Scouting Ireland Chief Scout's Award
Encyclopedia
Scouting Ireland Scouts
Scouts in Scouting Ireland are aged between 11 and a half to 16 years of age. Each group has a Court of Honour/Patrol Leader's Council which under the guidance of an adult Scouter designs and implements activities...
in Scouting Ireland
Scouting Ireland
Scouting Ireland is the World Organization of the Scout Movement-recognised Scouting association in the Republic of Ireland, although it also has Scout Groups in Northern Ireland. Scouting Ireland is a voluntary, non-formal educational movement for young people...
. The precise criteria for the Chief Scout's Award in Scouting Ireland as a result of the merger of CSI and SAI are unclear at present . It is the final step in the personal progressive scheme of the former CSI. The SAI used it as an award to be achieved in tandem with the progressive badge scheme.
The Chief Scout's Award is a truly individual recognition of commitment to the Scout Law
Scout Law
Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout Promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law...
, dedication to attain personal ambitions and the desire to contribute to and to improve society. Chief Scout's Award holders have often been received at Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
by the President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
, most recently in 2004 by Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, who is the Patron of Scouting Ireland. It is estimated that about 1 in 300 Scouts achieve the award, giving it the name; "1 in 300 award" The first recipient was William Cronin, 1st/4th Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
(Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
), Cois tSuire County.
History of the Chief Scout's Award
The award was introduced by Catholic Boy Scouts of IrelandScouting Ireland (CSI)
Scouting Ireland was a WOSM affiliated National Scout Organisation in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from 1927 to December 31, 2003. It has since merged with Scouting Ireland S.A.I. to form Scouting Ireland...
in the early 1960s to replace the Silver Palm Award. The first awards were presented by Chief Scout CJ "Kit" Murphy.
Scouting Ireland S.A.I.
Scouting Ireland S.A.I.
Scouting Ireland S.A.I. was an Irish Scouting association, formed in 1908 and merged into Scouting Ireland in 2004.- History :Scouting Ireland SAI began in 1908 as the Dublin City and Dublin County Boy Scouts. Around the same time, a number of Troops in Co. Wicklow formed the Co. Wicklow Scout...
also awarded a Chief Scout's Award, with successful applicant receiving a cloth badge, a certificate signed by the Chief Scout, and a special neckerchief
Neckerchief
A neckerchief, necker or less commonly scarf is a type of neckwear associated with Scouts, cowboys and sailors. It consists of a triangular piece of cloth or a rectangular piece folded into a triangle. The long edge is rolled towards the point, leaving a portion unrolled...
on Founder's Day in the Mansion House, Dublin
Mansion House, Dublin
The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715.-Features:The Mansion House's most famous features include the "Round Room", where the First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 to proclaim the Irish Declaration of Independence...
.
Since the foundation of Scouting Ireland, award recipients have been presented with a pendant (See Award section below)
The chief scout award is currently being improved with the new system and will be used for each section of scouting e.g beavers, cubs, scouts, venturers and rovers.
Requirements
As the association is currently undergoing a programme review there are two separate pathways to the CSA, from each of the two legacy associations (Scouting Ireland (CSI) & Scouting Ireland S.A.I.).Requirements for the CSI pathway include the earning of merit badges and the completion of the personal progressive scheme (the Tracker, Explorer, Star and National Scout Awards).
Requirements for the SAI pathway include that the Scout has reached 14 years of age and that it is a personal challenge to that Scout. The award can be taken at any point in the personal progressive scheme.
Pathway 1 - CSI
On this pathway, ScoutsScouting Ireland Scouts
Scouts in Scouting Ireland are aged between 11 and a half to 16 years of age. Each group has a Court of Honour/Patrol Leader's Council which under the guidance of an adult Scouter designs and implements activities...
complete a personal project. The Scout meets with the Chief Scout
Scouting Ireland Chief Scout
The Chief Scout is the most senior appointment of Scouting Ireland. As Chairperson of the National Council and National Management Committee the Chief Scout is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the Association with the help of the National Team for Policy Implementation and...
, or his representative, and discusses his or her own interests and a project is derived from the candidate's own individual goals. More often than not the project does not directly relate to Scouting. It always, however, relates to one of the development trails which Scouting identifies as crucial to personal growth and achievement; these being personal, spiritual, physical, emotional, social, intellectual and character development. Projects vary widely, from community projects to local history studies and from putting on exhibitions and shows to raising awareness of charitable causes. Key to this pathway is planning, identifying a goal, endeavouring to attain that goal and finally evaluation of the project as a whole.
Setting the challenges
Scouts with their Scout Leader agree their own challenges in each of the six categories. The challenges are recorded on the form.The Scout Leader should ensure a suitable STANDARD OF THE CHALLENGES is achieved by verifying that the challenges have been set in accordance with the criteria laid down below and then sign this form before it is sent to National Office.
The standard of the challenges should be relevant to the Scout's ability and the quality of Scouting in the Troop, so that they are both challenging and achievable.
Once you have been registered as a participant in the Award, you will receive an acknowledgement from the Chief Scout accepting your challenges and stating your Chief Scout's Award registration number; you will have one year from that date to complete your challenges and submit your completed logbook.
