Happy 20th Anniversary to OSG!

This year, 2026, is the 20th anniversary of the start of Outdoor Service Guides! While this is not a very large number of years compared to our brothers and sisters in some other scouting organizations, it is a big deal for us. As an all volunteer organization, it is not easy to keep people involved. We have turned over our board and the role of Chief Commissioner nearly ten times in those twenty years.  Yet, we have persisted.

I think the reason OSG has persisted through this incredibly turbulent twenty year period, is because we offer something that is valuable beyond words. We offer people the chance to experience the wonders of the outdoors while learning real skills, and complete acceptance. Your entire family can experience scouting with us. We don’t discriminate based on gender, ability or anything else. That makes us special.

Outdoor Service Guides started when an adult Rover, who was a member of Rovering USA wanted a program for their own child. A small group of dedicated adults started Baden Powell Scouting Association to fill a need they saw. They wanted a scouting program that would be affordable, accessible, and get back to the roots of what scouting was all about. The focus of this new program would be a combination of outdoor skills and community service.There would be nothing to sell and no one would make any money off this scouting program.

Shortly, the program changed their name to Baden Powell Service Association, reflecting that value of community service. The adults involved created a 4 level program for ages 5 to adult, with a later addition of chipmunks, for preschoolers.

In 2020, the decision was made to again change our name. This time, it was because of a realization that the name of Baden Powell was not doing what we wanted. While revered in scouting circles for his contribution to starting scouting, his life was complex. Asking those with no scouting background to understand that we did not in fact agree with the Boer War, was too nuanced. Since the man himself didn’t name his scouting program after anyone, we realized we could follow in his footsteps and find a more welcoming name.

Outdoor Service Guides became our new name, after a rather difficult labor and delivery. We chose to be guides because the first scouts who were separated from the boy scouts, were the Girl Guides. As an all gender organization, we seek to stand with those who have not always had a scouting home.

In the twenty years of OSG, we have survived a pandemic, three name changes, and a move from a small organization to a much bigger one. We have changed our leader trainings several times. We have added pathfinder events across the country that teach leadership. We have written and rewritten our books, and continued to offer them as free PDFs. We have created badges, retired badges, and reinvented badges.

On that note, we will have a new 20th anniversary badge to commemorate this year. To earn it, you need to be a member in good standing, and participate in six events with OSG.  You can learn more at this document.