There are two types of badges Scouts can earn and wear. Participation in the core program recognition scheme of badges and awards is NOT COMPULSARY. Scouts take part in badge work and the earning of badges on a strictly volunteer basis. Some badges have a round shape while others are diamond shape and have different coloured borders.
The round badges are called Challenge Badges. The diamond badges are called Activity Badges. Their coloured borders - brown or green - tell what level of each badge you have earned. You wear both levels of the badges on your sash. The Activity Badges are connected to the three achievement awards : Voyageur Scout Award, Pathfinder Scout Award, and the Chief Scouts’ Award . To earn each award, you must earn all Activity Badges, as well as a certain number of Challenge Badges. Normally you will progress through the two levels of each Activity Badge from brown to green. But some Activity Badge requirements are connected to activities you might be doing outside Scouting such as First Aid and Lifesaving which are two such examples. If you hold an appropriate award from another agency e.g. the Red Cross, and there is a corresponding agency badge, you will receive the equivalent Scout badge at the appropriate Activity Badge level. Whenever possible, it’s a good idea for patrol members to work together on the requirements of an Activity Badge. Some badges, in fact, call for you to do things with your patrol. For example, the Voyageur level of the Outdoor Skills Activity Badge asks you to “participate in two hikes/outings of approximately six hours duration each” with members of your patrol. Use a patrol meeting to decide what activities you will do in order to meet the requirements of badges your patrol will work on.
As you progress, you will find you’re expected to share your new knowledge and skills with Scouts who are working at a lower level of the badges. For example, Scouts working on the Pathfinder Leadership Activity Badge are asked to “teach a basic level skill to a Scout working at the Pioneer or Voyageur level. This requirement lets you pass along your knowledge of such things as camp cooking or the use of camp stoves off lanterns to less experienced Scouts.
To become a “Pioneer Scout” , you must know and understand the Scout Promise, the Scout Law, the Scout Motto, the Scout Slogan, the Scout Handshake, the Scout Salute and Sign, the reasons Scouts use them and you must participate in one Scout troop activity (preferably outdoors). You are then ready to be invested into the Scout troop as a Pioneer Scout with the privilege of wearing the Scout neckerchief and Scout woggle.
1. You must be a Pioneer Scout
2. At the Voyageur level, complete:
Citizenship
Leadership
Personal Development
Outdoor Skills
3. Four Challenge Badges from at least two categories
4. Spring/Fall portion of the Year-Round Camper Award
Completion of the above earns you the VOYAGEUR AWARD.
To earn the Pathfinder Award :
1. You must be a Voyageur Scout
2. At the Pathfinder level, complete:
Citizenship
Leadership
Personal Development
Outdoor Skills
3. Six more Challenge Badges from at least two new categories
4. Summer and Winter portion of Year-Round Camper Award
Completion of the above earns you the PATHFINDER AWARD.
To earn the Chief Scout’s Award:
1. You must be a Pathfinder Scout
2. Be currently qualified in First Aid Standard level or demonstrate the equivalent
attitudes, skills and knowledge as judged by a “qualified instructor of First Aid”
3. Have earned at least one Challenge Badge in each of the seven (7) Challenge Badge
Categories : Athletics, Outdoors, Science & Technology, Home & Family, Personal
Development, Culture & Society, Environment
4. Hold the World Conservation Badge
5. Investigate Scouts Canada’s involvement in World Scouting. Present your findings
in an interesting way to your patrol, troop , or other group. Your presentation should
include information on the following:
a) Scouts Canada’s involvement with: - The Canadian Scout Brotherhood Fund; world
Jamborees; and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
b) The purpose and location of the World Scouting Bureau; and
c) The current World Scouting membership, and how Canada’s membership compares
to that of other countries
6. Develop yourself further in each activity area by:
a) Designing a challenge program with a Scouter which includes the requirement to
Excel in a component of each activity area ( Citizenship, Leadership, Personal
Development , and Outdoor Skills). Citizenship must include providing at least
thirty (30) hours of leadership to others. These hours are in addition to the hours
required for the Citizenship Activity Area. If at all possible, provide this service outside
of Scouting
b) Offering your plans and goals for discussion, and approval to your
Court of Honour
and Troop Scouter prior to the beginning
c) Reporting to , and being evaluated by, the Court of Honour and Troop Scouter on
your ongoing progress
The Chief Scout’s Award will be yours when you have completed these six (6) requirements as judged by your fellow Scouts, the Troop Scouter and Patrol Counsellors. Generally , your Troop Scouter will present you the emblem. A certificate signed by the Chief Scout of Canada will be presented to you at a public ceremony. You continue to wear the Chief Scout’s Award as a Venturer. If you have not completed all of the requirements for the Chief Scout’s Award before you join a Venturer Company, you have three months in which to complete them. The Chief Scout’s Award is the highest award in the Scout program. There is only one Chief Scout of Canada (the Governor General of Canada) just as there was only one Chief Scout of the World. He, of course, was Robert Baden-Powell, Scouting’s founder.
