The association has no political or religious involvement and is open to all without distinction of religion or race and respects the convictions of everyone.

Some sources argue that the ENF is a spinoff from another French Scouting association, the Éclaireurs de France.

The ENF claims on their website that this would be a statement in contradiction with its founding principles of openness and mutual respect.

Although, initially a traditional Scouting association, it has evolved to adapt itself to modern life and standards of health and safety imposed by French Ministry of Youth and Sports, from which it has an official approval.

Since 2000 a number of smaller associations joined the ENF for official approval, some of them religious: Thus the association has changed from a single organization to a kind of federation of differing Scouting organizations with different spiritual backgrounds which is unique for French Scouting.