We’re sure your group loves to display the badges they have earned while part of a uniformed group. As your adventurers complete more activities and challenges, they’ll need to keep their uniforms topped up with all their latest achievements. Whether you’re looking for help with where to put scout badges, beaver badges, cub badges, or guide badges, we’re here to help!
What do uniformed badges represent?
Uniformed badges are worn by Scout and Guide groups like beavers, cubs, brownies and guides, to represent a range of their achievements, challenges and personal growth!
Uniformed badges represent:
- Who they are: Which group (Scouts or Guides) and age section (Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Guides) they belong to. This makes them feel part of a team.
- What they’ve done: The activities, challenges, and skills they’ve learned. Badges show their progress and achievements.
- How involved they are: Wearing badges means they’re active and dedicated to their group’s activities and beliefs.
- What they believe in: Uniforms and badges often represent important values like honesty and helping others. Wearing them shows they agree with these ideas.
- Their local group: Some badges show which specific local group they’re part of, connecting them with their friends, community and leaders.
Essentially, their badges tell the story of their time in Scouts or Guides, showing what they’ve achieved and what’s important to them.
Where do you put Scout Badges on your uniform?
Are you wondering where to put scout badges? Not a problem! There are specific areas of a Scout’s uniform where badges should be placed, so let’s dive in.
Most of the badges that your group can work towards at PGL will be activity badges, and these are put on the left arm. Space on the left arm is reserved for activity badges and staged activity badges, such as Circus Skills, Camper, Fire Safety and more! Since some of these badges have numerous levels, only the highest-level badge earned should be worn on the sleeve for each activity. Here are some examples of where Scout Badges go on a Scout’s uniform:
Centre-left (left of the scarf/necker):
- Occasional Badges: These represent taking part in special events or activities, and they go in the centre to highlight that involvement.
- Moving On Award: This represents a transition from one section to another (e.g., Cubs to Scouts) and marks an important step in the journey.
- Joining In Awards: Awarded for consistent participation, these badges are worn centrally as a reminder of their engagement.
- Membership Award: Often one of the first badges earned, this is placed centrally to show their commitment to Scouting.
- Challenge Awards: These badges are earned by completing a series of challenges within a specific theme such as improving their skills, spending time outdoors or working together as a team, and their central placement acknowledges significant effort and achievement.
Left or right shoulder:
- Wales Badge: This is placed on the left or right shoulder, typically to show a national or regional connection. The Wales badge shows the Scouts’ connection to Wales.
Centre-right (right of the centre):
- Union Flag: This badge represents national identity and is placed in a visible central location.
- Cornwell Scout Badge: Awarded for outstanding bravery or self-sacrifice, its central placement signifies its high significance and honour.
- Gallantry/Meritorious Conduct/Chief Scout’s Personal Award/Commissioner’s Commendation Awards: These are awarded for exceptional actions or service and are placed prominently to reflect their special recognition.
- YouShape Award: This badge signifies the Scout’s active involvement in shaping their Scouting experience and is placed centrally to highlight their youth leadership and participation.
- Challenge Awards: These badges are earned by completing a series of challenges within a specific theme, such as improving their skills, spending time outdoors or working together as a team, and their central placement acknowledges significant effort and achievement.
Right arm:
- Group Name Tape: This identifies the Scout’s specific local group and is placed on the arm to indicate their immediate affiliation.
- Northern Ireland Badge: Indicates national or regional affiliation specifically to Northern Ireland.
- Scotland Badge: Indicates national or regional affiliation specifically to Scotland.
- District Badge: Shows the Scout’s affiliation to a wider local administrative area within Scouting.
- County/Area/Region Badge: Indicates affiliation to a larger geographical division within the Scouting structure.
- Group badge (if not worn on scarf): An alternative way to display the local group affiliation.
- Patrol Badge: This signifies membership within a smaller team or patrol within the Scout group, worn on the arm to show team identity.
- Leadership Stripe: Worn by Scouts holding leadership roles within their patrol, indicating their responsibility and position.
Where to put Beaver Scout badges
With Beaver Scouts, the badge placement is pretty much identical to Scouts; the right arm is where to put Beaver Scout badges for completing activities, with the badges listed above staying in the same place.
There may be fewer badges or types of badges that can be earned at Beavers compared to Scouts, but that doesn’t mean your group can’t keep their blue uniform filled with their latest achievements!
Let’s break down the badge placement for Beavers, too:
Centre-left (left of the scarf/necker)
- Joining In Awards: Beavers can earn up to two of these badges, one for each year they participate in the Beaver section. These round badges with a paw print signify their ongoing membership and engagement.
