Latvia
Latvijas Skautu un Gaidu Centrālā Organizācija, (Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organisation), the primary national Scouting and Guiding organization of Latvia, became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1993. The coeducational Latvijas Skautu un Gaidu Centrālā Organizācija has 543 members as of 2004
The Latvian Scouting program is based on the principles and methods created by Robert Baden-Powell, which were forbidden by the Soviet government in 1940. The first Scout troop in Latvia was established on April 17, 1917 under tsarist Russia, by A. Bredemania (Bredemanis?) and other Scouts from Tartu, Estonia, followed by several other Scout troops in the Rīga area. The official founding of Scouting in Latvia is counted to be 1917.
The Latvian Scout Organization Latvijas Skautu Organizācija was established in 1921, and Latvia was a founding member of the World Organization, from 1922 to 1940.
In 1940, a special officer was appointed by the communists to abolish Scouting. Scouting continued unofficially and underground, operating without uniforms and in the forests to avoid detection. In 1941, the Communists killed the Latvian Scout President, Kārlis Goppers.
With the fall of communism, Scouting reemerged, and in 1989, the first Latvian Scout and Guide camp was organized. In 1990, Latvian Scouts held their fifth National Jamboree, "Renewal" and invited several other countries to participate.
Latvijas Skautu un Gaidu Centrālā Organizācija (the Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organization, LSGCO) rejoined the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1993, as well as the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In 2003, there were 543 registered Scouts and 984 registered Guides.
Latvijas Skautu un Gaidu Centrālā Organizācija is the largest youth organization in Latvia. LSGCO's goal is to develop physical, mental, moral and social skills in Latvian youth and to develop a loyalty to Latvia. The main purpose is to recognize the needs and wants of Latvian youth and to encourage self development.