Highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in the Commonwealth realms
Sponsored by
Scouting movement
Country
Commonwealth
A King's Scout (also known as Queen's Scout during the reign of Elizabeth II) is a Scout who has attained the King's Scout Award. The King's Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in the Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom, Canada (King's Venturer Award), Australia, and New Zealand (King's Scout Kauri Award), where Scouts operate under the patronage of King Charles III. Whether the award recipient is a Queen's or King's Scout depends on who is the current monarch of the Commonwealth realms.
Initially the award required demonstrated proficiency in standardised Scoutcraft and skills useful for service to others and the nation. The current requirements are different in each country and now focus on personal development and typically involve achieving challenges from several areas such as community involvement, adventurous activities, personal growth and leadership development.
History
In November 1909, King Edward VII approved Robert Baden-Powell's request that boys who passed special tests for efficiency be ranked as "King's Scouts".[1] A badge with a crown signified the award as a 'King's Scout', on the left sleeve. The First Class Scout had to pass the Guide's badge, and any three of: Ambulance, Bugler, Cyclist, Marksman, Seaman, and Signaller.[2]
From 1911, it was proposed that one troop from each of the countries of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa would be awarded a Challenge Standard of the name of 'King's troop', where the troop had no less than 24 boys, and each King's Scout must have been a member of the troop for at least six months.[3]
From the early 1919s to at least the mid-1920s, there briefly existed a "King's Sea Scout" badge for the Sea Scout branch alongside the King's Scout award. Badges for both could be earned by a Sea Scout.[4][5][6]
After the formal establishment of the Senior Scout section in 1946, only Senior Scouts (or Boy Scouts over 15 years of age) could become King's Scouts.[7]
The award was renamed from King's Scout to Queen's Scout by April 1952, with the succession and approval of Queen Elizabeth II.[8]
Since 1947, individuals who achieve the King's Scout or Queen's Scout award receive a certificate with a facsimile signature of the monarch at that time.[citation needed] The certificate for a King's Scout, headed by a stylised Royal coat of arms of the monarch, stated:
AS A KING'S SCOUT you have prepared yourself for service to God and your fellow-men, and have shown yourself a worthy member of the great SCOUT BROTHERHOOD. I wish you God-speed on your journey through life; may it prove for you a joyous adventure.[9]
Complete six activities from a list of International, Environment and Values activities, two from each topic area.
Holders of the Chief Scout's Platinum Award only need to complete four activities from the list, and holders of the Chief Scout's Diamond Award only need to complete two. The activities should be different from those completed as part of the other awards.
Hold the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the five King's Scout Award Challenges, which are:
Take up a Skill for 6 or 12 months, and show progress and lasting interest.
Take up a Physical Activity for 6 or 12 months.
Provide Service to an individual or the community for 12 months.
Plan, complete and review a four-day and three night expedition in open or adventurous country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, kayak, boat or dinghy.
Complete a five-day and four night residential project in an unfamiliar environment with people who are not known.
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 King's Scout Award.
All Members should complete twelve months of 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.[11]
King's Scouts are entitled to attend one King's Scout Parade held at Windsor Castle each year held on the Sunday closest to St George's Day; this is the only time when Scouts officially march.
Upon the succession of King Charles III in September 2022, the award in the United Kingdom was renamed 'King's Scout'.[10]
The first King's Scout in England was awarded to patrol leader Victor Watkins, of Broadstone, Dorset, on or before January 1910.[12]
The first person to hold both the Queen's Guide Award and the Queen's Scout Award was Susan Parker of 1st Brantham Panthers Venture Scout Unit in 1980.[13]
Queen's Scout Badge as worn by Australian recipients of the Award until 2020
Historically, it is given the first Australasian King's Scout was in New Zealand by August 1910.[14] By October 1910, at least one troop in Australia had two King's Scouts, the 1st Kensington Troop, Adelaide.[15] The first King's Scout in Queensland was awarded by June 1911.[16] Those scouts were then eligible to complete 21 badges to be awarded the 'Silver Wolf'.[15][17]
The Award Scheme is designed for Venturer Scouts, formerly called Senior Scouts.[18] Its aim is to widen the interests and knowledge of Venturer Scouts. Its rationale is based on the aim and methods of Scouting allowing fun, variety, personal choice and to assist in planning for a balanced program. It is a system designed to be challenging and encouraging for people over a wide range of activities.
