Explorer Scout Badges

The Explorer Scout Section has a wide range of awards and badges designed to appeal to all Explorer Scouts, regardless of the type of Unit of which they are a member. The awards and badges are an important part of Scouting, as they offer challenge, achievement and recognition for young people.

This information comes from the Explorer Scout Badges pages of the Scoutbase web site.

Badges

Requirements for the following badges are listed in this section:

  • The Explorer Scout Membership Award
  • Moving-On Award - Scout Troop to Explorer Scout Unit
  • The Chief Scout's Platinum Award
  • The Chief Scout's Diamond Award
  • The Queen's Scout Award
  • International, Environment and Values activities list
  • Moving-On Award - Explorer Scouts to the Scout Network
  • The Explorer Belt

Activity badges

In addition to these main awards there are a number of Activity Badges available for Explorer Scouts to work towards. There are also four Staged Activity Badges available to all young people in the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout, Scout and Explorer Scout sections.

Group Awards badges

A further option to help your Balanced Programme are the three Group Awards. They are undertaken by a number of Sections working together. For example, the Cub Scout Pack working with the Scout Troop, or the Beaver Scout Colony, Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop and an Explorer Scout Unit working together.

Explorer Scout Badges

Assessment

Explorer Scout Badges: The Explorer Scout Membership Award

Explorer Scout Badges: Moving-On Award - Scout Troop to Explorer Scout Unit

Explorer Scout Badges: The Chief Scout's Platinum Award

Explorer Scout Badges: The Chief Scout's Diamond Award

Explorer Scout Badges: The Queen's Scout Award

Explorer Scout Badges: International, Environment and Values activities list

Explorer Scout Badges: Moving-On Award - Explorer Scouts to the Scout Network

Explorer Scout Badges: The Explorer Belt

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Air Activities

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Aviation Skills

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Advanced Aviation Skills

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Aviation Skills training options

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Community

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Creative

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Emergency Aid

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Lifesaver

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Mountain Activities

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Recreation

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Science and Technology

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Scouting Skills

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Nautical Skills

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Advanced Nautical Skills

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Nautical Skills training options

Explorer Scout Activity Badges: Water activities

Staged Activity badges

Group Awards badges

Assessment

Promoting the awards

/ As a member of the leadership team, it is important to promote the various awards and badges and encourage Explorer Scouts to take part. The awards and badges can be promoted by:
  • making sure that each member of the Unit has a copy of the Navigator when they join the Unit. This will give them the essential information on awards and badges
  • keeping the records of participation in activities up to date. Many of the requirements will be met by participation in a Balanced Programme
  • encouraging Unit Members who have gained awards and badges to talk about their experiences with other members of the Unit
  • reminding Explorer Scouts that any award or badge they have started in their Unit can be completed as a member of the Scout Network.

Running the awards and badges

/ The top awards in the Explorer Scout and Scout Network Sections are the Chief Scout's Platinum Award, the Chief Scout's Diamond Award and the Queen's Scout Award. All three are linked to the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold respectively).
If they are not already doing so, Explorer Scouts should be encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. Explorer Scouts need to be registered in order to get a Record Book, and this can be done through the appropriate County or Area contact. With good planning, it is possible to gain both the Scouting Award and the appropriate Duke of Edinburgh's Award; a double recognition of achievement. The main differences between the two schemes are outlined in the table below.
Differences between the two schemes
Scouting Awards / Duke of Edinburgh's Awards
Chief Scout's Platinum and Diamond Awards and the Queen's Scout Award / Bronze, Silver and Gold
Registration / By joining an Explorer Scout Unit. / By purchasing a Record Book from the County or Area contact.
Assessors for the parts of the Awards / Any suitable person. For expeditions in Terrain 1 and Terrain 2, the Assessor should hold the appropriate Scout authorisation. / Any suitable person approved by the District Commissioner. For wild country expeditions, the Assessor should hold the appropriate Scout authorisation, and the Wild Country District Commissioner should be notified using the appropriate form.
Authorisation of the Award / Under arrangements made by the District Explorer Scout Commissioner. / Bronze and Silver Awards:
Under arrangements made by the District Explorer Scout Commissioner.
Gold Awards:
By the appropriate National Headquarters.
Minimum age for entry / Chief Scout's Platinum Award:
14 or at the point of Investiture into the Section.
Chief Scout's Diamond Award:
15 or on completion of the CSPA.
Queen's Scout Award:
16. / Bronze:
14 or earlier with peer group.
Silver:
15 or on completion of Bronze Award.
Gold:
16.
Presentation / Chief Scout's Platinum Award and Chief Scout's Diamond Award:
by the District Explorer Scout Commissioner or their nominee.
Queen's Scout Award:
by the County or Area Commissioner or their nominee. / Bronze and Silver Awards:
by the District Explorer Scout Commissioner or their nominee.
Gold Awards:
by the County or Area Commissioner or their nominee.
The full requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards can be found in the Record Books and in publications available from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. You can get these from your County or Area contact or from the Scout Information Centre. You can find more information from
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Assessment of awards and badges

