The introduction of My.Scout in 2014 has given parents and Scouts an insight into their progress through the Scout badge programme. We hope it willl inspire some to get more badges. This article explains the Troop's approach to badges and provides links to other resources for Scouts who wish to persure badges independently.
Challenge Badges and the Gold Chief Scout's Award.
The Gold Chief Scout's Award is the highest award achievable in the Scout section. It requires Scouts to hold 8 of the 9 available Challenge badges of which 6 are compulsory.
We plan a balanced programme around these 9 challenges which means that a Scout that attends most meetings and events (including camps) will achieve all the challenges without having to do much outside of Scouts.
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Adventure Challenge
Most Scouts will get this by just turning up and trying a few of the adventurous activities that often appear on our programme - particularly in the Summer. Activities such as Kayaking, Microlighting, Orienteering and Mountain Biking all count.
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Optional | |
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Community Challenge
The Community Challenge requires 6 hours of community service amongst its requirements. Scouts can do this through out regular community events including helping at the Hospice in the Weald and at our occassional Communty Challenge Camps.
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Required | |
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Creative Challenge
The Creative Challenge requires participation in various creative activities. Scouts will usually achieve this at Troop Meetings and the Annual Operation Founder event.
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Required | |
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Expedition Challenge
The expedition challenge requires the planning and particpation in an overnight expedition. We usually run this every other year for the older Scouts in the Troop.
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Optional | |
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Fitness Challenge
The Fitness Challenge has two sections: One about health education which we get guests in to help us with, and one requiring the Scouts to take up a new sporting activity and show progression in that activity over a period of 6 weeks. This second section is not something we can build into our programme and requires Scouts to complete it independently.
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Required | |
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Global Challenge
The Global Challenge is most easily achieved by a trip to an international scout camp - something we try to fit in once every 4 years.
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Required | |
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Outdoor Challenge
The Outdoor Challenge has various requirements that all have to be completed during a single camp. Most Scouts will achieve this badge on their first summer (patrol) camp with us.
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Required | |
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Outdoor Challenge Plus
The Outdoor Challenge Plus builds on the skills gained in the Outdoor Challenge and can be completed over several camps or outdoor activities. Most Scouts will achieve this badge on their second summer (patrol) camp with us.
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Optional | |
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Promise Challenge
The Promise Challenge has various requirements with multiple sections and options: Click the badge for all the details. Most Scouts will achieve this badge during the course of their Scouting as long as they partake in meetings and Church Parades.
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Required |
Click on the any of the badges for details of their requirements.
Activity Badges
The activity badges are the ones that Scouts wear on their left sleeve.
They are split into two categories:
Staged Activity badges span the Scout sections from Beavers to Explorers. This means that a young person can gain whichever badge is appropriate to the level they have reached. It is possible, for example, for a Beaver Scout who is an excellent swimmer to gain a higher level badge than a Scout who has just taken up the activity.
We keep track of and award Nights Away and Hikes badges in this category. We also regularly do first aid training during meetings that can lead to the First Aid staged badges. Band Members should look into the Musicians award - Band instructors can help with this.
There are over 70 activity badges that Scouts can work towards with everything from Astronautics to Water Sports and including Dragon Boating, Street Sports and Martial Arts.
Being Air Scouts we include regular activities and tuition towards the Basic Aviation, Aviation and Advanced Aviation badges.
We occassionally choose other activity badges to incorporate into our programme. There are also regular, popular badge courses run by Kent Scouts for badges such as Survival, Canoeing and Climbing. Visit the Kent Scouts web site for more details.
Click the headings above for more information on the Staged Activity Badges and the Activity Badges. Scouts with hobbies and interests outside of Scouting might be able to gain badges by getting their coach or club leader to sign a print-out of the requirements to indicate that they have all been fulfilled.
If you have any questions regarding the Badge programme or the Troop's approach to it, please contact any of the leaders.