Scout Promise Scout Law Scout Motto Scout Slogan
Scout Salute Scout Sign Scout Handshake
On my honour
I promise that I will
Do my best
To do my duty to God
And the Queen,
To help other people
At all times,
And to carry out the spirit
Of the Scout Law.
A Scout is helpful and trustworthy,
Kind and cheerful,
Considerate and clean,
Wise in the use of his resources.
BE PREPARED
DO A GOOD TURN DAILY
Scouting has three basic traditions: the Scout Salute, the Scout Sign, and the Scout Handshake.
The Scout Salute : Hold together three middle fingers of the right hand and touch together the thumb and little finger. With palm facing the front, bring up the hand smartly to the head until the forefinger touches the forehead. Bring down the hand to the side. You make the Scout Salute only when in full uniform. It’s a sign of respect, courtesy, and friendliness.
The Scout Sign : The right hand position is the same as for the salute: three fingers up, thumb and little finger touching, and palm out. Begin as with the salute, but hold the hand straight up beside the head. The three upright fingers represent the three parts of the Scout Promise: doing your best; doing your duty to God, the Queen, and other people; and carrying out the spirit of the Scout Law. The thumb and little finger meet to represent Scouting’s ties in friendship. Scouts use the Scout Sign:
- at all investiture ceremonies,
- any time the Promise is recited, and
- when out of uniform
Scouts shake with the left hand as a sign of brotherhood and trust. B.P. took the idea from an African story about two feuding tribes whose raids and battles were destroying both communities.
During a futile confrontation between warriors equally matched in battle skills and bravery, one of the chiefs spotted the other. Signalling his warriors to stay behind, he dropped his weapon that he held in his right hand and walked toward the rival chief. As he approached, he also dropped the shield which he had held in his left hand and that had protected his heart from enemy spears. He then held out his now free left hand to his rival as a sign of friendship and trust. The gesture brought together the tribes for talks; it helped to end the wars between them.