/ You are responsible for making sure that awards and badges are assessed correctly. The District Explorer Scout Commissioner is responsible for assessing the completion of the Chief Scout's Platinum and Diamond Awards and Queen's Scout's Award. You will need to make sure that the right Assessors are used for the various parts of the Awards, for example, a swimming instructor would be an appropriate Assessor for swimming as a physical activity. You will also be responsible for giving the Assessor a short informal briefing about the philosophy of the Award and why the Explorer Scout is undertaking that particular activity.

Accessibility of Awards

/ All Awards and badges are designed to be accessible to all young people. The value of the Awards comes from the participation by young people, not from the accomplishment of absolute standards that may be beyond the reach of some. As a result, it is essential that discretion be applied in individual cases to reward commitment, participation and effort. For young people with more severe learning difficulties, the Gateway Award should be considered as an alternative to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For further information on the Gateway Award, see Scouting essentials.

Award authorisation

/ The three top Awards and the Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze and Silver Awards are authorised under arrangements made by the District Explorer Scout Commissioner. There is no interview at the end of achieving an Award and it is acceptable for the District Explorer Scout Commissioner to pass responsibility for some aspects of the Awards to another Leader. The Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award is authorised at the appropriate National Headquarters in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Assessing Awards

/ The individual activities for each Award should be assessed by an appropriate person. For example, the Cub Scout Leader should sign-off the Community Service section of an Award if it has been achieved by assisting with the Cub Scout Pack as a Young Leader.
The Unit leadership team are responsible for the assessment of other badges and awards including Group Awards and Activity Badges. For further information, see page 56 of Scouting essentials.

Assessment guidelines

/ Listed below are some guidelines for assessment of awards that you may find useful:
  • Awards and badges are generally assessed on personal best effort, not fixed standards. Standards will be relative to ability and experience.
  • Individuals should be encouraged to set their own standards before beginning an activity. Their progress can then be measured against their own standards rather than those of the leadership team.
  • Showing sustained effort for a period of time is essential to many of the awards and badges. Many of the requirements for the two Chief Scout's Awards are measured in months. Although the time commitment required could be described as approximately one hour per week, young people should be encouraged to maintain their interest in the activity.
  • The leadership team will need to take into account the Special Needs of any members of the Unit. The leadership team should feel free to adapt the requirements where appropriate to allow a young person to take part and still achieve the aim of the particular requirement.

Celebrating awards and badges as signs of success

/ You should promote the gaining of awards and badges as a visible sign of success. Many people outside of Scouting are aware of the Queen's Scout Award as the top award in Scouting, for instance, and will be aware of the skills that award holders have gained.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award philosophy

/ If some of your Explorer Scouts are also undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the Assessors will need to be familiar with the philosophy and principles of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. This information is available free from:
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Gulliver House,
Madeira Walk,
Windsor,
Berkshire SL4 1EU
Email:
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Encouraging use of the Certificate of Achievement

/ As the reward for completing each year in Scouting and actively taking part in the programme, a young person receives a form of recognition. In Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts, this is called the Joining-In Badge, and in Scouts it is called the Participation Badge. In Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network, Members are encouraged to complete a Certificate of Achievement to show what they have done during the previous twelve months and what they hope to achieve during the next twelve. The Explorer Scout programme

