Information, advice and support for the Top Awards available in Scouts.
Chief Scout\'s Acorn Award
This is the highest award a Squirrel Scout can earn. The Chief Scout’s Acorn Award shows that you’ve had adventures, helped your friends, and learned new things!
How to earn your award
1. Finish all the Challenge Awards
2. Do 2 activity badges of your choice
Chief Scout\'s Bronze Award
This is the highest award a Beaver can earn. To earn it, you’ll need complete all of the challenge awards, as well as any four activity badges of your choice (including staged activity badges).
How to earn your award
1. Finish all the Challenge Awards
2. Do any 4 activity or staged badges of your choice
Chief Scout\'s Silver Award
This is the highest award a Cub can earn. To complete it, you need to earn 6 Activity or Staged Activity Badges, as well as all seven of the Challenge Awards.
How to earn your award
1. Finish all the Challenge Awards
2. Do any 6 activity or staged badges of your choice
Chief Scout\'s Gold Award
The highest award a Scout can earn, showing you’ve completed all nine of your challenge badges, as well as six activity or staged badges!
How to earn your award
1. Finish all the Challenge Awards
2. Do any 6 activity or staged badges of your choice
Young Leader Belt Buckle
An award involving volunteering with a different youth section for an extended period. Upon completing the modules and missions, the belt is awarded and worn in perpetuity.
How to earn your award
1. Finish all the Young Leader Training Modules (A-K)
2. Complete all 4 Missions (Game, Activity, Programme Planning, Delivery)
Chief Scout\'s Platinum Award
An award showing you’ve completed at least 8 nights away as an Explorer Scout, had an impact internationally and in your community, and completed your DofE Bronze!
How to earn your award
1. Be a member of Explorer Scouts for at least 6 months
2. Complete 8 nights away as an Explorer Scout of which 4 must be camping
3. Complete 2 activities from the International Community and Values list. (linked below)
4. Hold a DofE Bronze Award, Bronze Gateway Award or complete the Platinum Scout Challenges
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze
Undertaking their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills. Bronze DofE works alongside the Chief Scout\'s Platinum Award.
How to earn your award
1. Must be aged 14+
2. Complete 3 months of volunteering
3. Complete 3 months of physical activity
4. Complete a skill for 3 months
5. Complete a 2 day, 1 night expedition
6. Complete an extra 3 months of either volunteering, physical or skills. Essentially, you must do 6 months for 1 section and 3 months for the other 2
Chief Scout\'s Diamond Award
The Chief Scout\'s Diamond Award is the highest of the Chief Scout\'s Awards, and the final step before the King\'s Scout Award.
How to earn your award
1. Be a member of Explorer Scouts or Scout Network (or both) for at least 12 months
2. Complete 16 nights away as an Explorer Scout/Network Member of which 8 must be camping
3. Complete 4 activities from the International Community and Values list. (linked below)
4. Hold a DofE Silver Award, Silver Gateway Award or complete the Diamond Scout Challenges
Duke of Edinburgh Silver
Undertaking their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills. Silver DofE works alongside the Chief Scout\'s Diamond Award.
How to earn your award
1. Must be aged 15+
2. Complete 6 months of volunteering
3. Complete physical and skills section, one for 6 months, one for 3 months
4. Complete a 3 day, 2 night expedition
5. If you didn\'t complete DofE Bronze, you must undertake a further 6 months in either volunteering, or the longer of the physical or skills sections.
Explorer Belt
The Explorer Belt is a challenge of a lifetime. It\'s a chance to take part in a ten-day expedition that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life.
How to earn your award
1. Register with Scouts UK and the District
2. Be an Explorer Scout aged 16+ or a Network member
3. Expedition- undertake a 10 day expedition as part of a team outside the UK with a minimum travelling time of 50 hours over the 10 days, by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.
4. Debrief, Presentation, and Assessment
King\'s Scout Award
The King’s Scout Award is the top achievement for Explorers and Network and comprises a variety of activities to complete. It’s closely linked to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, so it’s worth considering working on the two awards together.
How to earn your award
1. Be over 16 and member of Explorer Scouts or Scout Network (or both) for at least 18 months
2. Complete 24 nights away as an Explorer Scout/Network Member of which 12 must be camping
3. Complete 6 activities from the International Community and Values list. (linked below)
4. Hold a DofE Gold Award, Gold Gateway Award or complete the King\'s Scout Challenges
5. Presentation & Sign-off
Duke of Edinburgh Gold
Undertaking their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills. Gold DofE works alongside the King\'s Scout Award.
How to earn your award
1. Must be aged 16+
2. Complete 12 months of volunteering
3. Complete physical and skills section, one for 12 months, one for 6 months
4. Complete a 4 day, 3 night expedition
5. Complete a residential- in a setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights
Scouts of the World Award
A Scout Network only award that gives Scout Network members the chance to undertake a project of their choice within the themes of Peace, Environment and Sustainability and take action on their chosen issue.
How to earn your award
1. Be a member of Scouting, aged 18-25
2. Attend a Scouts of the World Discovery run by a SOWA Trainer
3. Register for the Award
4. Create a plan for your SOWA project, with the guidance of your mentor
5. Complete your SOWA project (80 hours, based on one or more of the three themes)
6. Undertake an evaluation, reflection and local presentation
