonstrations.
--If the Crew is large enough, creating separate Teams of Rovers, if requested by members who live close to each other, each with their own Rover Mate and 2nd, meeting at similar times but with partially different agendas, specific to their needs and goals.
--Providing career and/or life mentoring and career shadowing by older Rovers to younger ones.
--Providing a positive, healthy social network of like-minded Brothers & Sisters living by the Scout Oath/Promise & Law and dedicated to helping each other through life and being the best of friends.
--Providing service to each other whenever needed, with projects, in emergency situations.
--Finding meaningful ways to serve the Scouting movement worldwide, such as attending World Rover Moots as a Crew or World Jamborees as staff, attending training events as trainers, developing educational materials for Rovers and Scouters.
--Having monthly meetings to discuss plans for outings and service, learn Scoutcraft, and enjoy fellowship with each other.
--Holding meetings outdoors as much as possible.
--Going on nature outings regularly, for a day or a weekend, including but not limited to: camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, small boat sailing, white water rafting, rock & tower climbing, high ropes and other obstacle courses, axe & knife throwing, archery (bow & arrow), rifle/shotgun/pistol shooting, orienteering (compass/map) adventures, learning first aid & emergency preparedness, wilderness survival, mountain biking, trail running.
--Conducting service projects in the community, such as improving & maintaining trails in our public nature areas and parks, volunteering at soup kitchens, Goodwill, and other social service organizations, advocating for causes we choose to support, promoting organic gardening & farming methods and providing demonstrations.
--If the Crew is large enough, creating separate Teams of Rovers, if requested by members who live close to each other, each with their own Rover Mate and 2nd, meeting at similar times but with partially different agendas, specific to their needs and goals.
--Providing career and/or life mentoring and career shadowing by older Rovers to younger ones.
--Providing a positive, healthy social network of like-minded Brothers & Sisters living by the Scout Oath/Promise & Law and dedicated to helping each other through life and being the best of friends.
--Providing service to each other whenever needed, with projects, in emergency situations.
--Finding meaningful ways to serve the Scouting movement worldwide, such as attending World Rover Moots as a Crew or World Jamborees as staff, attending training events as trainers, developing educational materials for Rovers and Scouters.
Rovers live by the Scout Oath & Law
These are the traditional Scout's Oath and Law developed by Baden-Powell. All Scouts around the world commit themselves to live by a version of these. Variations can be chosen by Rovers to suit their own beliefs and values, chosen from current or former versions by WFIS or WOSM Scouting organizations.
THE SCOUT'S OATH (BSA UK, 1908):
On my honour I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and the King/Queen (or to God and my Country);
To help other people at all times;
To obey the Scout Law.
THE SCOUT LAW (BSA UK, 1908, last point added in 1911):
1. A Scout’s honour is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs.
5. A Scout is courteous.
6. A Scout is a friend to animals.
7. A Scout obeys orders of his patrol leader or scout master without question.
8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances.
9. A Scout is thrifty.
10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
THE SCOUT'S OATH (BSA UK, 1908):
On my honour I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and the King/Queen (or to God and my Country);
To help other people at all times;
To obey the Scout Law.
THE SCOUT LAW (BSA UK, 1908, last point added in 1911):
1. A Scout’s honour is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs.
5. A Scout is courteous.
6. A Scout is a friend to animals.
7. A Scout obeys orders of his patrol leader or scout master without question.
8. A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances.
9. A Scout is thrifty.
10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
Rover Scout are Knights who follow a
Code of Honor or Chivalry
Living one's life by a Code of Honor & Service gives meaning, structure, and purpose...as well as discipline, to guide us Rovers through this world and all of its challenges. In olden days, Knights had a set of rules which remind us of the Scout Law. They considered their honor to be their most sacred possession, and would try never to do anything dishonorable. In fact, some would rather die than do it. Particularly interesting to Baden-Powell were those Knight-Errants such as Sir Lancelot or Gawain and also the Ronin (masterless Samurai) of Japan, who would would roam the countryside, searching for chivalrous and worthy causes, “damsels in distress,” people who couldn’t defend themselves such as the old, sick, or weak, etc., in order to dedicate themselves to protecting and defending them.
This is the Knight Errant's Code taken from the famous book about King Arthur in the 15th century, Le Morte D'Arthur, by Thomas Malory:
--I develop my life for the greater good.
--I place character above riches, concern for others above personal wealth.
--I will never boast, but cherish humility.
--I speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word.
--I will defend those who cannot defend themselves, honor and respect women, and refute sexism in all its guises.
--I will uphold justice by being fair to all.
--I will be faithful in love, loyal in friendship.
--I will abhor scandals and gossip - neither partake nor delight in them.
--I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help.
--I forgive when asked, that my own mistakes will be forgiven.
--I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward.
According to Baden-Powell, "Chivalry requires that Scouts should be trained to perform the most laborious and humble offices with cheerfulness and grace, and to do good unto others."
This is the Knight Errant's Code taken from the famous book about King Arthur in the 15th century, Le Morte D'Arthur, by Thomas Malory:
--I develop my life for the greater good.
--I place character above riches, concern for others above personal wealth.
--I will never boast, but cherish humility.
--I speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word.
--I will defend those who cannot defend themselves, honor and respect women, and refute sexism in all its guises.
--I will uphold justice by being fair to all.
--I will be faithful in love, loyal in friendship.
--I will abhor scandals and gossip - neither partake nor delight in them.
--I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help.
--I forgive when asked, that my own mistakes will be forgiven.
--I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward.
According to Baden-Powell, "Chivalry requires that Scouts should be trained to perform the most laborious and humble offices with cheerfulness and grace, and to do good unto others."