Explorer Scout Badges: The Explorer Scout Membership Award

/ The Membership Award is only completed by young people joining from outside the Movement. Scout Section members complete the Moving-On Award from the Scout Section.
To gain the Membership Award, the following requirements need to be completed:
  • Describe the various options available locally to become an Explorer Scout.
  • Show an understanding of the Scout Promise and Law.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of local, national and international Scouting.
  • After discussion with your Explorer Scout Leader, describe the Unit management and support available to you, including the Unit Constitution.
  • Make the Scout Promise and accept the Scout Law.
Young people make the Promise and gain the Membership Award only once in Explorer Scouts, no matter how many Units they join. The location for making the Promise should be decided by the young person and the Explorer Scout Leader, and should be appropriate and memorable. The Promise should be made in front of the other Explorer Scouts.
Young people should make the Promise within a period of between six and twelve weeks of joining. Those who have been Scouts will probably be ready sooner than young people who have not.

Explorer Scout Badges: Moving-On Award - Scout Troop to Explorer Scout Unit

/ The requirements for the Moving on Award are:
  • Check that you are registered with your District Explorer Scout Administrator.
  • Talk with your Scout Leader about the options available in Scouting.
  • Take part in three activities that are of interest to you with the Unit or Units.
  • Talk to the Leaders of the Units that are of interest to you.

Explorer Scout Badges: The Chief Scout's Platinum Award

/ To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:
  • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least six months.
  • Complete six nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network of which four must be camping.
  • Complete two activities from the International, Environment and Values list. The two activities should come from different areas.
  • Hold the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the four Platinum Scout Challenges, which are:
  • take up a Skill for three months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new.
  • take up a Physical Activity for three months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement.
  • provide Service to an individual or the community for three months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This can include helping with another Section as a Young Leader.
  • complete a two day and one night expedition in rural country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review.
Members must undertake an extra three months in any of the Skills, Physical Recreation or Service Challenges.

Explorer Scout Badges: The Chief Scout's Diamond Award

/ To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:
  • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least 12 months. This can include any time counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum Award.
  • Complete 12 nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network, of which eight must be camping. This may include the nights counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum Award.
  • Complete two activities from the list of International, Environment and Values activities. These should be different activities from the Chief Scout's Platinum Award and not from the same area.
  • Hold the Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the four Diamond Challenges, which are:
  • take up a Skill for three or six months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new.
  • take up a Physical Activity for three or six months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement.
  • provide Service to an individual or the community for six months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This many include helping with another Section as a Young Leader.
  • complete a three day and two night expedition in rural or open country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review.
All Members should complete six months in either the Physical Activity or the Skill.
Members who have not completed the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award or the Chief Scout's Platinum Award must undertake an extra six months in either the Service Challenge or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Challenge.

Explorer Scout Badges: The Queen's Scout Award

/ To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:
  • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least 18 months. This can include any time counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum or Diamond Awards.
  • Complete 18 nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network, of which 12 must be camping. This may include any nights counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum or Diamond Awards.
  • Complete two activities from the list of International, Environment and Values activities. These should be different activities from the Chief Scout's Platinum and Diamond Awards and not from the same area.
  • Hold the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the five Queen's Scout Award Challenges, which are:
  • take up a Skill for 6 or 12 months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new
  • take up a Physical Activity for 6 or 12 months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement
  • provide Service to an individual or the community for 12 months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This many include helping with another Section as a Young Leader
  • complete a four day and three night expedition in open or adventurous country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review
  • complete a five day and four night residential project in an unfamiliar environment with people who are not known. This project should be environmental work, activity based, service to others or personal training
  • following completion of the first four elements of the Award make a presentation, to a suitable audience, of your achievements so far in working towards the Queen's Scout Award.
All Members should complete twelve months in either the Physical Activity or the Skill
Explorer Scouts and members of the Scout Network who are not holders of the Duke of Edinburgh's Silver Award or the Chief Scout's Diamond Award must complete an extra six months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Challenge.

Explorer Scout Badges: International, Environment and Values activities list