The Queen's Scout Award requires the Scout to complete a number of achievements in the Venturer Scout Award Scheme.[19] These are:
Queen's Scout Award Badge as worn by Australian recipients from 2020 onwards.Completion of Program Essentials – Milestone 3
Twelve progressions in the Outdoor Adventure Skills. This must include achieving at least Stage 5 in each of the Core skills of:
Bushcraft (Pioneering and/or Survival Skills),
Bushwalking, and Camping, if not previously completed
This must include at least four achievements of Stage 4 or higher in any stream
Six Special Interest Area projects
An Adventurous Journey
A Leadership or Personal Development Course
A Personal Reflection
Approval may be required from the youth member's Unit Council, the District Venturer Council or a separate examiner. This peer review aims to maintain good standards for the award. A number of the reuqirements of the Venturer Scout Award Scheme, and thus the peak award itself, are mapped to competencies in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which allows award recipients to apply for several nationally-recognised qualifications in vocational areas such as Business, Active Volunteering and Outdoor Recreation.[20]
An adult leader who has earned the King's Scout Badge, the Queen's Scout Badge or the Queen's Scout Award (as a youth member) is entitled to wear a miniature replica of the cloth badge on their uniform.
The award may be renamed from 'Queen's Scout Award' to 'King's Scout Award', if King Charles III accepts Royal Patronage of the Scout Association of Australia following his coronation in May 2023.[21] From June 2023, after the approval of the Royal Household, the award may continue to be awarded under the name of the 'Queen's Scout Award' instead of 'Venturer Scout Peak Award' as it was known from September 2022 to June 2023 until King Charles III makes his official decision on whether to accept Royal Patronage of the movement.
Initially the King's Scout Award, Scouts Canada changed the Queen's Scout Award (during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II) into the Queen's Venturer Award in 1968, when the Scout programme was divided into the Scout and Venturer programmes.[22] The certificate is signed by the governor general of Canada, in the official capacity as chief scout of Canada.
The Queen's Scout Award Badge for Venture Scouts in Hong Kong
The Queen's Scout award was awarded in Hong Kong for the Venture Scout section before 1 April 1997. The Royal Certificate (Queen's Scout Award certificate) was awarded in the Hong Kong Scout Rally or on St George's Day (before 1987), by the Governor of Hong Kong. A Scout Leader who was awarded the Queen's Scout Award could have worn a Queen's Scout Leader's insignia on their uniform.
After 1997, it was replaced with the HKSAR Scout Award. The name of the current award was revised again in 2008, due to the outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong, to the Dragon Scout Award.[23]
Until 1957, Malaya was part of the British Empire, and scouts may have been earned the King's Scout or Queen's Scout Award. Since gaining independence from the United Kingdom, Malaysia's King's Scout Award is conferred in the name of the Royal Patron of the Scouts Association of Malaysia, His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (unofficially, the King of Malaysia).[9]
New Zealand
The first King's Scout in New Zealand was Sergeant Rennie, First Woolston Troop; and given to be the first scout in Australasia.[14]
Venturer section members were eligible to achieve the King's Scout Badge, then from 1952, the Queen's Scout Award.[24] It included completing modules on road safety, environmental awareness, personal development and community service.[25] In 2020, the award was renamed as the Queen's Scout Kauri Award.[26]
Singapore
Until 1963, Singapore was part of the British Empire, then becoming part of Malaysia, and in 1965, becoming its own republic. Before 1965, scouts earned the King's Scout (1926–1951) or Queen's Scout (1952–1966) Awards.[27] After independence, the award was renamed the 'President's Scout Award' in 1967.[27] This award is separate to the Rover Scout section's Baden Powell Award.
Scouts in South Africa earned the King's Scout (1910–1951) or Queen's Scout (1952–1961) Awards. Upon gaining independence, the award was changed to the Springbok Award in 1961.[28]
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 762,000 youth participants. The BSA was founded in 1910; about 110 million Americans have participated in its programs. BSA became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922.
Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America is a tradition dating from the inception of the Scouting movement. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man or woman acquires from his participation in Scouting. Advancement is one of the methods used in the "Aims and Methods of Scouting"– character development, citizenship training and personal fitness.
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership programme and the related award for adult leaders in the programmes of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement. Courses generally have a combined classroom and practical outdoors-based phase followed by a Wood Badge ticket, also known as the project phase. By "working the ticket", participants put their newly gained experience into practice to attain ticket goals aiding the Scouting movement. The first Wood Badge training was organized by Francis "Skipper" Gidney and lectured at by Robert Baden-Powell and others at Gilwell Park in September 1919. Wood Badge training has since spread across the world with international variations.
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association providing programs for young people, between the ages of 5 and 26, with the stated aim "To help develop well rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world". Scouts Canada, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 2021–22, youth membership stood at 33,899, a 48% decline from 64,693 in 2014–15. Over the same period, volunteer numbers also declined 43%, from 20,717 in 2015 to 11,765 in 2022. Scouts Canada has declined significantly in size since its peak: youth membership is down 82% from 288,084 in 1965 and volunteer numbers are down 50% from 33,524 in 1965.
