Scouting and Guiding in Finland

Finland was among the first countries to embrace Scouting: the first Finnish Scout groups were founded in 1910. Finnish scouting has traditionally emphasised the usage of nature as a learning environment. Our forests and lakes provide a wonderful environment to practice all sort of scouting skills. A scout camp is a culmination of the scout programme where all the scouting skills can be utilised in a safe and motivating environment.

The Finnish Scout programme is marked by the fusion of the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. The Guides and Scouts of Finland were established in 1972, when the Guiding and Scouting Associations were merged. The core of the Guiding and Scouting movement is a local group, headed by voluntary Guide and Scout leaders. The size of a local group can vary from 20 to 200 members, and they can be single-sex or joint groups. The Guides and Scouts of Finland consists of around 850 local groups, and more than half of them are joint groups.

The Finnish scouts and guides have recently started to use a new programme and Kilke is the first Finnjamboree where the new programme and new age groups will be in use. Kilke is part of the centenary activities of the Finnish Scout and Guide movement. We hope you'll join us for the exciting moment of celebrating the 100 years old Finnish scout and guide movement while looking towards the future with an even better scouting programme!