Scouting Awards
Here you can find all the possible awards that you can earn as you progress through the sections. This includes DofE awards and Explorer Belt awards.
If you need any advice, support or signing off of any of the below awards please don’t hesitate to contact me on: josh@kentscouts.org.uk
Chief Scouts Bronze Award – Beaver Award Only
Our Beavers all complete a fun programme which will ultimately aim towards the completion of The Chief Scout Bronze Award. The highest award possible in Beavers!
To gain this award Beavers must gain all the challenge badges and at least 4 activity badges, a truly great achievement.
Chief Scout Silver Award – Wolf Cub Award Only
Our Cubs all complete a fun programme which will ultimately aim towards the completion of The Chief Scout Silver Award. The highest award possible in Cubs!
To gain this award Cubs must gain all the challenge badges and at least 6 activity badges, a truly great achievement.
Chief Scout Gold Award – Scout Award Only
Our Scouts all complete a fun programme which will ultimately aim towards the completion of The Chief Scout Gold Award. The highest award possible in Scouts!
To gain this award Scouts must gain all the challenge badges and at least 8 activity badges, a truly great achievement.
Chief Scout Platinum Award – Explorer Award Only
To gain this award the following requirements must be completed:
Be a member of Explorer Scouts for at least six months.
Complete six nights away as an Explorer Scout of which four must be camping. Nights away must be different from any other nights away used in the other sections of this award.
Complete two activities from the International, Community and Values list. The two activities should come from different areas.
Hold the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh 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.
Chief Scout Diamond Award – Explorer Award Only
The Chief Scout’s Diamond Award is the highest of the Chief Scout’s Awards, and the final step before the Queen’s Scout Award. To gain the Chief Scout’s Diamond Award, members must complete the following:
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. Nights away must be different from any other nights away used in the other sections of this award.
Complete four activities from the list of International, Community and Values activities. This should include at least one from each area of the list and can include the activities completed for the International, Community and Values list as part of the Chief Scout’s Platinum Award.
Hold the Silver Duke of Edinburgh 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 or regularly helping at in the community at places such as a soup kitchen or animal shelter.
• 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.
Queen’s Scout Award – Explorer Award Only
Given to around 500 young people a year, 8th Tonbridge Scouts have never had a Queen Scout Award achiever – maybe you could be the first!
The Queen’s Scout Award is the top achievement for Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members and comprises of a variety of activities to complete.
The Queen’s Scout Award (QSA) is linked closely to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award and it is worth working on the two awards together.
Award participants must:
• Be aged 16 or older to start the award and complete the award before your 25th birthday
• Be a member of either Explorer Scouts or Scout Network (or a combination of both) for at least 18 months to complete the award – time can only be counted from your 16th birthday.
• Be a member of Explorer Scouts or Scout Network at the time you complete the award
This means members can only start working towards and count activities undertaken in achieving the QSA from their 16th Birthday. Activities and nights away completed in achievement of the Chief Scout Platinum and Diamond Awards can be counted towards the QSA.
Young Leader Acorn Badge – Explorer Award Only
ESYLs are Explorer Scouts who volunteer alongside adult leaders in a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or Scout Troop. A valuable asset to any leadership team, ESYLs play an active role in the section, bringing a range of fresh ideas to the table, and acting as positive role models for the young people they work alongside.
The ESYLs’ Scheme is the training programme for ESYLs. It contains 11 modules and four missions for ESYLs to work through whilst volunteering in their chosen section. Modules give ESYLs the skills and knowledge to be successful in their role, while missions allow them to put everything into practice with support. As well as developing valuable life skills, the Scheme is an opportunity for ESYLs to make a positive impact in their communities and to fulfil the service elements of many of the top awards in Scouting. Recognition of achievement is available along the way, and on completion of the Scheme, the ESYL is awarded with an ESYL belt buckle.
Explorer Belt – Explorer Award Only
The Explorer Belt is a challenge of a lifetime. It is a chance to take part in a ten day expedition that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life. You will develop this understanding by travelling through your chosen country, working as part of a small team to complete a series of projects and most importantly by meeting local people. It is an experience and an achievement that you will remember for the rest of your life.
If you have any questions or would like to try and achieve an award, please contact our 8th Tonbridge Award Coordinator Josh Barkaway on josh@mallingscouts.org.uk
Josh has been in scouting for 14 years and has worked his way through the sections earning each Chief Scout Award as he goes, he has recently earned his platinum and diamond award and is now striving for the Queen Scout Award!
The Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Bronze Award
It will usually take you at least 6 months to complete your Bronze programme.
• Volunteering section: 3 months
• Physical section: 3 months
• Skills section: 3 months
• Expedition section: 2 days/1 night
You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to choose your activity and set your goals for each section.
Silver Award
It will take you at least 6 months for Silver if you’ve already achieved your Bronze, or 12 months if you’ve jumped straight into Silver.
• Volunteering section: 6 months
• Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
• Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights
If you didn’t do Bronze, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
Gold Award
For Gold, you’ll need to do your programme for at least 12 months if you’ve achieved your Silver Award, or 18 months if you’ve started at Gold level without doing your Silver, even if you’ve done Bronze. The big difference at Gold is you’ll also do a Residential section – staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don’t know.
• Volunteering section: 12 months
• Physical and Skills sections: One section for 12 months and the other section for 6 months
• Expedition section: 4 days/3 nights
• Residential section: Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights.
If you didn’t do Silver, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
Badge Location Diagrams
Please click on the section logos below to open the badge location diagrams, showing where each badge should be placed on the section uniform.