All organisations are full of jargon and acronyms, Scouting is no exception, here are a few terms in no particular order that you may come across:
WFIS - World Federation of Independent Scouts
WOSM - World Organisation of Scout Movements
BPSM - Baden-Powell Scouts Malta
B.-P. - Roberts Louis Stevenson Smyth Baden-Powell (our founder)
"The Game" - In reference to Scouting's informal teaching methods, a subject is taught then reinforced through the use of games. B.-P. himself used this method to train soldiers under his command. Scouting is sometimes referred to as "The Game".
"Gone home" - a tracking sign consisting of a circle of stones with a stone in the middle looking like a circle with a dot indicating that the person laying a trail has literally gone home. A Scout remains a Scout for life, when a Scout passes away they are said to have "Gone home". B.-P. has this sign on his gravestone. Old soldiers are said to fade away, Scouts "Go home".
Duke of Edinburgh International Award - A scheme originating in the UK in the 1950s to which HRH Prince Phillip gave his name. A progressive award scheme for young people aged 14 - 25 years,
Scouter - An adult leader, sometimes just referred to as a leader
Commissioner - A Scouter who has a senior management role
RSL - Rover Scout Leader
ARSL - Assistant Rover Scout Leader
SSL - Senior Scout Leader
ASSL - Assistant Senior Scout Leader
SL - Scout Leader
ASL - Assistant Scout Leader
CSL - Cub Scout Leader
ACSL - Assistant Cub Scout Leader
BSL - Beaver Scout Leader
ABSL - Assistant Beaver Scout Leader
GSL - Group Scout Leader(a Scouting manager who oversees a Group - see below)
Skip or Skipper - A Scout Leader's nickname
Akela - Cub Scout Leader, taken from "The Jungle Book" written by Rudyard Kipling a great friend of B.-P. Other Wolf Cub leaders take names of characters from this book (eg: Baloo, Shere Khan, Hathi)
DYB DYB DYB - a very old (and famous) Scouting phrase meaning "Do Your Best"
DOB DOB DOB - the reply to DYB DYB DYB meaning "Do Our Best"
Patrol - sub division of a Scout troop usually numbering 6 Scouts but can be more or less dependent on numbers
PL - Patrol leader (Scout who is in charge of a patrol)
APL - Assistant Patrol Leader (self explanatory)
SPL - Senior Patrol Leader (a very senior Scout who oversees all the PL's)
Young leader - Normally a Senior Scout who takes on additional leadership responsibilities within a troop, pack or colony
Six - the Cub's equivalent of a Patrol
Sixer - Cub who is in charge of a six
Second or Seconder - A sixer's assistant
Group - a Scouting unit made up of multiple Sections, overseen by the GSL
Sections - sub division of a Scout Group, see below for details of each section
Beaver Scouts or Beavers- the most junior section of Scouting, ages 5 - 7.5, often referred to as a "colony"
Wolf Cubs or Cubs- the follow on from Beavers, ages 7.5 - 10.5, often referred to as a "pack" (as in wolf pack)
Scouts - the follow on from Cubs, ages 10.5 - 15, often referred to as a "troop" or "crew" (if Sea Scouts)
Senior Scouts - the follow on from Scouts, ages 15 - 18
Rover Scouts - the follow on and final section in Scouting, ages 18 - 25