The first attempts at Scouting in Italy go back to 1910. They are due in part to the meeting of English gentlemen who were directly influenced by the work and ideas of Baden-Powell, With Italian educators already engaged in pedagogic activity within the new education of the beginning of the century.

The meeting between teacher Remo Molinari and Sir Francis Vane, an old aide of Baden-Povell's and a Scout Commissioner of London, led to the founding of the Ragatzi Exploratori/Boy Scouts della Pace (Peace Boy Scouts) on July 12, 1910 at the City of Lucca in Tuscany. The press coverage and the presence of King Vittorio Emanuelle III at San Rossore on November 6, 1910 gave much publicity to their initiative. This saw the creation of new troops under the name of kagazzi Patrioti in Tuficany's cities of Lucca, Pisa and Florence. The interest of authorities and educators were peaked in Genoa and Lombardy.

Sir Vane was busy with all these initiatives which he qualified as an Italian Section of the Boy Scout Legion, which he founded in England, until 1914 when he was called to war. Deprived of their "adviser", the OSP/RP became unstable or joined the CNGEI.

Another meeting in 1910, the one between English doctor and educator Janes Richardson Spensley, who had met Baden-Powell, and a Catholic educator from Genoa, one Hario Mazza, would bear more durable fruits for Italian Scouting.

Mazza who founded, in Genoa in 1905, a movement of active education "Juventus Juvat" splintered in groups of boys known as "Gioiose". Mazza understood that the principles and methods of his organization would better work out within the Scouting Movement, as he knew it from meeting Spensley and attending a conference given by Sir Vane. This would later expand into all of Liquria and also in Florence and Naples and by the way of absorbing some of the troops left over from Sir Vane's experience. On New Year's Day 1911, the REI sent their wishes to Baden-Powell and all their Boy Scout brothers of Great Britain.

Ofically, Scouting was founded in Italy in 1912. Italy was a founding member of the World Organization (WOSM) in 1922. Italy was readmitted to WOSM in 1946.

The Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts and the National Corps of Italian Boy and Girl Scouts, are two Scout Associations which joined together to form the Italian Scout Federation.

There are about 200,000 members organized into more than 1,600 local groups. Each gfroup is divided into sections depending on the age of the youth.

Branco (Cub pack)- This unit can be for boys or girls or for mixed boys and girls. They are called Lupette e Lupetti or Wolf Cubs.

Reparto (Troop)- This unit can be female, male or mixed . Guide (Guides) and Esploratori (Scouts) are organized in Squadriglie (Patrols). Each Squadriglia has its own Caposquadriglia (Patrol Leader), usually the oldest boy or girl. Each Squadriglia plans and organizes its own activities, weekends in the open air and meetings.

Comunita Rovers-Scolte (Community Rovers and Rangers)-Rovers and Rangers make up a group which is called a Clan. The clan is a community of friends who share the Scout/Guide values which inspire their lives. They work closely with the Repartos and provide many leadership positions. They are very much involved in community service projects.

The program of the Association stresses freedom of choice for the development of personal capacities and interests at all age levels. Projects for community service include "work camps" for the conservation of nature, development cooperation, assistance for the disabled and mutual aid with other educational groups.

The first activities of the Boy Scouts of Italy took place in 1912. The Giovani Esploratori Italiani (GEI) was officially founded in Rome on June 30, 1913 by Carlo Colombo. GEI soon spread to all parts of the nation. In the beginning, it embodied all Italian Boy Scouts, including those who had previously joined a Scout like organization.

In 1916, GEI was recognized and acknowledged for its educational role on behalf of the nation’s youth and became officially a national institution. In 1927, all Scout and Guide units were forced to close under pressure from the facist government, which substituted its own youth program, a poor imitation of Scouting. Even with the banning of Scouting, the spirit of Scouting continued. In many cities and villages, Scouting continued secretly. This time period became known as "The Silent Jungle".

The situation began to change in Southern Italy in 1944 as the land was liberated and Scouting groups began to re-appear. By 1945, this was taking place all over Italy. Once again, all groups were brought together into a national movement. In 1960, both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides merged into one single organization, forming the National Scout/Guide Corps of Italy.

THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY WOSM, AGESCI AND CNGEI HOME PAGES WITH THEIR PERMISSION.