- Moving On Award: This rectangular badge with a paw print and an arrow is awarded when a Beaver is preparing to move up to Cubs. It marks this transition in their Scouting journey.
- Membership Award: This is usually one of the first badges a Beaver receives, often a circular badge with the Beaver Scout logo. It signifies that they have officially joined the Beaver Colony.
Left breast (often above Joining In/Membership)
- Chief Scout’s Bronze Award: This is the highest award a Beaver Scout can earn. It’s a triangular badge featuring the Chief Scout’s fleur-de-lis and is a significant achievement, recognising their effort and participation in a range of activities.
Right breast (often forming a pattern as earned)
- Challenge Badges: Beavers have a set of themed Challenge Badges designed to encourage them to try new things and develop different skills. These can vary slightly over time, but some examples include:
- Adventure Challenge: Focuses on exploring and trying adventurous activities.
- Discovery Challenge: Encourages curiosity and finding out about the world around them.
- Friendship Challenge: Emphasises teamwork, getting along with others, and community.
- Fun and Games Challenge: Centres around playing games and having fun together.
- Outdoor Challenge: Involves exploring nature and learning outdoor skills.
- Creative Challenge: Encourages imagination and artistic expression.
- Promise Challenge: Helps them understand and live by the Scout Promise and Law (adapted for Beavers).
- Teamwork Challenge: Focuses on working effectively with others.
Left arm (no particular order, often forming rows)
- Activity Badges: Beavers can earn a variety of Activity Badges by taking part in specific hobbies or learning new skills. These are often circular and feature an image related to the activity. Examples might include:
- Artist – For Beavers who love to get creative! This badge is awarded for trying out different art techniques, from painting and drawing to sculpture or crafts.
- Cyclist – Given to Beavers who learn basic cycling skills, understand bike safety, and take part in a short ride.
- Farming – A fun one for those interested in animals and where our food comes from. Beavers might visit a farm, learn about crops, or meet people who work in agriculture.
- Local knowledge – This badge encourages Beavers to explore their community. They might visit a local landmark, learn about the area’s history, or find out who helps keep the town running.
- Water activities – Perfect for Beavers who enjoy splashing around! This badge can involve safe fun in or near water, like trying out a paddle sport, learning water safety, or taking part in a supervised swim.
- Staged Activity Badges: These are consistent across all Scout sections, and Beavers can earn the initial stages. Examples include:
- Emergency Aid (Stage 1)
- Hikes Away (Stage 1)
- Nights Away (Stage 1)
Right arm
- Group Name Tape: Identifies their specific Beaver Colony.
- District Badge: Shows the local Scout District to which their Colony belongs.
- County/Area/Region Badge: Indicates the larger geographical area within Scouting.
Where to put Cub Scout badges
And guess what? Cub Scouts is the same, too! At PGL, we love to see the collection of badges that your groups have earned, and we want to help them gain even more! There are plenty of badges that your unit can earn at Cubs, and the uniform and badge placement allows kids to show their individuality.
Centre-left (left of the scarf)
- Joining In Awards: Cubs can earn up to three of these badges, one for each year they participate in the Cub section. These round badges with a wolf’s head signify their ongoing membership and engagement.
- Moving On Award: This rectangular badge, often featuring a wolf’s head and an arrow, is awarded when a Cub is preparing to move up to Scouts. It marks this transition in their Scouting journey.
- Membership Award: Usually one of the first badges a Cub receives, often a circular badge with the Cub Scout logo. It signifies their official membership in the Cub Pack.
Left breast (often above Joining In/Membership)
- Chief Scout’s Silver Award: This is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn. It’s a triangular badge featuring the Chief Scout’s fleur-de-lis and is a significant achievement, recognising their effort and participation in a range of activities and challenges.
Right breast (often forming a pattern as earned)
- Challenge Awards: Cubs have a set of themed Challenge Awards designed to encourage them to try new things, learn skills, and work as a team. Examples often include:
- Adventure Challenge: Focuses on exploration and adventurous activities.
- Awareness Challenge: Encourages understanding of the world and community.
- Creative Challenge: Involves artistic expression and imagination.
- Fitness Challenge: Focuses on physical activity and healthy living.
- Global Challenge: Explores international Scouting and global issues.
- Outdoor Challenge: Involves developing outdoor skills and exploring nature.
- Promise Challenge: Deepens their understanding and living by the Scout Promise and Law (adapted for Cubs).
