Writer Activity Badge

Complete any four requirements from those below, discussing the choice with an appropriate adult:

1. Compose a poem of at least eight lines and discuss its meaning and construction.
2. Create a short story of around 600 words around an idea agreed with an appropriate adult beforehand.
3. Write a descriptive passage of around 600 words on a subject agreed with an appropriate adult beforehand.
4. Write a 400-word review of a favourite book, play or other work of literature and discuss this with an appropriate adult.
5. Produce a published article of around 500 words in length. This could be in the form of a contribution to a school, faith community or Scout magazine or a letter to a local paper.
6. Keep a diary on a subject and for a length of time agreed with an appropriate adult beforehand.
7. Write a play or dramatic sketch lasting at least 10 minutes.
8. Interview a local celebrity, or other interesting person. Write or type out the interview to show the questions you asked and the interviewee’s replies.
9. Write a letter to a pen pal (real or imaginary) of at least 150 words.
10. Read a piece of your work in front of an audience.

Notes 

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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World Faiths Activity Badge

To gain this badge, Scouts must complete the activities below.

1. Complete one of the following activities:
   1. Visit a place of worship for a faith other than your own and find out the differences between this building and your own place of worship. Examples include: gurdwara; temple; mosque; church; synagogue
   2. Attend a religious festival from a faith different to your own.
2. Complete one of the following activities:
   
   1. Learn about the life of a founder or a prominent leader of a Faith (such as Prince Siddartha Gautama, Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi or a saint such as St George)
   2. Find out about someone whose faith has had a significant impact upon his or her life.
3. Read a sacred text from another faith and show how it compares it with a similar teaching from to your own faith.
4. Find out how following the teachings of another faith affects an individual’s daily life. This could include food or dietary laws, rituals, prayers or religious observances.

Notes 

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

– Badge requirements updated June 2011

– See all badge requirement updates in June 2011

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Water Sports Activity Badge

Complete one of the following requirements:

1. Qualify for British Rowing Learn to Row Passport – Stage 1.
2. Qualify for the Snorkel Diver Award of the British Sub-aqua Club.
3. Qualify for the British Surfing Association’s Junior Scheme Level 3 Award.
4. Qualify for the British Water Ski Federation Cutting Edge Bronze Award.
5. Qualify for the Royal Yachting Association National Windsurfing Scheme Level 1.
6. Qualify for the Discover Scuba Diving Award of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

Notes 

UK Headquarters can provide alternative requirements for water sports not catered for in the above. A Scout can gain more than one Badge.

Reference should be made to the activity rules in chapter nine of Policy, Organisation and Rules and the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme.

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Survival Skills Activity Badge

Complete the requirements below:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the following:
   
   1. How to prevent and treat the effects of extreme heat (sunstroke and dehydration) and cold (hypothermia).
   2. The first aid treatment for external bleeding and shock, the correct method of applying mouth-to-mouth breathing and the dangers involved in moving injured people.
   3. How to construct different kinds of shelter.
   4. How to build several different types of fire and the burning qualities of different woods.
   5. The correct use of international distress signals, using whistle, torch, mirror or markers.
   6. Some basic actions to take while waiting rescue that will both keep you (and your group) safe and will assist your rescuers in locating you.
   7. Some edible plants and/ or fruit to be found locally.
   8. Methods of filtering and purifying water.
2. With a group of at least three Scouts, take part in a survival exercise lasting about 24 hours, during which the group should:
   
   1. construct a shelter of natural or salvaged materials and sleep in it
   2. cook all meals over an open fire
   3. cook without utensils or aluminium foil (although a knife may be used)
   4. demonstrate methods of finding direction by day or night without a compass

Notes 

Requirement 1 must be completed before requirement 2 is undertaken. The leadership team should select suitable country for this so that supervision is possible.

Wild mountainous country is not intended. The nights away scheme must be followed. Alternative activities may be undertaken as agreed with the leadership team.

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Street Sports Activity Badge

Complete the requirements below:

1. Take a regular part in a street sport such as skateboarding, BMXing, roller or in-line skating or another street sport as agreed with the Leadership Team.
2. Complete all the activities below:
   
   1. Own or use equipment for a street sport for 6 months. Be able to check, adjust and repair the equipment to ensure safe use.
   2. Be able to demonstrate a reasonable level of skill in the chosen street sport and show evidence of improvement.
3. Explain the safety rules for your chosen sport.
4. Demonstrate ability in the chosen sport to other people or your Troop. This could be an exhibition or a public event or competition.

Notes 

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Sports Enthusiast Activity Badge

This badge is designed for those who follow a sport, rather than participate.

While many Scouts might choose football or basketball, the requirements could encompass sports as diverse as archery, motor racing and water polo.

Demonstrate your interest in a sport that you follow by completing the requirements below:

1. Explain the rules governing the chosen sport.
2. Describe the levels of achievement within the chosen sport either locally, nationally or internationally.
3. Show knowledge of some of the personalities, champions or other experts within the sport and explain how they might have inspired you.
4. Talk about the equipment required for the sport.
5. Describe a recent major event, championship or landmark in the sport.
6. Explain how you follow the sport and how you keep up to date with developments.

Notes 

Scouts may gain more than one Sports Enthusiast Badge.

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Snowsports Activity Badge

Complete the requirements below:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the following:
   
   1. the clothing and protective equipment to wear for different weather conditions, snow and artificial surfaces
   2. the safety features of your equipment (bindings, brakes etc)
   3. the importance of warming-up before taking part in snow sports
   4. the importance of drinking plenty of fluids especially in the mountain environment
   5. the safest places to stop on a run
   6. the importance of staying together as a group
   7. what to do in the event of an accident
   8. the FIS safety code (published by the Federation International de Ski)
   9. the hazards of the mountain environment for snowsports
2. Complete all the requirements in one of the following alternatives:
   
   1. Qualify for Snowlife Snowsports Ski Awards level 2.
   2. Qualify for Snowlife Snowsports Snowboards Awards level 2.
   3. Qualify for Snowsport England Nordic Award level 1.
   4. Complete at least 16 hours of Snowsports as part of a family or education holiday to a ski resort.

