The Guides and Scouts of Sweden consist of more than 1100 Scout Groups, each containing a number of Units running Scouting for different age groups. Scout Groups can be found across all of Sweden – from Gällivare in the north to Trelleborg in the south.

Common to all Scout Groups is that we all prepare young people for life and we share our values, which are that everyone is welcome in Scouting and we are good friends.

All Groups are members in the Guides and Scouts of Sweden but some are also members of another organisation. They most often work with one specific profile issue or ideology, for example the temperance Scouts or Scout operations with a religious foundation.

In the Guides and Scouts of Sweden there are also districts which coordinate Groups within a geographical area. Many Groups belong to a district, but not all. Districts can, for example, organise different activities and trainings for Groups.

The general meeting of the Guides and Scouts of Sweden

The highest decision making body of the Guides and Scouts of Sweden is the general meeting which is held every other year. Each Group sends delegates to the general meeting, which makes decisions about what the Guides and Scouts of Sweden shall do. The general meeting chooses the National Board of the Guides and Scouts of Sweden. The weekend meeting gathers 1000 Scouts from all around Sweden.

The secretariat of the Guides and Scouts of Sweden

The Guides and Scouts of Sweden have an office organisation that works for the National Board to implement that which the general meeting has decided. The secretariat is led by the Secretary General. The national office is located in Stockholm and there are four regional offices around the country.

Some recent history – structural changes in the Guides and Scouts of Sweden

On 1 January 2013, scouts in Sweden entered a new organisation. The new organisation is called The Guides and Scouts of Sweden and includes all 70 000 Scouts in Sweden.

How were things before?

Scouts in Sweden were previously organised in five different associations which then had an umbrella organisation called the Swedish Guide and Scout Council. The associations varied in size and were organised in different ways but all shared common ground in the Scout method and the values of Scouting.

Working towards one unified organisation

In the middle of the 1990s discussions started about jointly organising a national camp for all five Scout associations and in 2001 the first Swedish national jamboree was held on the fields of Rinkaby in the municipality of Kristianstad. On the same site were later held another two large camps, Jiingijamborii and the the World Scout Jamboree 2011. These camps were all important steps in welding together our movement, where the different associations met and united in the preparatory work.

In the years following the first joint camp, a common strategy for the future of Scouting in Sweden, a common programme, common training modules and a common Scout uniform were all worked out. Working towards the creation of one united organisation has been a natural step after this.

In November 2012 the first general meeting was held for the new organisation.

What was the difference?

• The organisation of the Swedish Guide and Scout Association was restructured and became the Guides and Scouts of Sweden.
• All Scout Groups were connected to the new united organisation. All members and Scout Groups now belong to the same organisation: the Guides and Scouts of Sweden.
• Other associations still exist and have signed agreements of cooperation with the Guides and Scouts of Sweden.
• Scout Groups received more influence in the organisation through direct representation at the general meeting of the Guides and Scout of Sweden.
• It became easier for more Scouts to participate in the democratic processes.
• More groups can run Scouting with a specific profile, for example: temperance Scouting. For all organisations that already exist and that want to start Scouting as a part of their activities, there is now a possibility to join as a co-operating organisation.