Badges are another way of recognising the achievements of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts who have learnt a new skill or who have taken part in an activity for a certain period of time. Many badges, such as hobbies, can be achieved more than once for different interests.
Young People should be encouraged, where possible, to achieve National Governing Body Awards. These can also be used to help achieve the relevant Scout Activity Badge. For example, in gaining ‘British Canoe Union’s One Star Award’, a Scout would also achieve the Canoeist Badge.
There are 12 activity badges available for Beaver Scouts, 35 for Cub Scouts, 70 for Scouts and 28 for Explorer Scouts.
In addition to these, there are 6 Activity Badges staged across these Sections. The Staged Activity Badges have been designed to provide a unified approach throughout the Sections.
Information on how to complete these badges is available from the Scout Associations Website:
Scout Association Beaver Badges (Link open in a new window)
Scout Association Cub Badges (Link open in a new window)
Scout Association Scout Badges (Link open in a new window)
All the Staged Activity Badges have 5 stages, except Nights Away – which has 12 and Hikes Away, which has 6. 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 to gain a higher-level Staged Activity Badge than a Scout. Staged activity badges can move section with the Young Person. Meaning that if a cub earns his 10 Nights Away Badge, then he or she can wear it on their Scout Uniform when they move up.