Challenge 1: Expedition
Plan and organise an expedition by foot, bicycle, boat or canoe of at least two nights' duration covering either:-- 30 km on foot over open country or
- 100 km by bicycle or
- 30 km by boat or canoe (coastal, river, canal or lake)
The expedition should be planned under the supervision of your Scout Leader and all safety precautions for
the various disciplines must be adhered to.
You may complete the expedition with other members of your Troop doing the Chief Scout's Award, but a maximum of three Scouts may count the same expedition as part of their Chief Scout's Award.
Challenge 2: Day Activity
Plan and lead a day activity such as a hike, cycle or boating trip for other members of your Troop producing route cards, maps, safety considerations and emergency procedures. The activity should have a novel programme on route, eg. orienteering, dusk to dawn, historical visit etc.- Hike 15 km over open country
- Cycle 50 km road or off road
- Boat / Canoe 10 km river, canal, lake or coastal
Only the planner or organiser may count this towards their Chief Scout's Award.
Challenge 3: Scout Skills
Lead the construction of one of the following items, which you have not constructed before:-- A monkey bridge over a river
- A look-out tower for your Summer Camp
- A classic altar fire with a back boiler
- A classic altar fire with an oven
- A hyberbola gateway for your Troop site campsite
- A campsite gateway with look-out tower
- A substantial knot board for your Scout Hall
- Build a raft and paddle it over a distance of half a mile
- Construct a full nautical flag pole on your Summer Camp
Challenge 4: Environment
Undertake an environmental project in the form of an activity, research or survey relevant to your local area or an area in which your Troop does most of its Scouting. This could be a campsite, woodland, park area, open land, beach or coastline with which you are familiar.Challenge 5: Personal Challenge
Set yourself a personal challenge, not necessarily part of your normal scouting activities and not part of your school work, which you will endeavour to achieve during your year completing the Chief Scout's Award. This could be learning a new activity or skill or raising a current interest to a new level and you must be able to illustrate proficiency in a new interest or progress in an existing one.Challenge 6: Qualification
Achieve or have achieved one of the following qualifications as part of your Chief Scout's Award:-- Intermediate RLSS Resuscitation Award
- RLSS Bronze Medallion
- Recognised First-Aid Course
- National Safety Association Swimming Level 4
- Intermediate Charge Certificate
- Canoe badge
- Orienteering award
- Other award or proficiency of a programme nature defined by the National Scout or Sea Scout Team or by your Scout Leader
Assessment of Completed Challenges
The Chief Scout will assess the challenges, once completed, upon presentation of the Scout's Logbook.Insignia
Pendant
The award consists of a ConnemaraConnemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
pendant
Pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, when the ensemble may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging”...
with the World Crest
World Crest
The World Scout Emblem is the emblem of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and is worn by Scouts and Scouters around the world to indicate their membership...
embedded and a red rope finished with wooden beads at the end. Interestingly the wooden beads on many award pendants to this day have swastikas carved in recess, see swastikas and Scouting. It seems that the presence of the carvings depend on the manufacturer.
Prior to 2004 before the merging of CSI and SAI, instead of the World Crest, the beads on the CSI award were embedded with the Cross and Shamrock and it was accompanied by the Chief Scout's Award woggle
Woggle
A woggle is a device to fasten the neckerchief, or scarf, worn as part of the Scout or Girl Guides uniform.-Origins of the woggle:Early Scouts tied a knot in their neckerchief to fasten it around the neck...
which bore the insignia of the Chief.
Only the Woodbadge beads and the Order of CúChulainn
Order of CúChulainn
-History:It was introduced in 2004 to replace Scouting Ireland 's Order of the Silver Wolfhound and the equivalent award of Scouting Ireland S.A.I., the Order of the Silver Elk...
may be worn around the neck by members. Those who hold the Chief Scout's Award are entitled to wear it for life.
Certificate
A certificate, suitable for framing, is presented at all CSA ceremonies and are signed by the Chief Scout, unlike the certificate for the National Scout Award (the element of the progressive scheme which directly precedes the CSA on the CSI pathway) which is traditionally signed by the Chief Commissioner.Similar Awards Worldwide
The Chief Scout's Award is the highest award in the Scout programme. The highest awards in other Scouting Ireland programmes are: the Macaoimh/Cub Scout Gold Arrow, the VenturingScouting Ireland Venture Scouts
Venture Scouts in Scouting Ireland are aged between 15 to 17 years of age. The awards scheme is called Rogha, an Irish word meaning Choice. Although many groups use Gaisce, The President's Award as part of their programme also...
Rogha Award and the Explorer Belt. However, Scouting Ireland considers the CSA rank to be the highest achievement in Scouting.
It can be compared to 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...
's Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
award and the Gold Award of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
.
Other youth organizations have similar awards, such as the Gold Medal of Achievement (Royal Rangers
Royal Rangers
Royal Rangers is a worldwide ministry of the Assemblies of God and is designed to provide youth with challenging activities while providing them with Christian instruction. Royal Rangers International is open to participation of both boys and girls, while the US only allows boy participation in...
).