Badges
We have looked at what the programme is and how our badges fit in to it, so I guess its time to look at the badges themselves.
The Membership Award.
The Membership Award is presented to all members of Scouting when they take the Promise and become a member of the Movement. The badge should be awarded when they are invested into the section as part of the Investiture ceremony and provides members with an understanding of the values and benefits of the Scouting Movement.
Joining In/Participation Badges.
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorer Scouts can gain the Joining In/Participation Awards that count the number of years they have been a member of Scouting. Young people can wear the highest badge earned in the previous section and add to it each year until they leave that section.
Moving On Awards.
Moving On Awards are given to young people when they progress to the next section in the Movement. They are presented when they are invested in the new section.
Activity and Staged Activity Badges.
Activity badges make up the majority of all the badges available to young people. They are specific to sections and cover a huge range of skills, experiences and interests. They are designed to be achievable to young people working individually outside their section, on something that is of particular interest to them. Staged Activity Badges are available to young people in Beavers to Explorers and cover a range of topics and skills. Staged badges do not have to be completed in order; it is possible for young people to begin at whichever stage offers them an appropriate level of challenge. The stages are progressively difficult to offer young people an ongoing challenge.
Challenge Awards/Areas and Chief Scout’s Awards.
The Challenge Awards support the main themes of the programme and require young people to take part in a range of activities to develop their skills and understanding in each specific challenge area. They link directly to the Chief Scout’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Explorers do not have Challenge Awards, but they do have Challenge Areas that reflect the main Scouting themes in the same way as the other sections. The Chief Scout’s Awards celebrate the highest level of achievement that young people can gain in their section. Every young person should have the opportunity to achieve them. For Bronze, Silver and Gold, young people are required to complete the Challenge Awards and a selection of Activity Badges from their section. Platinum and Diamond have set challenges to complete and can be linked to Bronze and Silver DofE Programmes.
Young Leaders’ Scheme.
The Young Leaders’ Scheme is a training scheme available to Explorer Scouts. It has been created to give young people the opportunity to gain valuable leadership and volunteering skills and experience by working with younger members of the Movement. Young Leaders are valuable assets to the association. Not only can they offer great assistance as part of the leadership team but they are likely to be the leaders of tomorrow, shaping the Movement and lives of other young people. Young Leaders form an important part of the leadership team of any younger section, bringing fresh ideas, techniques and plenty of enthusiasm.
Activity Leadership.
Young people and adults are also encouraged to develop their practical skills by working towards and achieving Adventurous Activity Permits to participate, lead or supervise adventurous activities. Event passports are also available to enable under 18s to undertake peer-led residential experiences.
Additional awards in the Explorer Scout and Scout Network sections
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The Explorer Belt is designed to broaden young people’s understanding of different countries, cultures and ways of life; aiding personal development over a 10 day period. It is available to Explorer Scouts aged 16+ and Network members.
- The Queen’s Scout Award (QSA) is Scouting’s top youth award and is the culmination of everything that a young person does in Scouting. It requires commitment from young people to develop and challenge themselves in many new ways, and is an achievement that participants will remember for the rest of their lives. The QSA is aligned to Gold DofE programme and is recognised by many educational establishments and potential employers. It is available to Explorer Scouts aged 16+ and Network members.
- The Scouts of the World Award is a project based award that involves specific learning on a chosen theme, (environment, sustainable development or peace) and 14 days voluntary service working on a community project supporting your theme. It is available to all Network members.
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a programme of activities for young people aged 14-25. There are three levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold which are available to 14+, 15+ and 16+ respectively. The awards link with the Chief Scout’s Platinum, Chief Scout’s Diamond and Queen’s Scout Awards where they fulfil some of the requirements for these Scouting awards.
That was a lot to take in so here is another short video.
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