The King’s Scout Award (KSA) is the highest award youth members can achieve in Scouting. Recipients are invited to join the St George’s Day service at Windsor Castle. The requirements are listed below and on The Scouts website via this link The Scouts – King’s Scout Award.
Each requirement needs to be signed off by an assessor and registered in the KSA logbook. An assessor is someone who can vouch for the activities you have undertaken and provide some evidence (like a short statement) about your participation. An assessor is often your Explorer Leader or Network Commissioner, but it can be anyone who has witnessed the activities you have taken part in. You MUST complete the KSA logbook. A copy of The Scouts KSA Logbook can be found here.
There is no requirement to register with HQ, but our County has a procedure you can follow so that we can ensure you receive full support while you are completing your KSA. We’ll assign you a mentor and you will have a local support network to make the whole process easier and more fun. Please click here to register your KSA application. If you don’t follow this part of the process we can’t help you with any of the administration or any issues you may have!
1. Age and membership
Award participants must be:
Complete 18 nights away as an Explorer or Network member, of which at least 12 must be camping. These must be different from those used in the five challenges or ICV list activities. They can be counted from the Platinum/Diamond Awards and Young Leader/Leader/Network events.
Complete six activities in total, two from each topic area in the ICV activities list. Click here to view the ICV list for the KSA.
A minimum of two activities must be from the KSA ICV list, but the other four can be from the QSA list or the Chief Scout Platinum or Diamond ICV lists. So, 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. Challenges
Either, hold the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) or complete the five challenges below:
• 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. You should be given briefing/training 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).
Training – before you undertake any expedition you should demonstrate that you are competent in the following areas:
First aid (covering First Response as a minimum) and emergency procedures
Risk assessment/health and safety
Navigation and route planning
Camp craft, equipment and hygiene
Food and cooking
Country, highway and water sports codes
Observation, recording and presentation
Team building
Proficiency in mode of travel
Practice Expedition – undertake a minimum three-day, two-night (consecutive), self-led expedition in wild country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.
Final Expedition – undertake a four-day, three-night (consecutive), self -led expedition with a purpose 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 travelling. The final expedition must be in a different area to your practice, but 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, service to others or personal development. In exceptional circumstances this can be done over two consecutive weekends as long as the activity is the same and the majority of people are unknown to you.
*All members should complete 12 months in either the skill or the physical activity challenges.
If you don’t already hold the Chief Scout’s Diamond Award or Silver DofE you must complete an extra six months in either the Service challenge or the Skills or Physical Activity challenges – whichever of these was chosen to be the longer challenge.
5. 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 last activity you complete before you have your final meeting with your KSA mentor.
6. Sign Off
After you’ve completed all the requirements you’ll have a meeting with your County KSA Mentor and your logbook will be signed of by your Explorer, Network or County Commissioner. Finally, the KSA Co-ordinator will submit your achievements to HQ.
An explorer, adventurer and TV presenter, Dwayne's been seen in BAFTA nominated Channel 5 series Race to the Pole, on BBC Springwatch, Countryfile, National Geographic and Disney+.
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