Brendan+Woodman+Speech+09

**__Sir Robert Baden-Powell: Chief Scout of the World__**

Scouting, is more than selling cookies and popcorn, and one of the most popular past times for boys and girls alike to participate in, and we owe it all to one man... Sir Robert Baden-Powell. I nominate him as "a person who has touched many lives."  : )

Baden-Powell had 3 children, 2 daughters and 1 son. His wife's name was Olave St Clair Soames He met her on a boat in January, 1912, and when he saw her he remembered her from when he saw her walking her dog in England. He was 55 and she 23. They were born 32 years apart, both on February 22. They were engaged by September, and married that October. They kept their marriage a secret to avoid the press.

Baden-Powell is known for founding scouts and writing the scout manual. He founded boy scouts in 1908 in England. The scout manual started as a war manual called Aids for Scouting. This manual was used to guide scouts out in the field during various wars. It was a best-seller, and people were using it to teach children. When Baden-Powell heard of this he began writing another book that was more child friendly, which ended up being converted into the scout manual. Scouting later moved out around the world, and America took it in in 1910.

In 1907, Baden-Powell did a trial camp with 20 boys on Brownsea Island, and it was a success. This was the beginning of the scouting era. Then in 1910 a similar organization, the Girl Guides began. When the scouting organization was just starting to become popular world-wide, World War I broke out and scouting started to fall apart in many places.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell died on January 8, 1941, and Lady Olave St Clair Soames Baden-Powell died June 19, 1977. In closing, I want to read you a letter that was found in Baden-Powell's papers. This letter shows how he wanted everyone to live a happy life. TO BOY SCOUTS: Dear Scouts,—If you have ever seen the play //Peter Pan you// will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of good-bye. Remember, it is the last you will ever hear from me, so think it over. I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have as happy a life too. I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn't come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your [|career], nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can //be useful// and so can enjoy life when you are a man. Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one. But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have //done your best.// "Be Prepared" in this way, to live happy and to die happy—stick to your Scout promise always—even after you have ceased to be a boy—and God help you to do it. Your Friend, BADEN-POWELL.

Through scouting, Baden Powell is a person.................who has touched many lives.