Svenska Scoutförbundet
A former Swedish interreligious guide and scout association that became part of Scouterna during Sweden's national scouting restructuring.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Svenska Scoutförbundet (SSF), or the Swedish Guide and Scout Association, was a national Swedish scouting organization founded in 1909. It was an interreligious association and became one of the principal organizations represented within Svenska Scoutrådet, the Swedish Guide and Scout Council. Unlike a commercial brand, SSF operated as a voluntary youth movement: its local groups organized outdoor activities, camps, leadership development, community participation, and age-related scouting programs for children and young people across Sweden. The association formed part of the wider development of Swedish scouting, which began in 1908, with guiding following in 1910. Swedish scouting was connected to the international movement from an early stage. Swedish Boy Scouts were among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922, while Swedish Girl Guides participated among the founders of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1928. SSF therefore operated within both the Swedish voluntary sector and the international guide and scout tradition. Its program evolved over several decades. A boys' program called Våra Pojkar was introduced in 1931, followed by the girls' program Våra Flickor in 1936. The two programs received the same name and a common program framework in 1957, although activities continued in separate sections for a time. The sections became co-educational in 1972. Later program developments included Nyingscout, introduced in 1974, and Seniorscout, introduced in 1988. These changes reflected a gradual expansion of age groups and a movement toward integrated participation by boys and girls. SSF also maintained a relationship with Vässarö, a scout campsite on an island in the Öregrund archipelago. The island was donated to the Scout Group of Stockholm following the death of sea captain Ragnar Westin, who had acquired it in 1936. Vässarö hosted its first confirmation camp for boy scouts in 1956 and its first girl guide camp in 1966. The site became an important setting for camping, training, and shared movement traditions. SSF was described in reference material as Sweden's largest scouting organization at one point, with membership reported at different times and in different organizational contexts. It was one of several national associations that belonged to Svenska Scoutrådet, alongside organizations connected with the Mission Covenant movement, YMCA-YWCA, the temperance movement, and the Salvation Army. In 2012, the member organizations were incorporated into the newly organized national association Scouterna, the Guides and Scouts of Sweden. Svenska Scoutrådet was subsequently dissolved after the restructuring process, with the council's dissolution completed in September 2013. SSF consequently no longer operates as an independent association.
History
Svenska Scoutförbundet was founded in Sweden in 1909, during the early expansion of the international scouting movement. Swedish scouting had begun the previous year, and guiding followed in 1910. The movement developed through voluntary associations that combined outdoor life, practical skills, citizenship education, fellowship, and service. SSF became an interreligious national association and one of the most significant organizations in Swedish scouting. The association's educational program changed as Swedish scouting became more systematic and broadened its age range. Våra Pojkar was introduced for boys in 1931, and Våra Flickor followed for girls in 1936. In 1957, the two programs were given the same name and a common program concept, although boys and girls still participated in separate sections. The sections became co-educational in 1972. Nyingscout was added in 1974, and Seniorscout in 1988, extending the program's reach to younger and older participants. SSF's history was also connected to the development of Swedish national and international scouting institutions. Swedish Boy Scouts were among the charter members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. Swedish Girl Guides were among the founders of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1928. Within Sweden, SSF belonged to Svenska Scoutrådet, a council that brought together several guide and scout associations with different religious, social, and ideological backgrounds. The association's camp traditions included Vässarö, an island campsite in the Öregrund archipelago. The island had previously been used for farming. Sea captain Ragnar Westin bought it in 1936, intending to use it in retirement, but after he died when his ship was torpedoed in 1942, his will directed that the island be donated to the Scout Group of Stockholm. Vässarö hosted its first confirmation camp for boy scouts in 1956 and its first camp for girl guides in 1966. It subsequently served as a significant location for Swedish scouting activities and youth camps. SSF was one of the organizations represented in Svenska Scoutrådet alongside Svenska Missionskyrkans Ungdom Scout, KFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund, Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund, and Frälsningsarméns Scoutförbund. Reference material describes SSF as having been Sweden's largest scouting organization, although reported membership totals vary by period and source. Its national headquarters were located at Tellusborgsvägen 94 in Stockholm. A major institutional change took place in 2012. The member organizations of Svenska Scoutrådet were incorporated into Scouterna, creating a single national guide and scout association for Sweden. This restructuring ended SSF's separate national identity. Svenska Scoutrådet was dissolved in September 2013 after the transition. SSF should therefore be understood as a historical Swedish scouting association rather than an active independent organization. Its program traditions, local groups, camps, and volunteer culture became part of the broader national structure represented by Scouterna.
