Global Challenge
The Beaver Scout must complete four activities, at least one from each area.
Cultures
- learn about fair trade products
- taste and/or prepare food from around the world
- learn about different faiths and beliefs
- take part in a tradition from around the UK. This could be about preparing local food, folk dancing or singing songs etc. Examples include cheese rolling, well dressing, maypole dancing
- play or make an instrument from another country. For example a didgeridoo, drums, castanets or rain sticks, etc.
World Scouting
- learn a Promise from another country
- learn a greeting in another language
- take part in a Scouting activity from another country
- meet a Scout from another country.
Environment
- organise an activity to clean up the environment, eg litter pick
- learn about the Country Code
- get involved in a recycling project, such as for paper, glass or ink cartridges
- plant trees or flowers
- learn how to save energy
- learn about wildlife conservation.
Cub Scouts should complete four of the following:
- Find out about the traditions, culture, food, religion and other interesting characteristics of a country different from your own.
- Find out about the work of an international charity that helps around the world (for example, OXFAM, UNICEF) and then present your findings to the rest of the Pack.
- Find out about an aspect of international Scouting. You could take part in a 'Join In Jamboree' activity, or arrange a visit from a Jamboree participant. Or you could find out about Scouting in a country of your choice.
- Find out about things that can be recycled or how energy can be saved. Over a period of weeks show how you have recycled or saved energy at home.
- Find out about a global issue such as poverty, conservation or water and sanitation, and what you can do to help.
- Find out about a technology of your choice. This could be a personal computer, a car engine, an aircraft or anything similar. You should understand the basic functions of the technology and how it is used and a brief history. You should then present your findings to the rest of the Pack.
To gain this badge, Scouts must complete all the activities in one of the following two areas:
Area 1: International contact
Make contact with Scouts from another country outside the United Kingdom, then either:
- Take part in a Troop or Patrol activity with these Scouts.
- Take part in a Patrol or Troop activity based on things found out during the international contact.
This can be done in a number of ways, for example through nights away in the UK or overseas, the internet, pen pals, Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI), or Lands of Adventure.
Area 2: International issues
Choose and investigate an international issue.
For example:
- trade
- health
- water and sanitation
- environment
- conflict
- refugees
- peace
- tourism
- homelessness
- poverty
- animal welfare
- conservation
Then complete the following:
- Show an understanding of the issues involved.
- Take some action as a result of research.
- Compare how the issues affect the UK and countries overseas.
Explorer belt
The explorer belt is the challenge of a lifetime, open to explorer scouts aged 16 and over and members of the scout network.
It is a chance to take part in a ten-day expedition that brings a real understanding of a different country, its people and way of life.
To complete the explorer belt award, an explorer scout or scout network member must:
- be over 16 years old
- be a member of either explorer scouts or the scout network
- plan and train for an international expedition as part of a small team
- travel to another country and travel through that country over ten days
- complete a self selected major project
- complete about ten smaller projects
- keep a notebook or diary during the expedition
- take part in a debriefing after the expedition
- present a presentation about the expedition
Travel
Most explorer belt expeditions are undertaken on foot, although other forms of transport including canoe, bicycle and horseback are equally acceptable.
Some teams may wish to use local public transport as part of their expedition and, as long as this provides real opportunities to meet and talk with local people, then it is acceptable.
Teams may wish to mix forms of travel. Please note that hitchhiking is not permitted by The Scout Association.
Duration
The expedition should last for at least ten days. It is more of a marathon than a sprint!
During this time, the team should spend at least 30 hours travelling from place to place and visit at least four different towns or villages.
For a typical team travelling mainly on foot, this would suggest a route of about 100 miles (160km).
However, it is important that the route and distance take into account the local geography, methods of transport, physical ability of the team members, daytime temperatures and likely weather.
Time spent travelling to and from the country of the expedition should not be included.
International, environmental and values list - Chief Scout’s Platinum, Diamond and Queen’s Scout Award
Area 1: International
- Complete your International Friendship Partnership Award
- Complete your Explorer Belt
- Take an active part in a project with an overseas aid organisation, such as UNESCO
- Take an active part in a camp in another country, for instance, a Jamboree or Moot
- Take an active part in an international camp in the United Kingdom
- Take part in a project at a campsite abroad, for example, as part of a community project in Africa or International Camp Staff Programme
- Take part in a foreign exchange project
- Organise a series of programmes for your Unit/Network on an international theme
- Organise a series of programmes for another section on an international theme
- Complete any activity of a similar nature agreed beforehand with your leadership team
Area 2: Environment
- Complete your Environment Partnership Award
- Assist some Cub Scouts or Scouts in gaining their Global Conservation Activity Badge
- Take an active part in an environmental project with another organisation
- Take an active part in an environmental project in your local community
- Choose a current environmental issue to research, and then present your findings to your Unit/Network
- Complete an environmental project and make a formal report of your findings
- Complete an environmental impact assessment of an activity the Unit/Network is undertaking and act on your findings
- Organise a series of programmes for your Unit/Network on an environmental theme
- Organise a series of programmes for another section on an environmental theme
- Complete any activity of a similar nature agreed beforehand with your leadership team
Area 3: Values
- Complete your Faith Partnership Award
- Take a regular part in activities at your place of worship
- Take an active part in a project examining your own faith, for example a retreat
- Take an active part in a project examining a faith other than your own
- Plan and carry out an act of worship for your Unit/Network or another group in Scouting
- Choose a current issue to research, such as health or crime, and then present your findings to your Unit/Network
- Assist some Cub Scouts or Scouts in gaining their World Faiths Activity Badge
- Organise a series of programmes for your Unit/Network on a values theme
- Organise a series of programmes for another section on a values theme
- Complete any activity of a similar nature agreed beforehand with your leadership team
Note:
Participants need to complete two activities from the above list. These activities must be from different areas
The activities that you complete from the list should be different for each award that you undertake. An activity can also count for this requirement if it is being completed for another requirement of the award. For example, completing an environmental project during the Queen’s Scout Award expedition would also count for this requirement.