Animal lover? Bookworm? Photographer? Budding chef or adventurous camper? You name it, Scouts has a badge for it—over 200 of them, in fact!
Whether your child is a Squirrel in Hull, a Beaver in Beverley, a Cub in Scunthorpe, or a Scout in Grimsby, earning badges is one of the most rewarding parts of their Scouting journey. Here is a quick guide on how badges work, how young people earn them, and how parents across Humberside can get involved.
How Young People Earn Badges
Scouts work on badges together during weekly section meetings, on weekend camps, at district events, or at home!
- No Pressure: There is never any pressure to complete badges—Scouts can do as many or as few as they like at their own pace.
- Easy to Complete: Badges are simple to start, and for most of them, you don’t need any specialist sign-offs—a section leader or parent can help track progress.
- Badges at Home: From baking and gardening to fitness goals and creative projects, many activity badges can be earned outside of regular meeting nights. Just speak to your local section leader about how to share photos or log achievements!
Types of Badges & Awards
- Activity Badges: Focused on specific hobbies and interests, such as cycling, astronomy, cooking, or digital skills.
- Staged Activity Badges: Badges that young people can continue to level up as they grow through the sections (e.g., First Aid, Swimming, or Nights Away).
- Challenge Awards: Broader awards earned over time that cover core areas like adventure, leadership, and community impact.
- Top Section Awards: The ultimate achievements in each section! From the Chief Scout’s Acorn Award in Squirrels all the way up to the King’s Scout Award in Explorers and Network, these represent dedicated effort and commitment.
Where Do Badges Go on the Uniform?
When your young person earns a new badge, sewing it onto their uniform is half the fun!
- Uniform Diagrams: Badge placement guides for every section (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers) can be found on our local section pages or directly on the national Scout Store.
- Moving Up Sections: When moving to a new section (like Beavers to Cubs), top section awards and highest-level Staged Activity Badges carry across to the new uniform, while others can be safely sewn onto a badge blanket as a keepsake!
Top Tips for Parents
- Explore Together: Browse the badge options online with your child to find topics that match their personal interests.
- Showcase Achievements: Set up a badge blanket, display board, or sash at home to celebrate their progress and keep track of earned patches.
- Connect with Leaders: Use Online Scout Manager (OSM) or speak with your group leaders to check which badges your section is currently working on during term time.
