Polish Scouting in California

History and activity of the organization

by Gena Kliszewska

The Scouting movement in Poland began in 1910. In 1913, at the first International Jamboree in England, Polish scouts were recognized as adhering to the principles laid down by Lord Baden Powell. From 1920, the Scouting movement grew rapidly in Poland and by 1939, the membership reached 200,000. During World War II, Polish scouting contributed greatly to the struggle against the enemy, both on the battlefield and in the underground resistance movement.

Polish scouting in the United States dates back to 1949. The first troops were organized in Chicago; shortly thereafter in Detroit, New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Seattle and California. Currently, the headquarters for the Polish Scouting Organization is in Detroit, Michigan, but can shift to the region of the elected officials. There are three Polish Scouting centers in California: the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Orange County. Their activities are coordinated through Harcmistrzyni (Scoutmaster) Gena Kliszewska, who is located in the Los Angeles center. Each center holds meetings in conjunction with its areas' Polish class schedule.

The Los Angeles Scouting center was organized in 1974. Meetings are held at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Polish Parish located at 3424 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. This center includes the following troops: Brownies Wawelski Grod, Girl Scout and Senior Girl Scout Troop im. Jadwigi Falkowskiej, Cub Scout Pack Woje Krakusa, Boy Scout and Explorer Troop #26 im. Tadeusza Kosciuszki and a Young Adult Coed Troop.

The Orange County Scouting center, in existence since 1986 meets at the John Paul II Polish Center in Yorba Linda. At this center, there are two troops: Brownies Polskie Kwiaty and a Girls Scout Troop. Alicja Czarnecka is guide.

Annual summer camps are organized for the scouts and occasionally are joined by troops from other parts of the country. They participated in the last three World Jamborees of Independent Polish Scouting which were held in Canada (1978), Belgium (1982) and Maryland (1988). More than 1200 scouts participated from all over the globe, including Australia and Argentina.

After World War II, the communist regime imposed on Poland did not allow scouting to function according to the principles formulated by Baden-Powell, so the only "genuine" Polish scouting existed in exile. Every February, Polish girl and boy scouts together with scouts from other countries occupied by Russia, celebrated "International Friendship Day" to commemorate the birthdays of the founder of scouting - Lord Baden Powell and the first chief of the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides - his wife, Lady Baden Powell.

From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.