Skip to main content

Scouting Achievements

At Belmont Scout Group, we encourage all Youth Members to strive towards their Scouting achievements. These achievements recognize growth, skills development, and personal accomplishments throughout a Scout's journey. Below are the key areas where Youth Members can earn their achievements.

All progress and achievements are recorded in the Terrain System, which is used to track the skills and levels attained by Youth Members.

Outdoor Adventure Skills (OAS)​

Outdoor Adventure Skills (OAS) are a core part of the Scouting experience. They provide Youth Members with the opportunity to learn and develop essential outdoor skills. The OAS framework is broken into 9 skill areas, with 9 progressive levels for each area, allowing Youth Members to continuously build their competence and confidence. Additionally, specialty badges recognize advanced skills and expertise in specific areas.

The 9 OAS Skill Areas:​

  1. Bushcraft Bushcraft Badge

    • Focus: Wilderness survival, shelter building, knots and lashings, fire lighting, and natural navigation.

  2. Bushwalking Bushwalking Badge

    • Focus: Planning and undertaking bushwalks, using maps and compasses, and navigating challenging terrain.

  3. Camping Camping Badge

    • Focus: Setting up campsites, packing for camps, tent pitching, and camp hygiene.

  4. Aquatics Aquatics Badge

    • Focus: Swimming, lifesaving, snorkeling, and water safety.

  5. Boating Boating Badge

    • Focus: Canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and power boating.

  6. Paddling Paddling Badge

    • Focus: Kayaking, canoeing, and rafting.

  7. Cycling Cycling Badge

    • Focus: Road and mountain biking, bike maintenance, route planning, and cycling safety.

  8. Vertical Vertical Activities Badge

    • Focus: Climbing, abseiling, caving, and rope management.

  9. Alpine Alpine Activities Badge

    • Focus: Skiing, snowboarding, and snow camping.

The 9 Levels of Progression:​

Each OAS area is divided into 9 levels. As Youth Members progress through each level, they gain mastery of skills, from beginner to expert.

  • Levels 1-3: Introduction and foundational skills in Terrain 1 environments.
  • Levels 4-6: Intermediate skills, typically in Terrain 2 environments.
  • Levels 7-9: Advanced and leadership skills, often in Terrain 3 environments.

Youth Members progress at their own pace, and Terrain helps them visualize their growth and accomplishments throughout the program.

Special Interest Areas (SIA)​

Special Interest Areas allow Youth Members to explore activities and skills that are of personal interest to them. The six key areas are:

  1. Adventure & Sport Adventure & Sport Badge

    • Focus: Exploring new sports, physical activities, and outdoor adventures.

  2. Arts & Literature Arts & Literature Badge

    • Focus: Engaging in creative arts, literature, music, and cultural exploration.

  3. Creating a Better World Creating a Better World Badge

    • Focus: Participating in community service, volunteering, and making a positive impact on the world.

  4. Environment Environment Badge

    • Focus: Protecting, conserving, and learning about the environment and sustainable living.

  5. Growth & Development Growth & Development Badge

    • Focus: Personal development, leadership skills, and self-improvement.

  6. STEM & Innovation STEM & Innovation Badge

    • Focus: Exploring science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovative thinking.

Project Tracking and Reflection:​

All progress in SIA projects is tracked in the Terrain System. This system helps Youth Members record their goals, achievements, and reflections through the Plan, Do, Review process.

Each SIA project follows the Plan, Do, Review framework to help Youth Members develop planning, execution, and reflection skills. The process is as follows:

  • Plan: Youth Members set clear objectives for their project, including what they want to achieve and the steps required.
  • Do: Youth Members carry out their project, putting their plan into action.
  • Review: After completing the project, Youth Members reflect on what they learned, the challenges they faced, and how they might improve in the future.

Terrain allows Youth Members to see their completed projects and provides a structured framework to ensure personal growth and development.

Project Duration by Section​

Each SIA project is tailored to the age and experience level of the Youth Member, and the duration of each project varies by section:

  • Joey Scouts: 2 hours
  • Cub Scouts: 4 hours
  • Scouts: 8 hours
  • Venturer Scouts: 12 hours
  • Rover Scouts: 18 hours

Projects can be completed individually or in groups (Project Patrols), with each Scout setting their own goals and reviewing progress upon completion.

Terrain Considerations​

Like OAS, SIA projects can involve different terrains based on the nature of the activity. For example:

  • Environment SIA projects may involve working in a park (Terrain 1), conducting conservation efforts in a forest (Terrain 2), or managing an environmental project in a remote wilderness area (Terrain 3).
  • Adventure & Sport SIA projects could involve participating in sports in a local field (Terrain 1), organizing a sports event in a hilly region (Terrain 2), or tackling a major physical challenge in a rugged landscape (Terrain 3).

Support from Unit Council and Leadership​

The Unit Council plays an important role in guiding and supporting Youth Members in their SIA projects:

  • Approval: The Unit Council approves SIA projects at the planning stage and reviews them at completion.
  • Assistance: The Unit Council may help find Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) or adjust project goals if necessary.
  • Encouragement: Leaders and Unit Councils encourage Youth Members to challenge themselves and take ownership of their learning.

Youth Members also have access to resources on the Scouts Terrain platform, which provides templates and guides to help them structure their projects.

How to Earn SIA Badges:​

Youth Members choose a Special Interest Area, set a goal, and work towards achieving it using the Plan, Do, Review framework. The project is self-driven with guidance from Leaders. Once the goal is completed, and the project has been reviewed, the Youth Member earns their SIA badge.

Milestones​

Milestones are an important part of the Scouting journey, marking key achievements as Youth Members grow in the program. There are three milestones that can be earned:

  • Milestone 1
  • Milestone 2
  • Milestone 3

Milestones are based on participation, leadership, and personal growth. They reflect a Youth Member's commitment to both the Scouting program and their personal development.

Peak Award​

The Peak Award is the highest honor a Youth Member can achieve in Scouting. It recognizes sustained effort and outstanding achievement across all areas of the Scouting program, including OAS, SIA, and Milestones.

  1. Joey Scouts: Joey Scout Challenge Award Joey Scout Challenge Award

    • The Joey Scout Challenge Award is the pinnacle of Joey Scouts and is awarded for demonstrating leadership, helping others, and achieving significant personal goals.

  2. Cub Scouts: Grey Wolf Award Grey Wolf Award

    • The Grey Wolf Award is the highest award in Cub Scouts and is earned by completing a range of challenges, including Outdoor Adventure Skills, Special Interest Areas, and leadership activities.

  3. Scouts: Australian Scout Award Australian Scout Award

    • The Australian Scout Award is awarded to Scouts who have demonstrated a high level of leadership, personal achievement, and community service.

  4. Venturer Scouts: Kings's Scout Award King's Scout Award

    • The King's Scout Award is the highest award in the Venturer Scout section, earned through sustained effort in personal development, leadership, and community involvement.

  5. Rovers: Baden-Powell Scout Award Baden-Powell Scout Award

    • The Baden-Powell Scout Award is the highest award in Rovers and represents a pinnacle achievement of personal growth, service to the community, and leadership within the Rover section.

Recognition and Celebration​

At Belmont Scout Group, we believe in celebrating the achievements of our Youth Members. Regular award ceremonies are held to recognize and celebrate their efforts, with badges, certificates, and Peak Awards presented by Leaders.

For more information on Scouting achievements or to discuss your goals, feel free to contact your section Leader.

By working towards these achievements, Youth Members build valuable skills, contribute to their community, and grow into responsible and capable individuals.

For questions or guidance on how to progress through these achievements, reach out to us via our Contact Information page.