Sierran Scouting Association

  

Sierran Scouting Association of Boys and Girls
Age range	Beaver Scouts/Rainbow Guides (6–8) Cub Scouts/Brownies (9–12) Scouts/Guides (13–17) Rover Scouts/Ranger Guides (18+)
Headquarters	Irvine, Orange
Country	Kingdom of Sierra
Founded	March 3, 1902 (1902-03-03) (founded as the Boy Scouts of Sierra)
Founder	James Barton
Chief Guide	Princess Clara Maria, Duchess of Colorado
Chief Executive	Bert Shaw
Affiliation	International Federation of the Scout Movement
Governing body	National Council of the Sierran Scouting Association

The Sierran Scouting Association of Boys and Girls (abbreviated as SSABG and commonly referred to as the Sierran Scouting Association and its abbreviation SSA or simply the Sierran Scouts) is one of the world's largest scouting organizations and the largest youth organization in the Kingdom of Sierra, with about 800,000 youth members. The SSA is part of the international Scout movement and a member of the International Federation of the Scout Movement. Founded in 1902 as the Boy Scouts of Sierra, the organization was reorganized as the co-ed Sierran Scouting Federation in 2004 following the merger between the Boy Scouts of Sierra with the Girl Scouts of Sierra. It was renamed the Sierran Scouting Association of Boys and Girls in 2016.

The SSA is divided into several age groups: the Beaver Scouts/Rainbow Guides (ages 6–8), the Cub Scouts/Brownies (ages 9–12), the Boy Scouts/Girl Guides (ages 13–17), and the Rover Scouts/Ranger Guides (18+). The majority of troops in the SSA are separate, gender-specific while a minority are co-ed. Since its restructuring in 2016, the SSA has accepted members regardless of religious belief, gender, or sexuality. Transgender and nonbinary scouts and guides are allowed to be assigned to the single-sex troop matching their gender identity or choice.

The SSA is a private, not-for-profit organization supported by chartering local organizations such as educational organizations, clubs, civic associations, and churches. Each unit is organized and led by an all-volunteer force composed of members appointed by local councils. These councils include paid career scouters and volunteers who manage the day-to-day operations of the units under their jurisdiction. All local councils report to the National Council of the Sierran Scouting Association, the highest authority in SSA.

History

In the early 20th century, the Kingdom of Sierra experienced tumultuous change socially and politically. The Sierran Cultural Revolution radically altered the cultural landscape of the Kingdom and racial relations between the Kingdom's four largest racial groups: White Sierrans, Asian Sierrans, Hispanic Sierrans, and Sierran Creoles. Numerous reforms were implemented to reinvigorate the Kingdom under "New Nationalism" and the "New Culture", which included the sponsorship of new youth organizations. In the eve of the Revolution, John Prescott, a wealthy Sierran industrialist, visited London in 1902 and was inspired by his encounters with the Scout movement there in England. He decided to incorporate the Boy Scouts of Sierra with the hopes of starting a domestic movement for the Kingdom's boys. The movement remained in its infancy until the 1910s when the country underwent more drastic change under the Revolution and King Louis I of Sierra declared his support for it. The rise in influence and power of Landonist and socialist movements across the Americas, especially after the Continental Revolutionary War, troubled the Sierran public over fears that the youth would become radicalized. The Boy Scouts of Sierra became the premier choice for parents to send their sons to learn "how to love God, Country, and Crown" and values such as strength, honor, and loyalty. The Girl Scouts of Sierra was founded in 1921 as the answer to demand that Sierran girls also have a scouting organization similar to the Boy Scouts.

Membership

Scout Oath

I solemnly promise to do all that I can. To serve my God, my King/Queen, and my Country; to help all persons in need; and to keep the Scout Law true.

—Sierran Scouting Association Official Manual

The SSA divides its membership into programs that are based on age groups. As of 2022, it officially recognizes the following:

• Beaver Scouts/Rainbow Guides: available to children between the ages of 6 to 8. Some troops may allow 5 year-olds.
• Cub Scouts/Brownies: available to children between the ages of 4 to 8.
• Scouts/Guides: available to youth between the ages of 9 to 17. Some troops may Venturing or Sea Scouts
• Rover Scouts/Ranger Guides: available to adults 18 and up.

All scouts are required to recite the Scout Oath and abide by the Scout Law upon joining the SSA. The Scout Oath is worded in accordance to the bylaws of the International Federation of the Scout Movement which requires "the principles of Duty to God, Duty to others and Duty to self". Although "God" is mentioned, it is not strictly confined to the monotheistic, Abrahamic sense of God, but may refer to any higher power or deity (deities) in other religion. In 2017, after the SSA ended its prohibition of atheist, agnostic, and nonreligious scouts, it has permitted oath takers to use the term "higher truth" or "higher ideal" instead of "my God" as a substitute.

In addition to the age-based programs, the SSA offers a number of other programs which are optional to participate in:

• Lone Scouting: a program for Scouts who are unable to join the Scouts but would like to participate in the Scouting movement due to geographical isolation or unusual circumstances.
• Scout-Study: an on-campus or at-work program designed to teach Scouts important life skills in education, career opportunities, and leadership experience. As an irregular program, it does not enforce Scout Oath, Scout Law, or uniform wearing.
• Pen Scouts: an honor society for distinguished Scouts who have excelled in academic achievement