- 2013
End of the former national council structure
[1]Svenska Scoutrådet was dissolved in September following the restructuring, completing the transition to the single national association.
- 2012
Integration into Scouterna
[1]SSF and the other organizations represented in Svenska Scoutrådet were incorporated into Scouterna.
- 1988
Seniorscout introduced
[1]SSF introduced the Seniorscout program for older youth participants.
- 1974
Nyingscout introduced
[1]SSF added the Nyingscout program to its age-based scouting offer.
- 1972
Sections become co-educational
[1]SSF's boys' and girls' sections became co-educational.
- 1966
First girl guide camp at Vässarö
[1]Vässarö hosted its first camp for girl guides.
- 1957
Common program framework adopted
[1]The boys' and girls' programs adopted the same name and program framework, although their sections remained separate for several more years.
- 1956
First confirmation camp at Vässarö
[1]Vässarö hosted its first confirmation camp for boy scouts.
- 1936
Våra Flickor program introduced
[1]SSF introduced a corresponding Våra Flickor program for girls.
- 1931
Våra Pojkar program introduced
[1]SSF introduced its Våra Pojkar program for boys.
Products and positioning
An interreligious, volunteer-led Swedish guide and scout association focused on youth development, outdoor life, community participation, and progressive integration of boys' and girls' programs.
Youth scouting program · 1931
Våra Pojkar
A program introduced in 1931 for boys in Svenska Scoutförbundet. It represented the association's early structured approach to age-based youth scouting before the later adoption of a shared program framework for boys and girls.
Youth guiding program · 1936
Våra Flickor
A corresponding program introduced in 1936 for girls. Together with Våra Pojkar, it formed the basis of SSF's pre-coeducational program structure and was later aligned with the common program introduced in 1957.
Youth scouting program · 1974
Nyingscout
An age-based scouting program added by SSF in 1974. The available reference material identifies its introduction but does not provide a detailed description of its curriculum or target age range.
Youth scouting program · 1988
Seniorscout
A program introduced in 1988 for older youth participants. It extended SSF's program structure beyond its earlier children's and younger-youth offerings.
Scout campsite and activities · 1956
Vässarö camps
Camping and confirmation activities associated with Vässarö, a scout island campsite in the Öregrund archipelago. The site hosted a first confirmation camp for boy scouts in 1956 and a first girl guide camp in 1966, becoming an important setting for outdoor scouting and shared movement traditions.
Brand decisions
2012
Integration into a single national associationM&ABackground
Swedish scouting was organized through several national associations represented by Svenska Scoutrådet.
Action taken
SSF was incorporated with the other member organizations into Scouterna, the new single national Guides and Scouts of Sweden association.
Aftermath
SSF ceased to operate as a separate national association, and Svenska Scoutrådet was dissolved after the restructuring process in September 2013.
1972
Move to co-educational sectionsStrategyBackground
Although SSF had established a common program framework in 1957, boys and girls continued to participate in separate sections.
Action taken
SSF made its sections co-educational.
Aftermath
The decision further integrated participation within the association's national program.
1957
Unification of boys' and girls' program namesStrategyBackground
SSF had operated separate Våra Pojkar and Våra Flickor programs since the 1930s.
Action taken
The association gave the two programs the same name and a common program framework, while retaining separate sections temporarily.
Aftermath
The change preceded the eventual move to co-educational sections in 1972.
Recent events
- 2013
Svenska Scoutrådet dissolved after restructuring[1]
Other
The Swedish Guide and Scout Council was dissolved in September after the national restructuring that created Scouterna. The change marked the end of the former federated structure in which SSF had operated.
- 2012
National scouting organizations incorporated into Scouterna[1]
M&A
Svenska Scoutförbundet and the other member organizations of Svenska Scoutrådet were incorporated into the new single national association Scouterna, the Guides and Scouts of Sweden.
Sources2 sources
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