Introduction
The Constitution of the World Organization of the Scout Movement states clearly that Scouting is “an educational Movement”.

Education in the broadest sense is a life long process which enables the global and continuous development of a person’s capacities both as an individual and a member of society. Contrary to the commonly held view, education goes far beyond formal education (i.e. school) in both scope and duration.

• A life long process: the development of an individual does not take place exclusively during the “formative years” (childhood and adolescence). It will continue throughout his or her life. As a “process”, it will have ups and downs – periods that will be more active, intensive, significant than others – and it will need to be supported.

• The continuous development of a person’s capacities: the purpose of education is to contribute to the full development of an autonomous, supportive, responsible and committed individual:

Autonomous: able to make his/her own decisions and to manage his/her life

Supportive: who actively cares about and for others

Responsible: able to assume the consequences of the decisions he/she makes, to keep commitments and to complete what he/she undertakes

Committed: who seeks to live according to his/her values and supports the ideals which he/she finds are important.

• As an individual: the development of all the abilities of an individual in all areas of growth – physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual.

• As a member of society: the development of an awareness of and concern for others, the sense of belonging to a community and being part of its history and evolution.

These two dimensions cannot be dissociated since there is no “education” without a search for the full development of a person’s own potentials and there is no “education” without learning to live with others as a member of the local, national and international communities […]