By Evald Uuitalu

EESTI SKAUTIDE UHING (ESU)

ASTONIAN SCOUT ASSOCIATION

Scouting in Estonia began even before the country had achieved its political independence. The first Scout Troop was formed in the west coast town of Parnu in 1912. According to its founders, Scouting was registered with the central organization of the Tsarist Russian Scout Movement - "Russki Skout" - as the first Scout Troop in the Baltic Provinces. As far as is known today, the Parnu Troop remained the only one of its kind in Estonia for 4 years. In spite of its relatively isolated existence, it developed a remarkable degree of imagination and variety in its activities. In planning and organizing the troop's program B. P.'s Scouting for Boys was studied closely and its activities emphasized the acquisition not only of Scouting skills but also of proficiency in various crafts and trades. The latter part of the program was carried out with accompanying tests similar to present day Proficiency or Merit Badge program, for which the Parnu Scouts prepared by working as volunteer helpers with local carpenters, blacksmiths, electricians, and various other tradesmen. During one of their summer vacations they were working for room and board at a nearby estate, some working in the fields, others in the workshops of the estate.

In Tallinn and Tartu, the movement was started at the initiative of a few enthusiasts, while it was introduced into several smaller towns by students from high schools which had been evacuated northward from Latvia in order to escape the advancing German armies. Local boys were admitted into these Scout Troops but this privilege was short-lived.

Estonia was soon occupied and refugees were evacuated further into the inner Russian provinces. Most of the scouts were among the refugees. This was the end of Scouting in these towns, but not in the larger centers. In Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia and the seat of a 300 year old university, Scout troops were organized at every large school with no other aid than a Russian translation of B. P.'s Scouting for Boys and some consultation with a visiting Scouts in uniform from Parnu. A few patrols of these troops were even able to continue their activities when Scouting was banned during the following German occupation. The Estonian War of Liberation, however, brought a pause to Scouting in Tartu as most boys over 16 (many even younger) volunteered for the fighting forces. But they restored their troops and patrols as soon as they were able to return to their school benches and one of these Scouts, now in the U.S.A., is still active among Scouts of Estonian extraction.

In Tallinn, the first two Scout Troops were started in 1916 by Anton Ounapuu, a teacher of physical education who had studied in Finland and had there acquainted himself with Scouting. The Estonian Boy Scouts consider him their "founding father" although his activity was short-lived; he fell in a battle of the War of Liberation in April 1919. His death became a symbol of the spirit of Scouting. It also brought about in Tallinn, the immediate election of a Staff with Commissioners to head the planning and execution of various Scouting activities. This organization provided the nucleus that later developed into the Estonian Scout Headquarters which was to lead Estonian Scouting until its liquidation by the Soviet-Russian occupational authorities in 1940.

To remedy the existing conditions the First Estonian Scout Conference was held in Tartu in March 1921. At this Conference all the major principles of Estonian Scouting were established, and the much needed central organization, The Estonian Boy Scout Association was created. On this occasion the Estonian Scouts had the good fortune to obtain one of the most noted and able Estonian public figures, Jaan Hunerson, later to become the Minister of Education of the Estonian Republic, as the chief of staff of their headquarters.

One of the first events of the prosperous years of Estonian Scouting was the reception of a very dear guest, the World Chief-Scout, Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell who visited Tallinn on August 19th, 1933. On that occasion, Scouts from every part of the country rallied to the capital. It is not known exactly how many were on hand to greet B. P., but even the most modest estimates give a figure as large as the number of participants in the biggest Scout-camp ever to be held in Estonia.

The next big event and probably the foremost achievement of Estonian Scouting was the third Suurlaager, held in 1936 and attended by approximately 2000 boys, including 480 from abroad. Among the foreign guests were 300 Finns, large contingents from Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, and a few representatives from Hungary and Norway. The third Suurlaager, which had, as did the preceding one, Herbert Michelson for its Camp Chief, remained the biggest achievement of Estonian Scouting. Four years later the Movement was liquidated by Soviet Russian occupational authorities.

The Estonian Scouting spirit was not broken by the liquidation of their organizations by the Soviet Russian occupational authorities in 1940; nor was it crushed by the following German occupation of 1941-1944. This became quite evident during the final stages of World War II when Estonian refugees reached those countries and areas where they were at liberty to reorganize their Movements.

In order to unify all Estonian Scouting organizations in exile, two independent organizations have been formed - one for Boy Scouts and the other for Girl Guides. The central organization for boys was established on the initiative of the Central Bureau of the Estonian Boy Scouts in Germany the only legally recognized Estonian Scouting organization. The Charter of the "Estonian Boy Scouts in Exile" was signed in London on the first of August 1949 by the representatives of Estonian Scouts from Germany and Great Britain. This new organization was later joined by the Estonian Scouts in the U.SA. and Australia, but universal membership could be assured only after the statutes had been modified. At this occasion also the name was changed to the present one, 'The Estonian Boy Scout Associations in Exile".

The corresponding organization of the Girl Guides has experienced an analogous development the most notable exception being their immediate success in obtaining universal membership. Their central organization "Estonian Girl Guides in Exile" - was established in the autumn of 1949 and a change of statutes and name occurred in 1960. The executive organ of the Girl Guides central organization consists of a Board of three members, while that of the Boy Scouts is a Central Bureau under the direction of a Secretary General. The more important decisions of the "The Estonian Boy Scout Associations in Exiles' are submitted to a Council composed of representatives of the constituent organizations. This Council never meets but its members decide the issues in question by voting by mail.

The important post of Secretary General has up to now had four incumbents. The location of the Boy Scouts Central Bureau and the majority of its members is usually, although not necessarily, determined by the residence of the Secretary General. Herbert Michelson was Secretary-General for the Central Bureau in 1949-1953, living at first in Germany and later in the U.S.A. The second Secretary General, Walter Koppemnan (1953-1955) directed the alteration of the statutes and the reorganization of the activities from Philadelphia. The third incumbent, Aksel Salumets (1955-1957), was from Toronto, Canada, where after the Executive Secretary moved to Halsingborg, Sweden, where the fourth Secretary General, Aksel Vaigur is residing. Re-elected once (in 1960) he has held his office very conscientiously until this day.

Scouting in Estonia was reborn again in 1989. Membership is open to all young people without discrimination. Today, there are over 1,000 male and female members. Estonian Scouting has been recognized and has become a member of the World Organization Of Scout Movements as of 1996.

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