FOS Open Scouting or FOS is a pluralistic

Cultural pluralism

Cultural pluralism is a term used when smaller groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities, and their values and practices are accepted by the wider culture. Cultural pluralism is often confused with Multiculturalism...

, internationally oriented, coeducational, Flemish

Flanders

Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...

 Scout

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 and Guide organisation in Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

  and is a member of the Guidisme et Scoutisme en Belgique/Gidsen- en Scoutsbeweging in België

Guidisme et Scoutisme en Belgique

Gidsen- en Scoutsbeweging in België or Guidisme et Scoutisme en Belgique is the national Guiding and Scouting federation in Belgium. Scouting in Belgium started in 1911, and Guiding followed in 1915...

 (GSB, Guides and Scouts Movement of Belgium). FOS is a federation of 58 Scout Group

Scout Group

The Scout Group is the local organisation for Scouting in most countries where it is active. It combines together the different sections into a single body. Scout Groups can consist of any number of sections in the different Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding...

s.

History

The first pluralistic Boy Scouts organisation in Belgium was the "Boy-Scouts de Belgique" (B.S.B.) founded in 1910. 1913 was the "Sea Scouts of Belgium" (S.S.B) and in 1914 "Eclaireurs de Belgique" (E.B.) founded. In 1916 the S.S.B and the E.B. merged with the B.S.B.. In the same year was the "Girl-Guides van België" (G.G.B.) founded, the first pluralistic Girl Guide organisation. 1945 the B.S.B. and the G.G.B. merged to form the Boy-Scouts en Girl-Guides van België (B.S.B.-G.G.B.). 1966 the B.S.B.-G.G.B. split in a Flemish organisation, "Federatie voor Open Scoutisme" (F.O.S.) and a Walloon organisation, "Fédération des Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs" (F.E.E.), later renamed to Scouts et Guides Pluralistes de Belgique (S.G.P.). In 1999 dropped F.O.S. the dots and renamed to "FOS Open Scouting".

Sections

Agegroup	Boys / Girls / Common	Seascouts
6 - 7	Bevers	Zeehonden
8 - 10	Welpen
11 - 13	Jongverkenners / Jonggidsen / JVG	Aspiranten
14 - 15	Verkenners / Gidsen / VG	Juniors
16 - 17	Seniors	Loodsen
18 +	Leaders

VG = Verkenner-Gids

Foundations

• Values: Law
  Scout Law
  Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout Promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law...
  
   & Promise
  Scout Promise
  Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law. The wording of the Scout Promise and Scout Law have varied slightly over time and from country to...
  
  , Engagement, Teamwork, Service, Self-reliance, Self-governing, Openness (active pluralism), Co-education
• Playgrounds: Outdoor live, exploration, sport & games, culture & creativity, techniques, reflection & society
• Methods: Patrol system, Symbolic framework, Personal progression, Living in nature, Learning by doing, Adult support

FOS is more traditional than the Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen is a Christian, coeducational, Flemish Scout and Guide organisation in Belgium and is a member of the Guidisme et Scoutisme en Belgique/Gidsen- en Scoutsbeweging in België .The way of working of Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen is based on five basic principles: Joint...

and actively uses Class badges.
|-
! Tak (Section)
! Techniekniveau (Class badge)
|-
| Bevers / Zeehonden
| Bevertanden
|-
| Welpen
| Teerpoot
Eerste Ster
Tweede Ster
Wolf
|-
| Jonggidsen / Jongverkenners / Aspiranten
| Teervoet
|-
| Gidsen/Verkenners/Juniors
| 2e Klas
|-
| Seniors
| 1e Klas>

Active pluralism

All children and young people from 5 years are welcome in FOS. Race, social origin, nationality, sexual orientation, physical or cultural differences is never a basis for refusal. Also are people with any philosophical, religious or political conviction welcome as long as these principles are compatible with the vision of Open Scouting. FOS believes that a conviction is never finished, that you have to accept that a different view can and may have consequences and that you basically always have to be willing to review your vision and possibly amend it. FOS encourages a respectful dialogue about the various forms of spirituality in society. This confrontation of ideas is believed to enrich the spiritual choices of the members.

The promise of the FOS makes no reference to a god or a religion only to a higher ideal.
I promise, on my honour, to try:
To be loyal to a higher ideal, our group and democracy
To obey the guides/scouts law
To help where possible

External links

• FOS Open Scouting