Notes 

In France, an equivalent level would be the ESF Flocon (which means ‘snowflake’) or One Star and in Italy the Scuola Italiana di Sci One and Two Star Bronze.

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Smallholder Activity Badge

Complete the requirements in one of the following alternatives:

Alternative A

1. Have a good knowledge of farming practices in your locality.
2. Know the organisation and daily and seasonal operations of a farm of your own choice, with special reference to the livestock, crops, cultivation, rotation, machinery and labour force.
3. Discuss the changes in farming practices that have taken place recently in your locality and the reasons for these.

Alternative B

1. Cultivate an area of garden or an allotment for a period agreed beforehand with the leadership team.
2. Grow successfully three kinds of hardy annual flower, three kinds of vegetable and two kinds each of bulbs, herbaceous plants and flowering shrubs or roses. As an alternative, grow eight types of plant.
3. Discuss the work done and the results achieved.

Alternative C

1. Keep any kind of livestock for a period agreed beforehand with the leadership team. For example:
   
   • For farm animals or birds, know how they should be housed, fed, breed and their economic uses. Show how to handle them safely and know about animal welfare
   • Manage a hive. Show some of the honey produced.

Notes 

An experienced adult adviser will be required to oversee the activities.

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Quartermaster Activity Badge

Complete the requirements in one of the following alternatives:

Alternative A

1. Assist a Group or Troop Quartermaster for an agreed period to show ability in the following areas:
   
   1. care and storage of tentage, including how to do simple repairs
   2. care and storage of cordage, to include whipping, splicing, hanking, coiling and safety inspections
   3. safe storage and handling of fuels used by the Group such as methylated spirits, paraffin, petrol and gas
   4. care of cooking stoves and cooking utensils, to include simple repairs, cleaning and general maintenance
   5. convenient storage of a Section’s training and games equipment
   6. care and storage of equipment used for adventurous activities, for example: sailing gear, canoes and paddles, lifejackets and buoyancy aids, go-karts, or climbing ropes
2. Be able to keep a simple record showing equipment issued and returned.
3. Understand that general tidiness is the secret of good quarter mastering. Explain how this is achieved in the Troop or Group store.

 Alternative B

1. As equipment quartermaster, assist at a nights away experience for at least two days. During this time show ability in at least three of the following areas:
   
   1. care and maintenance of all tentage, including the ability to do simple repairs to guy lines and fabric tears
   2. care and storage of all cordage, to include whipping, splicing, hanking, coiling and safety inspections
   3. safe storage and handling of fuels used by the camp, such as methylated spirits, paraffin, petrol and gas
   4. care, maintenance and general storage of all tools such as axes, spades and saws
   5. care and storage of equipment used for adventurous activities such as sailing gear, canoes and paddles, lifejackets and buoyancy aids, and climbing ropes
2. Be able to keep simple records showing equipment issued and returned.
3. Maintain and replenish a portable first aid kit.
4. Select tools to take to camp to complete emergency repairs on equipment
5. Understand that general tidiness is the secret of good quartemastering. Explain how this was achieved at a nights away experience at which the Quartermaster assisted.

 Alternative C

1. Assist at a residential experience for at least two days, by taking on the role of food quartermaster. Complete the following:
   
   1. Plan a balanced menu for the event.
   2. Draw up a complete shopping list.
   3. Assist in the purchasing of food and account for the money spent.
   4. Help to arrange the transport of food to the venue.
   5. Supervise the safe storing food. Explain how to keep fresh food cool in a camping environment, without refrigeration, how to protect from rodents, vermin and insects and how to avoid cross contamination of foods.
   6. Demonstrate the importance of cleanliness and good hygiene when allocating food ensuring that the right items and quantities are issued for each meal
   7. Supervise the disposal of waste and unused food.
   8. Look after and maintain any cooking stoves and other cooking utensils.
2. Understand that general tidiness is the secret of good quartermastering. Explain how this was achieved at the nights away experience at which the Quartermaster assisted.

Notes 

If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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Pulling Activity Badge

To gain this badge, Scouts must complete the requirements in both the practical and on-shore training sections.

1. Row a dinghy single-handed and carry out in sequence the following manoeuvres:
   
   1. Take the boat away from a bank side mooring
   2. Row in a straight line for a 100 metres
   3. Complete a figure-of-eight course
   4. Scull over the stern between two points 20 metres apart and turn through 180 degrees
   5. Draw stroke over the bow.
2. Using a round turn and two half hitches, moor to a ring, post or bollard.
3. Be able to point out and name the basic parts of a pulling boat.
4. As part of a crew of a boat:
   
   1. Take a place as an oarsman, including stroke
   2. Understand boat orders and be able to act on them
   3. As bowman, be a lookout and report hazards to the coxswain using standard maritime directions e.g. starboard, port quarter, dead ahead, etc
5. From a boat, heave an unweighted line to land within reach of target 5 metres away with not more than three attempts
6. Understand the safety rules that apply to Scout boating
7. Know the difference between a lifejacket and a buoyancy aid and show the correct method of wear
8. Understand the importance of wearing appropriate clothing for various weather conditions
9. Know what actions and safety requirements to take when being towed
10. Have a basic knowledge of rules of the road for your local waters

Notes 

Reference should be made to the Activity rules in chapter nine of Policy, Organisation and Rules and the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme
If you need help designing alternatives to these requirements for those with special needs please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

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