The International Activity Patch is an award of the Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

 for participation in an international event. Requirements are developed by each council.

Award

The award is a three-inch circular cloth patch worn on the right pocket of the official uniform as a temporary insignia. The emblem is the universal emblem of the BSA encircled by a rope tied in a square knot

Reef knot

The reef knot or square knot is an ancient and simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object. Although the reef knot is often seen used for tying two ropes together, it is not recommended for this purpose due to potential instability of the knot.A reef knot is formed by tying...

 on a field of blue. The rope and knot are taken from the emblem of the World Scout Emblem, the symbol of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

World Organization of the Scout Movement

The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...

. A five-inch "back patch" for wear on the back of the official jac-shirt and a neckerchief are also available.

Origins

The BSA used the World Scout Emblem— called the World Crest in the U.S. —as an award for international activities from 1956 on. Policy was changed in 1991 and the World Crest can now be worn by all members as an emblem of world-wide Scouting. The International Activity Patch replaced the World Crest as an award.