A King's Scout is a Scout who has attained the King's Scout

Award An award, sometimes called a distinction, is something given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration. An awar ...

. The King's Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in the Commonwealth realms, including the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

(

Queen's Venturer Award The King's Venturer Award (formerly Queen's Venturer Award) is the highest Scouting proficiency award for Venturer Scouts in Scouts Canada that can be regularly awarded, as the Amory Adventure Award is only awarded to one venturer company each ye ...

), Australia, and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

(Queen's Scout Kauri Award), where Scouts operate under the patronage of

King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to a ...

. Whether the award recipient is a Queen's or King's Scout depends on who is the current monarch of the Commonwealth realms. Initially the award required demonstrated proficiency in standardised

Scoutcraft Scoutcraft is a term used to cover a variety of woodcraft knowledge and skills required by people seeking to venture into wild country and sustain themselves independently. The term has been adopted by Scouting organizations to reflect skills and ...

and skills useful for service to others and the nation. The current requirements are different in each country and now focus on personal development and typically involve achieving challenges from several areas such as

community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, ...

involvement, adventurous activities, personal growth and

leadership Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets vi ...

development.

History

In November 1909,

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...

approved Robert

Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; (Commonly pronounced by others as ) 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the wor ...

's request that boys who passed special tests for efficiency be ranked as "King's Scouts". A badge with a crown signified the award as a 'King's Scout', on the left sleeve. The First Class Scout had to pass the Guide's badge, and any three of: Ambulance, Bugler, Cyclist, Marksman, Seaman, and Signaller. From 1911, it was proposed that one troop from each of the countries of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa would be awarded a Challenge Standard of the name of 'King's troop', where the troop had no less than 24 boys, and each King's Scout must have been a member of the troop for at least six months. From the early 1919s to at least the mid-1920s, there briefly existed a "King's Sea Scout" badge for the

Sea Scout Sea Scouts are a part of the Scout movement, with a particular emphasis on boating and other water-based activities on the sea, rivers or lakes (canoeing, rafting, scuba, sailboarding). Sea Scouts can provide a chance to sail, cruise on boats, ...

branch alongside the King's Scout award. Badges for both could be earned by a Sea Scout. After the formal establishment of the Senior Scout section in 1946, only Senior Scouts (or Boy Scouts over 15 years of age) could become King's Scouts. The award was renamed from King's Scout to Queen's Scout by April 1952, with the succession and approval of Queen Elizabeth II. Since 1947, individuals who achieve the King's Scout or Queen's Scout award receive a certificate with a facsimile signature of the monarch at that time. The certificate for a King's Scout, headed by a stylised Royal coat of arms of the monarch, stated: :AS A KING'S SCOUT you have prepared yourself for service to God and your fellow-men, and have shown yourself a worthy member of the great SCOUT BROTHERHOOD. I wish you God-speed on your journey through life; may it prove for you a joyous adventure. The uniform award emblem normally consists of a stylised

St Edward's Crown St Edward's Crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, versions of it have traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th cen ...

United Kingdom

The King's Scout Award in the

is the ultimate goal of a progressive award scheme and is achieved by completing the following requirements through

The Scout Association The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was form ...

: * Be 16 or over to start this award and be under 25 to complete it as well as still being a member of the Association. * Be a member of

Explorer Scouts Explorer Scouts, frequently shortened to Explorers, is the fifth section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds. The section was introduced in 2001 and formally launched in February 2002, alongside Scout Network ...

or the

Scout Network The Scout Network is the sixth and final youth section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom, catering for those aged between 18 and 25 years. The section was formally introduced in February 2002 alongside Explorer Scouts with both repla ...

or both for at least 18 months. * Complete 18 nights away as an

Explorer Scout Explorer Scouts, frequently shortened to Explorers, is the fifth section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds. The section was introduced in 2001 and formally launched in February 2002, alongside Scout Network ...

or member of the

, of which 12 must be

camping Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more na ...

. * Complete six activities from a list of International, Environment and Values activities, two from each topic area. ** Holders of the Chief Scout's Platinum Award only need to complete four activities from the list, and holders of the Chief Scout's Diamond Award only need to complete two. The activities should be different from those completed as part of the other awards. * Hold the Gold

Duke of Edinburgh's Award The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations. The awards recognise adolescents and young ...

, or complete the five King's Scout Award Challenges, which are: ** Take up a Skill for 6 or 12 months, and show progress and lasting interest. ** Take up a Physical Activity for 6 or 12 months. ** Provide Service to an individual or the community for 12 months. ** Plan, complete and review a four-day and three night expedition in open or adventurous country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, kayak, boat or dinghy. ** Complete a five-day and four night residential project in an unfamiliar environment with people who are not known. * Following completion of the first four elements of the Award, make a presentation, to a suitable audience, of your achievements so far in working towards the King's Scout Award. All Members should complete twelve months of either the Physical Activity or the Skill.

and members of the

who are not holders of the

Duke of Edinburgh's The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations. The awards recognise adolescents and young ...

Silver Award or the Chief Scout's Diamond Award must complete an extra six months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Challenge. King's Scouts are entitled to attend one King's Scout Parade held at

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. The original c ...

each year held on the Sunday closest to St George's Day; this is the only time when Scouts officially march. Upon the succession of King

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person t ...

in September 2022, the award in the United Kingdom was renamed 'King's Scout'. The first King's Scout in England was awarded to patrol leader Victor Watkins, of

Broadstone, Dorset Broadstone is a suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. It is located from Hamworthy railway station and from Bournemouth International Airport. The ward had a population of 10,303 at the 2011 Census, increasing from 10,256 at the 2001 Census. ...

