Badges are an essential part of being in scouting. You can earn them by taking part in activities during the weekly meetings, or do it at home - all the details are on the Scout Association website (links below).
As well as badges to cover your arm, you can gain a recognised award by earning the Challenge Badges - a Chief Scouts Award! They're the highest award you can earn, and are a truly great achievement.
Group and membership badges are provided at investiture (and should then be recycled onto replacement uniforms), and work for progressive awards is usually completed through activities at weekly meetings / other events. Each time a young person attends Remembrance with us a special Poppy Badges is awarded, to be added to a camp blanket (adult leaders get one the first time they attended).
Children are encouraged to complete activity badges in their own time, although we do try to do some badges within the Sections. If a badge is named on a term programme please note that is not normally enough to earn the whole badge – many are done over different weeks and some require work at home to complete.
Below is some information on the badges and awards available for each section.
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Beavers can earn up to 20 Activity Badges, which include everything from Animal Friend to Photographer to Cook - there is something for everyone!
There are also 6 Challenge Badges - My Adventure, My Outdoors, My Skills, My World, Personal Challenge & Team Challenge. Once all 6 of these are complete, and 4 Activity or Staged badges have been earned, the Beaver has earned their Chief Scouts Bronze Award - the highest award a Beaver can get!
More information and requirements for Beavers badges can be found here.
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For Cubs, there are 36 Activity Badges to choose from, that include Artist, Pioneer, Collector, Scientist, and everything in between.
Also there are 7 Challenge Badges: Our Adventure, Our Outdoors, Our Skills, Our World, Personal Challenge, Team Leader and Teamwork Challenge. Once every badge is completed, plus 6 Activity or Staged Badges, the Cub has earned the highest award in Cubs, the Chief Scouts Silver!
More information and requirements for Cub badges can be found here.
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Scouts have the biggest choice of activity badges, with a total of 60 ranging from Entertainer to Global Issues, Hill Walker to Survival Skills - there's a badge for just about anything!
In addition to this, there are 9 challenge badges: Adventure, Creative, Expedition, Outdoor, Personal, Skills, Team Leader, Teamwork and World. Once all of these are complete, plus 6 Activity or Staged Badges, the Chief Scouts Gold Award is presented - the highest award a Scout can get!
More information and requirements for Scouts Badges can be found here.
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There are 14 Staged Badges that anyone can earn as they move through the Scouting Movement, from a Beaver to an Explorer - the higher the stage, the tougher it is.
There are staged badges for Air Activites, Community Impact, Digital Citizen, Digital Maker, Emergency Aid, Hikes Away, Musician, Nautical Skills, Navigator, Nights Away, Paddle Sports, Sailing, Swimming and Time on the Water.
More information on them and their requirements can be found here.
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Yes, adults can get badges and awards too! Not only do Leaders get their 'Wood Beads' once they've finished their training, there is a whole host of awards for Good Service, Length of Service, Gallantry, and Meritorious Conduct.
Also, adult leaders have the opportunity to earn the highest award the Scout Association has to offer - the Queen's Scout Gold Award.
More information on badges and awards for adults can be found here.
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My Badges - Scout Association App
My Badges is the official badge app of The Scout Association.
Ideal for quick reference at meetings and camps, the app presents the requirements for every badge and award in UK Scouting. It also shows the location of badges on the uniform, making adding badges quick and easy.