The Challenge Badges break down into seven categories with badges allocated for each of the categories.
In the Athletics category are:
- Team Sport
- Individual Sport
- Winter Sport
- Water Sport
- Swimming
In the Outdoors category are:
- Pioneering
- Exploring
- Winter Scouting
- Paddling
- White Water
- Water Tripping
- Sailing
- Powercraft
- Advanced Camping
- Weather
In the Home & Family category are:
- Home repair
- Builder
- Cooking
- Family Care
- Pet Care
- Safety
In the Personal Development category are:
- Collector
- Communicator
- Language Strip
- Lifesaving
- Individual Speciality
- Troop Speciality
- First Aid
In the Science & technology category are:
- Computer
- Engineering
- Science
- Space Exploration
In the Environment category are:
- Naturalist
- Recycling
- Fish and Wildlife
- Soil/Water Management
- Forestry
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
In the Culture & Society category are:
- Artist
- Literary Arts
- Performing Arts
- Music
- Photography
- Handicraft
- Modeller
- Heritage
- Special Needs Awareness
- Cultural Awareness
A Few Guidelines:
1. The Challenge Badges are designed to challenge Scouts at all age levels. Scouts must
“show an increased level of achievement, skill or activity” as part of earning a badge.
A Scout who qualified for a Collector’s Badge in Cubs must demonstrate continued
interest and increased knowledge about the collection to qualify for the Scout
Collector Badge.
2. The primary criterion for earning a Challenge Badge is that Scouts give their best effort
according to their age and ability.
3. The Challenge Badge requirements minimize formal instruction and examination , and
emphasize learning by doing, going places, making things, and taking part in
activities.
Any six Challenge Badges from at least two categories qualify for Brown Challenge Award.
Any ten Challenge Badges from at least four categories qualify for Green Challenge Award.
Any fourteen Challenge badges from at least six categories qualify for White Challenge Award.
Scouts wear the Challenge Award ( which is designed to hold a whistle) around the left shoulder through the shoulder cord loop provided. They tuck the free end of the award into the left breast pocket.
The Activity Badges are diamond shaped and their coloured borders are either brown or green. The names of these badges are Citizenship, Leadership, Personal Development, and Outdoor Skills.
Unlike other Challenges Badges which recognize individual interests, the Troop Speciality Badge provides for a special troop interest. For example, a troop may have a special interest in snowshoeing, sailing, aeronautics or acrobatics. Although practically all such activities are covered under a Challenge Badge, additional recognition may encourage maximum participation in the activity. On the other hand, troops who find that the existing badge system adequately meets their needs may feel no desire to establish a Speciality Badge.
Because troop interests often change, a troop may change its Speciality Badge requirements as long as it doesn’t alter them more than once a year. This restriction is meant to prevent a troop from concentrating too much on one badge.
Troop members are responsible to work out the detailed requirements for their Speciality Badge. Generally, the Court of Honour draws up the requirements, but some troops establish a special committee to work them out.
Here are some criteria you can use as a guide for establishing Troop Speciality Badge requirements.
1. Choose any type of activity or interest, even if one of the Challenge Badges already
covers it.
2. Design badge requirements that go beyond the expectations of existing badges and
require Scouts to demonstrate increased proficiency, activity, or interest in the subject.
3. Set badge requirements that most Scouts can reach. Scouts sometimes establish
requirements more challenging than desirable.
4. Send a copy of the requirements to the district office for information purposes.
Scouts wear the Challenge Badges and Troop Speciality Badge on the Scout sash immediately below the Voyageur and Pathfinder Badges, as shown in the Canadian Scout Handbook.
Purpose: To demonstrate a Scout’s concern for the environment and awareness of the
global need for conservation.
The World Conservation Badge combines the symbol of Scouting with that of the World Wildlife Fund, the Panda. The badge was specially designed by Sir Peter Scott, a world famous conservationist and chairman of the World Wildlife Fund. The World Wildlife Fund, originally dedicated to saving species such as the Panda , has broadened its focus. Now the Fund’s concern is to save the environment, namely the spaces in which wildlife and humans must live if they are to survive.
The World Conservation Badge is an international badge, which means Scouts in other countries are also working to earn it, even though they may be working on slightly different requirements. All Scouts around the world who wear this badge publicly demonstrate Scouting’s concern for the environment and awareness of the global need for conservation.
To earn the World Conservation Badge (which you wear on the back of the sash 10 cm from the top seam) you must complete the following.
