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Progressive Award Scheme (UK Scouting)
Encyclopedia
The Progressive Award Scheme is a major part of the Scout Association
programme.
The current scheme began with the programme review in 2003, and is provides a thread of activities and challenges from the very start in the Beaver Colonies
on up to the members of the Scout Network
, although there have been various incarnations over the years.
The culmination of the scheme has always been the achievement of the Queen's Scout
Award (or King's Scout Award before 1953). Recipients of the Award are invited to join the St George's Day
service at Windsor Castle
the year after completing the scheme, and parade before Queen Elizabeth II
.
Firstly, it rewards and promotes commitment, self-motivation, teamwork, skills (both life-skills and Scouting), and many more qualities which can be developed in young people.
It is also used as the core of the Scouting
programme, as the requirements of the award vary from participation in community activities, to more traditional Scouting activities such as camping. Following the scheme allows section leaders to have a highly varied programme.
There are numerous challenges and minor awards which are used to contribute towards each of the Chief Scout or Queen's Scout Awards, such as the Explorer Belt (for Explorer Scouts or Scout Network) or the Outdoor Challenge (Beaver Scouts).
The requirements of each award vary through the age groups. For example, Beaver Scouts have to complete the Outdoor Challenge (Scoutcraft, environment, or similar), along with either the Friendship ("People Far Away", meeting other people, or caring for others) or Discovery ("How things work", health & fitness, or creativity) challenge, and also a personal challenge (decided between the Beaver Scout and their leader).
Explorer Scouts and Scout Network, on the other hand, need to complete a set of physical recreation, skill, and service challenges, and they must also undertake an expedition (this equates to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which can be undertaken in parallel with the Scouting scheme). They must also participate in "group" projects or activities involving either Faith, Community or Environment, and have spent a minimum number of nights away as a member of Scouting.
Cub Scouts (having dropped the Wolf from their title) now had Arrows to reward their activities.
The old class ratings were replaced by the Scout Standard, Advanced Scout Standard, and the Chief Scout Award.
The new Venture unit was given the Queen's Scout Award
. The requirements of the award were greatly changed, and included long term service, commitment, and a 50+ mile expedition over four days, amongst others.
There were many minor reviews of the Scouting programme in the UK over the next four decades.
The Cub Scout Arrows programme was modified to allow greater flexibility in 1974, and were completely replaced by the Cub Scout Award, Adventure Award and Adventure Crest Award in 1990. This returned a more coherent structure to the system, while still allowing for freedom of choice of activities within the awards.
The Scout Standards were replaced in 1983 with the Scout Award, Pathfinder Award, and Explorer Award. The Chief Scout's Award remained the highest award for the Scout Section.
An intermediate award, the Venture Scout Award, was also introduced for the senior section, and was a stepping stone to achieving the Queen's Scout Award.
Finally, with the introduction of the Beaver Section
in the 1980s, a new set of awards was introduced for the 6-8 year olds involved in this section of Scouting.
The 2003 review sought to bring all of these various changes together and provide a coherent programme through the 6-25 programme.
Further changes to the 2003 programme were introduced in 2008. This included additional activity badges and new challenge badges.
There was also the highest award of King's Scout
.
The Wolf Cubs introduced the First and Second Stars with their creation in 1917.
The awards were very much oriented towards Scoutcraft and Service.
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
programme.
The current scheme began with the programme review in 2003, and is provides a thread of activities and challenges from the very start in the Beaver Colonies
Beaver Scouts
Beaver Scouts, often shortened to Beavers, is the youngest section of Scouting operated by The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. The core age range for Beaver Scouts is six to eight years, though exceptions can be granted. Individual sections of Beaver Scouts, known as a Colony, are run by...
on up to the members of the Scout Network
Scout Network
The Scout Network is the fifth and final section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom, catering for 18- to 25-year-olds and introduced in 2001, following the review of UK Scouting. It, along with the Explorer Scout section, replaced the Venture Scouts...
, although there have been various incarnations over the years.