Cub Scouting is part of the Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), available to boys and girls from kindergarten through fifth grade, or 5 to 10 years of age and their families. Its membership is the largest of the five main BSA divisions. Cub Scouting is part of the worldwide Scouting movement and aims to promote character development, citizenship training, personal fitness, and leadership.
Venturing is a core program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages 14 through 20. It is one of the Boy Scouts' three programs for older youth, which also include Sea Scouts and Exploring. The purpose of Venturing is to provide a positive environment where youth members, called Venturers, can lead the adventure, take on new leadership roles, and mature into responsible adults.
A woggle is a device to fasten the neckerchief, or scarf, worn as part of the Scout or Girl Guides uniform, originated by a Scout in the 1920s.
Venturer or Venture Scouts are programs in some Scouting organisations for young people of various age ranges in the 14–20 age range. A participant in the program is called a Venturer.
Rover Scouts, Rovers, Rover Scouting or Rovering is a program associated with some Scouting organizations for adult men and women. A group of Rovers is called a 'Rover Crew'.
Scouts Aotearoa, known internationally as Scouts Aotearoa New Zealand is a trading name of The Scout Association of New Zealand, the national Scouting association in New Zealand and an affiliate of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) since 1953. Scouts Aotearoa had 12,156 youth members and with 5,888 volunteers as of the end of 2020.
Venturer Scouts, formerly Senior Scouts, and commonly known simply as Venturers, is the fourth section of Scouts Australia, and was first formed in 1946. Venturers are aged between 14.5 and 18 years of age and are organised into Units, which can be a part of a single Scout Group or a stand-alone group. Both types of Unit take Scouts from any Scout Group. Although not in common usage, the motto of the Venturer Scout section in Australia is "Look Wide".
A Scout leader or Scouter generally refers to the trained adult leader of a Scout unit. The terms used vary from country to country, over time, and with the type of unit.
Scouts BSA is the flagship program and membership level of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for boys and girls between the ages of typically 11 and 17. It provides youth training in character, citizenship, and mental and personal fitness. Scouts are expected to develop personal religious values, learn the principles of American heritage and government, and acquire skills to become successful adults.
Cub Scouts is the section of Scouts Australia for boys and girls aged 8 to 11 (inclusive), often known simply as 'Cubs'. The Cub Scout section follows after Joey Scouts and is before Scouts. Cub Scouts wear a uniform shirt with navy blue panels, and yellow shoulders.
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was inspired by and modeled on The Boy Scouts Association, established by Robert Baden-Powell in Britain in 1908. In the early 1900s, several youth organizations were active, and many became part of the BSA.
Scouts is the section of Scouts Australia for boys and girls aged 11 to 14 (inclusive). The Scout section follows after Cub Scouts and is before Venturer Scouts. Scouts wear a uniform shirt with navy blue panels, and green shoulders.
The Scout Association of New Zealand's Sea Scouts are Scout Groups specialising in water-based activities. In 2017, there were around 900 Sea Scouts in New Zealand in 53 troops around the country.
The rank insignia system of the Indonesian Scouting movement Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia is by and large militarized in traditions and outfit.
The Venturing Summit is the highest rank for youth in the Venturing program of the Boy Scouts of America. It requires Venturers to earn the Pathfinder Rank, participate in adventures, and demonstrate leadership, service and personal growth.
Introduction to Leadership Skills is the first level leadership development course for youth in the Boy Scouts of America.
References
↑ "The King and Boy Scouts". Leader. No.2813. Victoria, Australia. 4 December 1909. p.50. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Boy Scouts". The Albany Advertiser. Vol.XXII, no.2810. Western Australia. 19 January 1910. p.4. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Our Boy Scouts". Weekly Times. No.2, 187. Victoria, Australia. 8 July 1911. p.8. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Camping notes". The Daily News. Vol.XXXVIII, no.13, 697. Western Australia. 25 January 1919. p.7 (Third Edition). Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "How to wear your badges". The Daily News. Vol.XXXIX, no.14, 124. Western Australia. 12 June 1920. p.5. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Boy Scouts". The Daily News. Vol.XLV, no.16, 067. Western Australia. 25 October 1926. p.6 (Home (Final) Edition). Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Boy Scouts". Border Morning Mail. Vol.XXXIX, no.11919. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1943. p.4. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Untitled". The World's News. No.423. New South Wales, Australia. 22 January 1910. p.32. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
1 2 "Boy Scouts". The Advertiser. Vol.LIII, no.16, 188. South Australia. 3 September 1910. p.20. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Our Scouts". The Brisbane Courier. No.16, 677. Queensland, Australia. 24 June 1911. p.14. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Official gazette". The Register (Adelaide). Vol.LXXV, no.20, 000. South Australia. 17 December 1910. p.7. Retrieved 15 September 2022– via National Library of Australia.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
