Scout Movement Switzerland
Scout Movement Switzerland (Pfadibewegung Schweiz) is a non-profit youth organization operating the largest scouting federation in Switzerland, serving 51,000+ members aged 5+ across 534 local groups and 22 cantonal associations, with digital platforms for member management, education, and alumni engagement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1913
- HeadquartersBern, Switzerland
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Scout Movement Switzerland does
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement (Pfadibewegung Schweiz / Mouvement Scout de Suisse / Movimento Scout Svizzero, abbreviated PBS/MSdS) is Switzerland's largest youth organization, operating as a registered non-profit association headquartered at Speichergasse 31 in Bern. Founded in 1987 through the merger of the boys' Swiss Scout Federation (SPB, established 1913) and the Swiss Guide movement (BSP, established 1919), the organization traces its scouting activities in Switzerland back to 1910. It serves approximately 51,000 members across 534 local groups and 22 cantonal associations covering all four Swiss language regions (German, French, Italian, Romansh), delivering age-segmented programs from Beavers (age 5-6) through Brownies/Cub Scouts, Scouts/Guides, Venture Scouts, and Rovers (age 17+), with dedicated inclusion programs for youth with disabilities (PTA/SOC) and a Silver Scout alumni network.
The organization's core technology stack consists of purpose-built digital platforms: MiData serves as the central member database managing personal data, qualifications, training records, event participation, and family links across the federation; Scoutola (launched January 2026) is a digital bulletin board connecting active scouts with Silver Scout alumni for skills, materials, and mentorship sharing; cudesch is a digital educational platform integrating the Pfadi-Profil pedagogical framework; and HealthCheck is a safety and wellness tool. The platforms are complemented by an Austauschplattform (exchange platform), PBS/MSdS Portal, and standard web infrastructure using Plausible Analytics and Google Maps. The educational framework was substantially updated in January 2026 with a new method called 'Engagement pour la collectivité'.
The revenue model is a hybrid of recurring membership fees collected at the local group level, corporate sponsorship (HUG AG as main sponsor since May 2026, with Die Mobiliar insurance and hajk as equipment partner), and public funding via the federal Jugend+Sport (J+S) sports promotion programme, under which MSdS offers accredited training courses. Distribution is decentralized through 534 local groups, with prospect-to-member conversion supported by a Pfadi-Finder tool on the multilingual website (pfadi.swiss). The organization is a member of both global scouting federations — WAGGGS (~10M members) and WOSM (50M+ members) — and is selected to host the international Roverway 2028 camp, indicating active international engagement beyond Switzerland's borders.
Scout Movement Switzerland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scout Movement Switzerland
- Legal name
- Pfadibewegung Schweiz (PBS) / Mouvement Scout de Suisse (MSdS)
- Website
- https://pfadi.swiss
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1913
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Scout Movement Switzerland (Pfadibewegung Schweiz) is a non-profit youth organization operating the largest scouting federation in Switzerland, serving 51,000+ members aged 5+ across 534 local groups and 22 cantonal associations, with digital platforms for member management, education, and alumni engagement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scout Movement Switzerland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)
Keywords
Where Scout Movement Switzerland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Scout Movement Switzerland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from approximately 51,000 members across 530 local groups and 22 cantonal associations.
- Sponsorships: Primary sponsor HUG AG (since May 2026) provides camp supplies including DAR-VIDA crackers and Wernli biscuits. Additional sponsors include Die Mobiliar insurance company. hajk serves as official equipment partner providing scouting gear.
- Public Funding: Federal sports promotion programme Jugend+Sport (J+S) provides training courses and subsidies. Data may be shared with Federal Office of Sport and Federal Social Insurance Office for J+S purposes.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Scout Movement Switzerland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scout Movement Switzerland delivers age-branched youth development programs (Beavers aged 5-6, Brownies/Cub Scouts 6-10, Scouts/Guides 10-14, Venture Scouts 14-17, Rovers 17+) through a nationwide network of 530+ local volunteer-led groups. It also operates dedicated inclusion programs for children with disabilities and supports member services via digital platforms including MiData, Scoutola, and cudesch.
Product overview
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement (Pfadibewegung Schweiz / Mouvement Scout de Suisse / Movimento Scout Svizzero, abbreviated PBS/MSdS) is a youth organization operating a suite of digital platforms, member management tools, and educational programs. The core offerings include MiData (member database), Scoutola (digital exchange platform), cudesch (digital educational resource), HealthCheck (safety tool), and the Austauschplattform (exchange platform). These are complemented by the Pfadi-Profil educational framework, branch-specific programs (Biber, Wölfe/Pfadis/Pios/Rover/Silver Scouts), and international event hosting such as Roverway 2028. The organization also provides training courses, a member magazine (SARASANI), and a digital resource library accessible through its website and partner portals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 51,000 members and growing - largest association for children and young adults in Switzerland
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Scout Movement Switzerland
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Scout Movement Switzerland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Scout Movement Switzerland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- hajkcoreOfficial equipment partner of the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement. Provides scout uniforms, gear and equipment to members. Also handles logistics for HUG sponsor care packages to camps.
- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)coreGlobal organization with approximately 10 million female members in 170 countries, divided into five regions. Committed to recognition and advancement of girls and women. The Swiss Movement is a member and participates in its governance.
- World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)coreGlobal scout organization with more than 50 million members across six regions. Committed to recognizing scouting as a learning ground for life's essential skills. The Swiss Movement is a member and participates in its governance.
- Jugend + Sport (J+S)coreFederal sports promotion programme for children and young people. The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement offers basic training and continuing education modules as J+S courses. J+S provides subsidies and legitimization for training programs.
- Swiss OlympicminorThe Swiss Guide and Scout Movement holds the Swiss Olympic Branch Standard, demonstrating quality standards in youth sports and activity provision.
- Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC)minorInternational scout centre in Switzerland, part of the global scout centre network. Switzerland has a long tradition of hosting international camps, with Kandersteg serving as a key venue for leadership training and international gatherings.
- Our ChaletminorOne of four international centres of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), located in Adelboden, Switzerland. Celebrated 20 years in 1952.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Scout Movement Switzerland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- 4-H (National 4-H Council): U.S.-led global youth-development organization focused on leadership, citizenship, and outdoor/life skills via club-based programming. Comparable as a club-based youth-development peer with a similar age range, but operates in a more agricultural/STEM direction rather than outdoor adventure.
- Outward Bound International: Global network of outdoor experiential education organizations offering adventure-based youth programmes. Comparable on the outdoor-adventure delivery side, but uses a paid-course model (rather than recurring membership) and is typically delivered in short, intensive formats rather than weekly group meetings.
Broad incumbents
- WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement): The other global umbrella organization (50M+ members) of which Swiss Scouting is a member. Operates at the worldwide federation level providing the Scout Promise, programme standards, World Scout Jamborees, and international accreditation to national Scout organizations including MSdS.
- WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts): One of two global umbrella organizations to which Swiss Scouting belongs. Operates at the worldwide federation level with ~10M members across 170 countries; not a direct competitor but the international governing counterpart that provides programme frameworks, exchanges (including Roverway), and accreditation.
Regional players
- DPSG - Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg: Largest Catholic-affiliated German Scout association and WOSM member, operating the same local-Stamm and age-based section structure. Comparable as a German-language regional peer with extensive member database and outdoor camp infrastructure, though operates in a different country.
- Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder Österreich (PPÖ): Austrian national Scout and Guide federation, direct regional peer in a neighbouring German-speaking country. Operates the same WOSM/WAGGGS framework, similar age-based sections, and similar federal-cantonal organizational structure (Austrian Bundesländer).
Direct peers
- Girl Scouts of the USA: U.S. national girl-only Scout organization, WAGGGS-affiliated like the Swiss Movement's girls' side. Operates the same cookie-campout-badge progression model with troop-based local groups serving ages 5-18. Directly comparable in mission and programme design.
- Scouts Canada: Canadian national Scout federation, also a WOSM member, with similar local-group structure, Beaver/Cub/Scout/Venturer/Rover sections, outdoor adventure focus, and bilingual (English/French) operations. Among the closest comparables in size and structure to Swiss Scouting.
- Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America): Largest Scouting organization in the United States, also affiliated with WOSM. Operates the same local-council/district structure running outdoor programmes, camps, and progressive age-based sections (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing). Comparable in scale (millions of members) and programme methodology.
- Scout Association (UK): The UK's national Scout organization, the most structurally and operationally comparable peer: a single national federation of local groups running outdoor/adventure programmes, weekend activities, and camps for ages 6-25, organized under the same WOSM framework. Operates the same 'youth-led' volunteer-leader model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scout Movement Switzerland social profiles
Digital presenceScout Movement Switzerland compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Scout Movement Switzerland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scout Movement Switzerland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Scout Movement Switzerland subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Scout Movement Switzerland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scout Movement Switzerland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scout Movement Switzerland
What does Scout Movement Switzerland do?
Scout Movement Switzerland delivers age-branched youth development programs (Beavers aged 5-6, Brownies/Cub Scouts 6-10, Scouts/Guides 10-14, Venture Scouts 14-17, Rovers 17+) through a nationwide network of 530+ local volunteer-led groups. It also operates dedicated inclusion programs for children with disabilities and supports member services via digital platforms including MiData, Scoutola, and cudesch.
Is Scout Movement Switzerland a public or private company?
Scout Movement Switzerland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Scout Movement Switzerland founded?
Scout Movement Switzerland was founded in 1913. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Scout Movement Switzerland based?
Scout Movement Switzerland is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Scout Movement Switzerland make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships and public Funding.
Who are Scout Movement Switzerland's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are 4-H (National 4-H Council) and Outward Bound International. Broad incumbents are WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement) and WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). Regional players are DPSG - Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg and Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder Österreich (PPÖ). Direct peers are Girl Scouts of the USA, Scouts Canada, Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and Scout Association (UK).
Does Scout Movement Switzerland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scout Movement Switzerland.
What industry is Scout Movement Switzerland in?
Scout Movement Switzerland's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAA, Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7997.