Requirements:
1. Complete at least two Challenge Badges in the environment category;
2. Choose a conservation issue of importance to Canada and the world, and complete a
project that includes some recognizable work in your community. Make a presentation,
Display or report describing your project, and the global importance of the issue. You
may complete the project as an individual or in a group. Examples might include global
warming, acid rain, endangered species, etc.; and
3. Taking a leading role in planning and conducting an activity of your choice which
focuses on the concept , “Think Globally, Act Locally”.
Purpose:
This three-part award encourages you to get camping experience in different seasons of the year. As you camp just for fun or to complete the camping requirements for various badges, record your camping nights, on the “Camping Checklist,” page 110 in your Canadian Scout Handbook.
Camps:
The three different types of camping are (1) summer, (2) winter, and (3) spring or fall. Because of the different climatic conditions across Canada, no specific calendar months are suggested for each season. Your Troop Scouter or Patrol Counsellor will determine the appropriate classification based on local weather conditions.
Requirements:
To qualify for the award:
1. You must spend at least two nights in each of the three camping periods in tents or
other temporary shelter.
2. As a patrol, for each camp you must:
A) Obtain written parental permission to camp;
B) Select the campsite and obtain permission to use it;
C) Arrange transportation. If you use a vehicle, you must travel the last kilometre
on foot and carry in all your gear with your patrol members;
D) Develop a menu and buy the food you need;
E) Prepare the patrol camping equipment suitable for the season; and
F) Plan the program activities for the camp.
3. Get the approval of your Troop Scouter or Patrol Counsellor for all of your actions
related to the items in # 2.
4. Evaluate each camp with a Scouter within two weeks of the camp. Discuss your
preparations, camp outcomes and Leave No Trace actions.
The Award:
The award has three parts, each representing one of the three camping periods. There are no time restrictions on how long you may take to earn the Year-Round Camper Award. When you satisfactorily complete the requirements for a camping season, the appropriate section of the award will be presented to you.
Your patrol or troop may want to decide where you will wear the award. While you may wear it on the top of the back of your sash, you might also put it on your campfire blanket, a jacket, or even a camp hat. You may also want to decide whether you will sew on the sections as you earn them, or choose to wait until you’ve earned all the sections before wearing them.
In making your Scout Promise, you said you will do your duty to God. How you personally demonstrate that can take many forms. One way might involve earning the Religion In Life Emblem.
To help you earn this award, you need to get pamphlet outlining the requirements for the faith of your choice from your Scout council office or Scout’s Canada web site, www.scouts.ca/inside.asp?cmpageid=276. Ask your Scout Counsellor or troop Scouter to help you get it. Usually an adult from your faith will be appointed to help you with the requirements.
When you have completed the requirements, you will be presented with both an emblem and a certificate. Your Scout leader will probably arrange for a spiritual leader of your faith to present them to you at an appropriate occasion - perhaps at a religious service.
The Religion In Life Award has five stages. The emblem’s out side border colour (yellow, green, blue, red, and purple - adults only) shows which stage you have earned. You may have earned the yellow stage as a Wolf Cub. If you did, you may continue to wear the emblem until you earn a higher level emblem as a Scout. You should only wear the highest stage you’ve earned. You wear the Religion in Life emblem on the right side of the sash at the top, just above the Link Badges and Language Strip.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme was launched in Canada in 1963. This award scheme, initiated by Prince Philip, is open to everyone between the ages of 14 and 25.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The three levels are geared to different age groups- bronze for those over 14 years, silver for those over 15, and gold for those over 16.
The program has four sections: Service, Physical Fitness, Skills and Expeditions, and Explorations. Officials from different levels of government make the award presentations. A member of the Royal Family (sometimes Prince Philip himself) presents the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.
If you’re coming up to your 14th. Birthday and think you might be interested in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, ask your Patrol Counsellor to get the all-important record book and manual. Your local Scout office should have the address.
When you’re invested as a Scout, you may be eligible to receive a Link Badge. If you
were a member of a Wolf Cub Pack before you joined your Scout troop, then you should have worked on the requirements for a Link Badge. These requirements make up most of the Scout investiture requirements The badge’s two colours (yellow and green) stand for Wolf Cubs and Scouts.
If you were a Beaver before you were a Cub, you would have received a brown and yellow Link Badge at your Cub investiture. You can continue to wear that Link Badge as a Scout.
Cub to Scout Link Badge requirements:
A) has been a registered Cub;
B) Knows and understands the Scout Promise, Law and Motto; and
C) has taken part in at least three Scout activities.
Another Link Badge (this one green and blue) awaits you when you join a Venturer company.
Scout to Venturer Link Badge requirements:
A) has been a registered Scout;
B) knows and understands the Venturer Promise, Law and Motto ; and
C) has taken part in at least three Venturer activities.
You wear your Link Badges right at the top of your sash.