Sweden
Scouting in Sweden has a long history. Scouting for boys was started in 1908 by Emil Winqvist. Another pioneer was a physical education teacher from Gothenburg, Ebbe Lieberath. He wanted to start some form of youth activity for his pupils and found Baden-Powell's book "Scouting for boys" whilst travelling. He later translated it into Swedish. Two years later activities were commenced for girls as well.
In 1912 the first Boy Scout association was formed and in 1913 the first Girl Guide association. Popular movements such as the Temperance Movement and Revival Movements were a very important part of Swedish society in those days. They fought for better spiritual and social conditions for their members. They were people who had united to create something better in the current society.
It was therefore natural that these already existing youth movements, such as the Temperance Movement, the YWCA and the YMCA, took up scouting and guiding as part of their program, as well as other scout associations being formed. Between 1959 –and 1961 a merger of the girl guide and boy scout associations took place and five co-educational organisations were formed. These work together today through the Swedish Guide and Scout Council.