How to earn your badge:

1. Award participants must:

   • Be aged 16 or older to start the award and complete the award before your 25th birthday 
   • Be a member of either Explorer Scouts or Scout Network (or a combination of both) for at least 18 months to complete the award
   • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or Scout Network at the time you complete the award

   This means members can only start working towards and count activities undertaken in achieving the KSA from their 16th Birthday. Activities and nights away completed in achievement of the Chief Scout Platinum and Diamond Awards can be counted towards the KSA. 

2. Nights away

   Complete 24 nights away as an Explorer Scout or Scout Network member, of which at least 12 must be camping.
   
   Any Scouting nights away can count for this section, whether used in another part of this award, or to count towards the Chief Scout Platinum or Chief Scout Diamond Award.

3. International, community & values (ICV) list

   Complete six activities in total, two from each topic area of the ICV activities list. View the ICV list for the King's Scout Award. A minimum of two must be from the KSA ICV list and the others from any of the KSA, or Chief Scout Platinum or Diamond ICV lists.
   
   If you have completed your Chief Scout’s Platinum Award, you will have already done two activities and will only need to do a further four activities.
   
   If you have completed your Chief Scout’s Diamond Award, you will have already done four activities and will only need to do a further two activities.

4. Presentation

   Make a presentation covering all elements of your award to a suitable audience, with the aim of inspiring and motivating others to achieve the award. The presentation should be the final activity you complete.

   The presentation section of the Award can be signed off by one of the following roles:

   • Adult volunteers in the District 14 – 24 Team
   • Youth Lead
   • District, County, Region or Area Lead Volunteer
   • District, County, Region or Area Programme Team Member

   We’d suggest this is different to the Award Mentor, and we’d recommend inviting a District or County Team member to attend the presentation too.

5. Sign-off

   Each  requirement  needs  to  be  signed  off  by  an  assessor. This  is   someone  who  can vouch  for  the  activities  you  have undertaken and provide some basic evidence (a short statement) about your participation. This is often your Explorer Team Leader or your District 14-24 Team Leader. 

   However,  assessors  can  be anyone  who  has  witnessed the  activities  you’ve undertaken for the specific requirement.

   Once  you  have  completed  all  of  the  above  requirements,  a relevant person must approve your award as complete by filling out the 'KSA Logbook approval' section of the KSA Logbook and Completion form. Please see the KSA logbook for roles that are able to sign off.

Choose 1 of the following options:

1. Hold the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award or the Gold Gateway Award

   Find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

   Find out more about the Gateway Award

2. Complete the King's Scout Award Challenges:

   1. Skill

      Take up a skill and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new. See tips box for timescales.

   2. Physical activity

      Take up a physical activity and agreed programme by taking part and achieving your objectives. See tips box for timescales.

   3. Service

      Provide service to an individual or the community. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This may include helping with another section of the Movement as an Explorer Scout Young Leader or adult volunteer. See tips box for timescales.

   4. Expedition

      Undertake training, a practice expedition and a four-day, three-night self-led final expedition, including a project. You should undertake training to show you are ready to do your expedition, a practice expedition and then the final expedition. 

      The expedition environment chosen must become progressively more challenging through the award levels – environments could include rural, urban, or restricted spaces.

      • Training

        Before you undertake any expedition you should demonstrate that you are competent in the following areas:

        1. First aid (covering First Response as a minimum) and emergency procedures
        2. Risk assessment/health and safety
        3. Navigation and route planning
        4. Camp craft, equipment and hygiene
        5. Food and cooking
        6. Country, highway and water sports codes
        7. Observation, recording and presentation
        8. Team building
        9. Proficiency in mode of travel
      • Practice

        Undertake a minimum three-day, two-night (consecutive) self-led expedition by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.

        Accommodation should be by camping or other simple accommodation e.g. bunkhouses. All expeditions should be self-sufficient.

      • Final

        Undertake a four-day, three-night (consecutive) self-led expedition with an aim. The expedition should be completed by the same method used in your practice. Expeditions should have a minimum of eight hours of activity per day, of  which  at  least half must  be  journeying.  The  final  expedition  must  be  undertaken in a  different  area  to the  practice with  similar conditions, and ideally with the same team of people. 

        Accommodation should be by camping or other simple accommodation e.g. bunkhouses. All expeditions should be self-sufficient.

   5. Residential

      Undertake a five-day, four-night residential project in an unfamiliar setting, using shared accommodation. There should be at least five people in the group, the majority of which are unknown to you. Residential Projects may include training courses, environmental and conservation projects, volunteering or be activity based. The residential could be split into two blocks within 12 months, as long as the same activity is completed. See tips box for full requirements.