, on or before January 1910. The first person to hold both the Queen's Guide Award and the King's Scout Award was Susan Parker of 1st Brantham Panthers Venture Scout Unit in 1980.

Australia

Historically, it is given the first Australasian King's Scout was in New Zealand by August 1910. By October 1910, at least one troop in Australia had two King's Scouts, the 1st Kensington Troop, Adelaide. The first King's Scout in Queensland was awarded by June 1911. Those scouts were then eligible to complete 21 badges to be awarded the 'Silver Wolf'. The Award Scheme is designed for Venturer Scouts, formerly called Senior Scouts. Its aim is to widen the interests and knowledge of Venturer Scouts. Its rationale is based on the aim and methods of Scouting allowing fun, variety, personal choice and to assist in planning for a balanced program. It is a system designed to be challenging and encouraging for people over a wide range of activities. The Queen's Scout Award requires the Scout to complete a number of achievements in the Venturer Scout Award Scheme. These are: * Completion of Program Essentials – Milestone 3 * Twelve progressions in the Outdoor Adventure Skills. This must include achieving at least Stage 5 in each of the Core skills of: ** Bushcraft (Pioneering and/or Survival Skills), ** Bushwalking, and Camping, if not previously completed ** This must include at least four achievements of Stage 4 or higher in any stream * Six Special Interest Area projects * An Adventurous Journey * A Leadership or Personal Development Course * A Personal Reflection Approval may be required from the youth member's Unit Council, the District Venturer Council or a separate examiner. This peer review aims to maintain good standards for the award. A number of the reuqirements of the Venturer Scout Award Scheme, and thus the peak award itself, are mapped to competencies in the

Australian Qualifications Framework The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specifies the standards for educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government's Department of Industry, with oversight from the States and Territor ...

(AQF), which allows award recipients to apply for several nationally-recognised qualifications in vocational areas such as Business, Active Volunteering and Outdoor Recreation. An adult leader who has earned the King's Scout Badge, the Queen's Scout Badge or the Queen's Scout Award (as a youth member) is entitled to wear a miniature replica of the cloth badge on their uniform. The award may be renamed from 'Queen's Scout Award' to 'King's Scout Award', if

accepts Royal Patronage of the Scout Association of Australia following his coronation in May 2023.

Canada

Initially the King's Scout Award,

Scouts Canada Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association providing programs for young people, aged 5 to 26, with the stated aim "to help develop well rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world". Scouts Canada, in affiliation with the French ...

changed the Queen's Scout Award into the

in 1968 when the Scout programme was divided into the Scout and Venturer programmes. The certificate is signed by the

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, ...

, in the official capacity as Chief Scout of Canada.

Hong Kong

The Queen's Scout award was awarded in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

for the Venture Scout section before 1 April 1997. The Royal Certificate (Queen's Scout Award certificate) was awarded in the

Hong Kong Scout Rally Hong may refer to: Places * Høng, a town in Denmark *Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and specia ...

or on

St George's Day Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, and cities of which he is the patron saint, including Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Cáceres, Alcoy, Aragon and Catalonia. Sai ...

(before 1987), by the

Governor of Hong Kong The governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Crown in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1997. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. ...

. A Scout Leader who was awarded the Queen's Scout Award could have worn a Queen's Scout Leader's insignia on their uniform. After 1997, it was replaced with the HKSAR Scout Award. The name of the current award was revised again in 2008, due to the outbreak of

SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), the first identified strain of the SARS coronavirus species, ''seve ...

in Hong Kong, to the

Dragon Scout Award A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted a ...

Malaysia

Until 1957, Malaya was part of the British Empire, and scouts may have been earned the King's Scout or Queen's Scout Award. Since gaining independence from the United Kingdom, Malaysia's King's Scout Award is conferred in the name of the Royal Patron of the Scouts Association of Malaysia, His Majesty the

Yang di-Pertuan Agong The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (, Jawi: ), also known as the Supreme Head of the Federation, the Paramount Ruler or simply as the Agong, and unofficially as the King of Malaysia, is the constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. The o ...

(unofficially, the King of Malaysia).

New Zealand

The first King's Scout in

was Sergeant Rennie, First

Woolston Woolston may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Woolston, Cheshire, a village and civil parish in Warrington * Woolston, Devon, on the list of United Kingdom locations: Woof-Wy near Kingsbridge, Devon * Woolston, Southampton, a city suburb in Ham ...

Troop; and given to be the first scout in Australasia. Venturer section members were eligible to achieve the King's Scout Badge, then from 1952, the Queen's Scout Award. It included completing modules on road safety, environmental awareness, personal development and community service. In 2020, the award was renamed as the Queen's Scout Kauri Award.

Singapore

Until 1963,

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

was part of the British Empire, then becoming part of Malaysia, and in 1965, becoming its own republic. Before 1965, scouts earned the King's Scout (1926–1951) or Queen's Scout (1952–1966) Awards. After independence, the award was renamed the 'President's Scout Award' in 1967. This award is separate to the Rover Scout section's Award.

South Africa

Scouts in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

earned the King's Scout (1910–1951) or Queen's Scout (1952–1961) Awards. Upon gaining independence, the award was changed to the Springbok Award in 1961.

References

{{Reflist Scout and Guide awards The Scout Association Scouting and Guiding in Australia