Queen’s Scout Award
Leatherhead District has set up a team to help you work towards the top achievement for Explorers and Network members. It includes a number of different activities for each participant to achieve. This award is closely linked with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, and it would be beneficial to work towards gaining both awards together.
All of the below requirements must be completed by your 25th birthday.
Am I eligible?
You must be aged at least 16 years and complete the award by age 25.
You must be a member of Explorer Scouts or Scout Network (or both) for at least 18 months to complete the award, and be a member at the time of completion.
All activities can only be counted from your 16th birthday, not before. It is worth noting that any activities or nights away completed in Chief Scout Platinum and Diamond Awards are able to be counted towards the QSA.
Nights Away
You must complete 18 nights away within Scouting, 12 of which must be camping.
The nights away used for this requirement must differ from any nights away undertaken for any of the other challenge activities. (See below for more details)
Nights away where you are a Leader or Young Leader can also count.
International, Community and Values (ICV) List
You must complete 6 activities, 2 from each topic area of this ICV list. At least 2 must be from the ICV list for QSA, and all others can be from Chief Scout Platinum or Diamond ICV lists, or all 6 can be from the QSA list.
If you have your Chief Scout’s Platinum Award, you will already have 2 activities and need only 4 more.
If you have your Chief Scout’s Diamond Award, you will already have 4 activities and need only 2 more.
QSA Challenges or the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
You must hold either the Gold DofE award or complete the QSA challenges.
The QSA Challenges are:
Skill
Take up a skill for six or 12 months*, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new.
Physical Activity
Take up a physical activity for six or 12 months*, completing an agreed programme by taking part and achieving your objectives.
Service
Provide service to an individual or the community for 12 months. 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.
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 complete your practice and final expeditions.
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 in wild country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.
Final
Undertake a four-day, three-night (consecutive) self-led expedition with an aim. The expedition should be completed in wild country 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.
Residential
Undertake a five-day, four-night residential project in an unfamiliar environment with people that are unknown to you. This project could be environmental work, project-based, service to others or personal training.
Presentation
The aim of this presentation is to inspire and motivate other to achieving their own QSA, this needs to cover all parts of the award and must be presented to a suitable audience.
Sign – off
Each of the above requirements will need to be signed off by an assessor, someone who can guarantee you have completed each activity and can provide some basic evidence. This can be your Explorer Leader or you District Scout Network Commissioner, but anyone who witnessed you completing the activity can be an assessor.
How will Leatherhead District Help?
We will start by asking all members of Explorers and Network to register their interest and provide their details in order for us to set up our data sheet.
When you are signed up you will be given your own Logbook, which the Leaders and yourself can view and edit anytime. You will also be added to our Online Scout Manager database in order for us to keep track of your progress.
We will have regular contact and are always on hand to help at QSA@leatherheaddistrictscouts.org.uk if you have any queries or would like to register your interest.
