Awards
Messengers of Peace is a global initiative designed to inspire millions of young men and women in more than 220 countries and territories to work toward peace. Using social media and other Scouting networks, the initiative lets Scouts from around the world share what they have done and inspire fellow Scouts to undertake similar efforts in their own communities.
Scouts are already doing great things in their community. Through good turns and community service, Scouts are making the world a better place and spreading a culture of peace. The Messengers of Peace program aims to highlight this work by supporting Scouts’ community service and encouraging Scouts to share their actions with others to help build a global network of service. If a Scout does a service action and shares it with others, they can earn a Messengers of Peace badge. Learn how to earn your Messengers of Peace Award.
For youth and adult leaders, the International Spirit Award emblem is worn as a temporary patch centered on the right uniform pocket. The award seeks to broaden knowledge of international Scouting and increase appreciation and awareness of different cultures and countries.
The International Scouter’s Award encourages Scouters to broaden their involvement in Scouting through participation in World Scouting activities and recognizes Scouters for their contributions to World Scouting.
A Scout wearing the Interpreter Strip is any member who speaks a specific foreign language; demonstrate knowledge by carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language, translating a two-minute speech or address, and writing a letter in the language (does not apply for sign language); or, translating 200 words from the written word.
The Interpreter Strip is also available for Morse Code, requiring a minimum ability of five words per minute sending and receiving.
The World Conservation Award encourages all youth members to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment. Involves advancement and project work.
Insignia
An emblem of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Crest, may be worn by all registered youth members and adult leaders as a symbol of their membership in a worldwide Scouting brotherhood. A small amount from the sale of each emblem is sent to the World Scout Foundation to help extend Scouting in developing nations throughout the world. This adds an opportunity for each Scout to personally share indirectly in the activities of Scouts in other lands.
Over the years, each member national Scout organization has made use of the badge in a different manner. In 1988 the World Organization of the Scout Movement requested that every national Scout association authorize this emblem to be worn by all members to signify membership in a worldwide movement.
The emblem is worn as a permanent patch centered horizontally over the left pocket and vertically between the left shoulder seam and the top of the pocket.
Scouting Affiliated Awards
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (the Award) is an internationally-recognized program, independent of Scouting, for young people ages 14 to 24, building their skills to equip them for life and work. By creating opportunities to develop skills, get physically active, give service, and experience adventure, the Award can play a critical role in their development. The Award is the world’s leading youth development award with over 1.3 million youth participating annually in over 130 countries.
The Award provides “resume-building clout” to young people on a global scale. The Award is challenging but flexible and aligns with existing Scouting activities and advancement requirements. Non-Scout youth can complete many of the Award’s requirements by simply participating in Scouting.
There are three levels of achievement – Bronze, Silver and Gold, each progressively more challenging. To achieve an award, the young person needs to set and achieve goals in the areas of physical recreation, skills, voluntary service, adventurous journey, and a residential project (for gold level only). Achieving an award recognizes individual goal-setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement. Tidewater Council will provide trained mentors and support to those Scouts who want to pursue the Award.
For more information on the Award, visit usaward.org or read the Scouting magazine article “Why Scouts should earn the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award USA”.
For information on achieving the Award in Tidewater, contact Joel Nied.