The culmination of the scheme has always been the achievement of the Queen's Scout
Queen's Scout
The Queen's Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in several countries. It is awarded in realms of the Commonwealth, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where the Scouts operate under the ceremonial leadership of the monarch.The...
Award (or King's Scout Award before 1953). Recipients of the Award are invited to join the St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
service at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
the year after completing the scheme, and parade before Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
Purpose
There are two reasons for the scheme to be in place.Firstly, it rewards and promotes commitment, self-motivation, teamwork, skills (both life-skills and Scouting), and many more qualities which can be developed in young people.
It is also used as the core of the Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
programme, as the requirements of the award vary from participation in community activities, to more traditional Scouting activities such as camping. Following the scheme allows section leaders to have a highly varied programme.
Current scheme (2003 onwards)
There are currently six awards in the scheme:There are numerous challenges and minor awards which are used to contribute towards each of the Chief Scout or Queen's Scout Awards, such as the Explorer Belt (for Explorer Scouts or Scout Network) or the Outdoor Challenge (Beaver Scouts).
The requirements of each award vary through the age groups. For example, Beaver Scouts have to complete the Outdoor Challenge (Scoutcraft, environment, or similar), along with either the Friendship ("People Far Away", meeting other people, or caring for others) or Discovery ("How things work", health & fitness, or creativity) challenge, and also a personal challenge (decided between the Beaver Scout and their leader).
Explorer Scouts and Scout Network, on the other hand, need to complete a set of physical recreation, skill, and service challenges, and they must also undertake an expedition (this equates to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which can be undertaken in parallel with the Scouting scheme). They must also participate in "group" projects or activities involving either Faith, Community or Environment, and have spent a minimum number of nights away as a member of Scouting.
Original scheme after 1964 review
After the review of Scouting in the 1960s, the Progressive Awards were modified.Cub Scouts (having dropped the Wolf from their title) now had Arrows to reward their activities.
The old class ratings were replaced by the Scout Standard, Advanced Scout Standard, and the Chief Scout Award.
The new Venture unit was given the Queen's Scout Award
Queen's Scout
The Queen's Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in several countries. It is awarded in realms of the Commonwealth, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where the Scouts operate under the ceremonial leadership of the monarch.The...
. The requirements of the award were greatly changed, and included long term service, commitment, and a 50+ mile expedition over four days, amongst others.
Changes to the scheme before 2003
There were many minor reviews of the Scouting programme in the UK over the next four decades.
The Cub Scout Arrows programme was modified to allow greater flexibility in 1974, and were completely replaced by the Cub Scout Award, Adventure Award and Adventure Crest Award in 1990. This returned a more coherent structure to the system, while still allowing for freedom of choice of activities within the awards.
The Scout Standards were replaced in 1983 with the Scout Award, Pathfinder Award, and Explorer Award. The Chief Scout's Award remained the highest award for the Scout Section.
An intermediate award, the Venture Scout Award, was also introduced for the senior section, and was a stepping stone to achieving the Queen's Scout Award.
Finally, with the introduction of the Beaver Section
Beaver Scouts
Beaver Scouts, often shortened to Beavers, is the youngest section of Scouting operated by The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. The core age range for Beaver Scouts is six to eight years, though exceptions can be granted. Individual sections of Beaver Scouts, known as a Colony, are run by...
in the 1980s, a new set of awards was introduced for the 6-8 year olds involved in this section of Scouting.
The 2003 review sought to bring all of these various changes together and provide a coherent programme through the 6-25 programme.
Further changes to the 2003 programme were introduced in 2008. This included additional activity badges and new challenge badges.
1907 to 1964
When Scouting was first conceived, there were only Scout Troops, and the training within these Troops was rewarded with First Class or Second Class ratings.There was also the highest award of King's Scout
Queen's Scout
The Queen's Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in several countries. It is awarded in realms of the Commonwealth, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where the Scouts operate under the ceremonial leadership of the monarch.The...
.
The Wolf Cubs introduced the First and Second Stars with their creation in 1917.
The awards were very much oriented towards Scoutcraft and Service.
External links
- Scoutbase Official information on the award schemes
- History of Scouting