 The Brownsea Island Scout camp began as a boys ' camping event on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour , southern England , organised by Lieutenant @-@ General Baden @-@ Powell to test his ideas for the book Scouting for Boys . Boys from different social backgrounds participated from 1 to 8 August 1907 in activities around camping , observation , woodcraft , chivalry , lifesaving and patriotism . Recognised as the world 's first Scout camp , the event is regarded as the real origin of the worldwide Scout movement . 
