The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association

Service Training Star

The Rover Scout must attend some relevant training (the PTC for those helping with a Scout Group) and complete 12 months regular weekly service  of at least 1 hour a week (less holidays). If working with young people the Rover Scout must conform to the host organisations child safety policy.

The Expedition Badge

The Expedition badge is an adult commitment to leading in the outdoors and perusing an outdoor life. The Rover must:

1. Pass an assessment in a National Governing body outdoor leadership qualification or the Scout ‘Safety In The Hills’ qualification.
2. Complete as a member of a team, a journey in the outdoors, extending over 4 consecutive days (with 3 nights out) or two journeys each extending over 48 hours (each with 2 nights out and not including travel time to the start and finish).
   
   1. The journey must be organised by the Rover, be run within the BP Scout Association Health and safety policy or with external insurance and be approved by the R.S.L. and Area Commissioner within the rules of PAR.
   2. The journey may be by land or water, at home or abroad, but must present a definite test of endurance and be calculated to bring out qualities of self-reliance, initiative, determination and leadership.
   3. A log of the expedition (preferably with digital photos) must be submitted R.S.L. and the Traditional Scouting web site.

The Scoutcraft Star

A metal star which is worn on the left epaulette above the Ramblers Badge.

1. A Rover who holds a Scouters warrant must qualify for the appropriate PTC and give at least 6 months satisfactory service.

2. A Rover who does not hold a warrant must;

i) Camp on at least 10 separate occasions aggregating not less than twenty days on three or more different camp sites and must comply strictly with “Camping Standards.”  The Rover Scout must  keep a log of these camps submit it to the RSL and Crew.

ii) The Rover Scout must be competent to instruct and examine a Senior Scout in any two of the undermentioned badges: Astronomer, Camp Warden, Forester, master Cook, Naturalist, Pioneer, Tracker. (The Rover Scout need not necessarily act as an instructor or examiner for the badges selected).

Project Badge

Worn on the right epaulette, the Project Badge is designed to appeal to those with a strong ‘personal growth’ drive, looking to explore new ideas or challenges, but should be considered carefully in terms of ensuring that the individual can maintain a balance with other parts of their life.

1. The Rover must choose, plan and devote at least 6 months to a project and keep a record of related activities on completion of which a report must be given to the RSL and Crew supported by relevant materials and they will decide (on taking any necessary expert advice) if an appropriate satisfactory standard has been attained .
2. A ‘Project’ may be defined as a self imposed task demanding skill, application and care. The Rover picks the subject of the project and there is no restriction on the choice within reason (beyond it being within the Law, Association Health and Safety Policy or individually obtained personal insurance).  The Subject should be agreed with the RSL and Crew before starting.
3. The project preferably should not bear a direct relationship to a Rover’s means of earning a living and with which they formally had little to do or be an existing area of understanding  for which they are intending to reach a considerably higher standard of achievement in.

First Aid Badge

This is the same cloth badge as the Scout Badge and is worn on the right sleeve under the area badge.
Gain a minimum of a 2 day (16 hour) first aid qualification from a first aid certification awarding body and maintain it every 3 years.
The course must include how to prevent, identify and deal with hypothermia and heat exhaustion.
The badge can only be worn if the qualification is in date.

Rover Instructor Badge

This is worn on the right sleeve under the area badge and next to the first aid badge.

Before being awarded the Rover Instructor Badge a Rover must:-

1. Hold the Service Training Star

2. Show that they are acting, with the approval of the RSL, as an instructor to a Beaver Colony, Wolf Cub Pack, Scout Troop or Senior Scout Troop to the satisfaction of the GSM and  the relevant section leaders concerned.

3. In the case of Beaver Colonies the Rover must:-

a) have a knowledge of and ability to instruct in, the subjects of the Footprint badges and the Project Award;

b) Show a reasonable knowledge of the Beaver handbook and the Beaver Project pack.

4. In the case of Wolf Cub Pack the Rover must:-

a) have a knowledge of and ability to instruct in, the subjects of the the First and Second Star badges and 2 proficiency badges;

b) show a reasonable knowledge of the Wolf Cubs Handbook and Kipling’s Jungle Books.

5. In the case Scouts and Seniors Scout Troops the Rover must:-

a) have a knowledge of and ability to instruct in the subjects of the First Class badge and two Senior proficiency badges, one of which must be a Senior Public Service badge.

b) Show a reasonable knowledge of “Scouting For Boys”.

6. The badge will be surrendered within six months of the Rover ceasing to act as an instructor.

The B-P Award

Worn on the right breast above the Association name strip for life.

Before being awarded the B-P Award a Rover Scout must:-

1. Hold the Ramblers Badge, the Project badge, the Scoutcraft Star and the Service Training Star.

2. In the opinion of the GSM, RSL and Crew, be setting a personal example of the Scout way of life and be carrying out the Rover motto “Service”.

3. Have an interview with the AC or AAC.

If the Rover Scout has registered and run their training alongside the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme they should also be able to gain the Gold Award as long as they have completed the log book and are under 25.

Discovery Award

The Discovery Award is for Senior Scouts and Rover Scouts.
It is a 4 day expedition of hiking and adventurous Scout challenges which tests the participants' stamina
It is a National event that any Senior and Rover Scouts can participate in and consists of:
A four day expedition in difficult country, on foot or part by cycle.
Senior Scouts / Rover Scouts will be self sufficient and must be able to navigate to a high standard.
At the conclusion of the expedition a Log of the journey is required. Successful Senior Scouts / Rovers, will be awarded a badge and certificate.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

In addition to the Senior Scout badge programme, young people can also gain their Duke of Edinburgh's Awards. The Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Awards are available to Senior and Rover Scouts. Read more about the Silver Award and the Gold Award.

Approved Badges

The B-PSA believe that our uniform badges are there to fulfil two functions; to identify ourselves geographically/ by section and to recognise achievement.

Badges of attendance at events and camps or commemoration and celebration do not fulfil this criteria and are thus at the discretion of the National committee and will only be authorised for significant events and only for a 1 year duration. 

All badges obtained for attending camps, centenary or jubilee should now be removed from uniform and transferred to camp blankets.

Anyone wishing to wear a badge that is not supplied by B-P Supplies (Badges) or previously approved by the National Committee should put a request to the NC via their Area Commission.  Badges approved to be worn: 

• Kings Scout Award
• Kings Guide Award
• Queens Scout Award
• Queens Guide Award
• British Legion Affiliation
• WFIS circle of Friendship
• WFIS Good Turn Badge
• Pre 1990 B-P Award (now St George Award)
• All Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Publications

The Camping Handbook

You can download a copy of The B-PSA Camping Handbook by clicking here.

Skills for Expeditions in Remote Countryside (SFEIRC) 

You can download a copy of Skills for Expeditions in Remote Countryside (SFEIRC) by clicking here.