- Team Leader Challenge: Develops leadership and teamwork skills.
- Teamwork Challenge: Emphasises working effectively within a team.
Left arm (no particular order, often forming rows)
- Activity Badges: Cubs can earn a wide variety of Activity Badges by participating in specific hobbies, learning new skills, and demonstrating proficiency. These are often circular and feature an image related to the activity. Examples might include:
- Animal Carer – For Cubs who enjoy looking after animals. To earn this badge, they might help care for a pet, learn about animal needs, or visit a vet or animal shelter.
- Athletics – This badge is all about getting active. Cubs work on improving their speed, strength, and stamina by trying out different track and field events.
- Book Reader – A great one for Cubs who enjoy getting lost in a good story. They’ll read a selection of books, talk about what they’ve read, and maybe even visit a library or recommend a favourite book to others.
- Entertainer – For Cubs who love to perform. Whether it’s singing, acting, magic, or comedy, this badge celebrates confidence and creativity on stage or screen.
- Gardener – Cubs can get their hands dirty while learning how plants grow. They might grow vegetables, plant flowers, or help care for a garden over time.
- Staged Activity Badges: Cubs can earn further stages of badges that progress across all Scout sections:
- Emergency Aid (Stages 1 & 2)
- Hikes Away (Stages 1 & 2)
- Nights Away (Stages 1 & 2)
- Swimmer (Stages 1 & 2)
Right arm
- Group Name Tape: Identifies their specific Cub Pack.
- District Badge: Shows the local Scout District to which their Pack belongs.
- County/Area/Region Badge: Indicates the larger geographical area within Scouting.
- Leadership Stripes: Cubs who hold the roles of Sixer (leader of a small group called a Six) or Seconder (assistant leader of a Six) wear one or two stripes, respectively, to indicate their responsibility.
Where to put Girlguiding & Brownie badges
With Girlguiding members including Brownies, there are many badges that can be shown off for all to see on the uniform: Promise badges, Interest badges, awards and skill builders.
Here is where to put Girlguiding badges on the uniform:
Brownies
Brownies mainly use a badge sash to display their achievements, though some may also sew badges onto their uniform top or gilet.
- Promise Badge: This is a very important badge earned when a Brownie makes her Promise. It is typically worn on the left-hand side of their uniform or badge sash, closest to their heart.
- Interest Badges, Skills Builders, and Awards: Brownies have a wide variety of these badges covering diverse topics and skills such as baking, collecting or aviation. Girls can generally choose where to sew these badges on their badge sash or uniform items (like a gilet or skort). There isn’t a strict placement rule, allowing for individual expression in how they display their achievements. Many Brownies start at the bottom of their sash and work upwards.
- Union Flag Badge: This badge is worn at international events and is typically placed on the left shoulder of the uniform top.
Guides
Guides in Girlguiding also have a degree of flexibility in badge placement, often using their uniform top or a badge sash.
- Promise Badge: Similar to Brownies, the Guide Promise Badge is significant and is worn on the left-hand side of their uniform top, closest to their heart.
- Interest Badges, Awards, and Skills Builders: Guides have an extensive range of badges reflecting their growing interests and skills. They can choose where they would like to place these badges on their uniform top or dress. Again, there isn’t a rigid placement rule, allowing for personal preference.
- Union Flag Badge: This badge is worn at international events and is typically placed on the left shoulder of the uniform top.
How to earn your uniformed badges on a PGL group adventure camp
Uniformed groups like Scouts, Guides, Brownies, and Cubs can earn badges at activity weekends (like we offer at PGL) through a mix of hands-on experiences and skill-building challenges.
Adventure camps are packed with exciting activities like climbing, canoeing, problem-solving, and team games. Many of these are directly linked to badge requirements, meaning children can tick off key skills simply by taking part.
Throughout the weekend, young people are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, work together, and try something new—all of which can contribute towards both Activity Badges and Challenge Awards. Leaders often work with the camp team to map activities to badge criteria, so everyone gets the most from their experience.
It’s a fun, active way for children to grow in confidence, learn new things, and return home a few badges prouder.
Book your uniformed group adventure with PGL!
We hope you’ve enjoyed that refresher on where to place your group’s badges once they’ve completed a challenge! If you’re not already heading on a group residential trip with PGL, then take a look at what we have to offer. We have a range of trips to choose from, including Girlguiding residentials, Scout residentials, Youth Club & Trust residential, Other Uniform residentials and many more!
If you have any questions, get in touch with our friendly and experienced team today. They’ll be more than happy to help!
