100 Years of Scout Badges - What we can learn from them

In 1907, at age 50 Baden-Powell developed the idea and principles of Scouting.

"At the end of my military career, I set to work to transform what was an art of teaching men to make war, into an art of teaching young people to make peace; Scouting has nothing in common with military principles. "

This does not prevent him from having learned certain principles of organization of people and this in contexts that were difficult to say the least. Moreover he had already mobilized young people, knew their potential and how much they could be trusted.

He also knew that when you bring together several hundred individuals, you must not only train them but also specialize them and know quickly who you are dealing with without necessarily having the luxury of getting to know them before taking action.

In the 1910s, faced with the success of his fledgling movement, Baden-Powell could no longer personally advise every young person who asked for help, so he decided to set up adult training for leadership. The "Wood Badge course" was the first training for Scout leaders and is still offered. The badge associated with it gives real recognition to the wearer.

If the idea was good for leaders, why not for others as well?
So the concept of badges and insignia was taken up and developed by the scouting movement.

"The Scouting movement aims to contribute to the development of young people by helping them to realize their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of local, national and international communities.
(...)
Scouting is based on a pedagogical principle that seeks to give responsibility to the child and adolescent to form his or her character through play and action in nature and to develop his or her social life with respect for the traditional values of his or her social environment."

Thus, Scout badges are part of the larger mission and are aimed at achieving these goals.

Each badge groups one or more brevets. The patents can be prepared as soon as the youth has taken the "pledge." They may be worn only after the "second class" has been earned. He or she may have multiple patents under one badge, but only needs to earn one to be allowed to wear the badge.

Major patents are advanced badges for those who have earned their first class. Unlike simple patents, they are fewer in number and mostly require a much higher level. They generally reflect a degree of technique due to an elaborate course of study. Major brevets are worn above the left pocket and not on the shoulder.

What they can inspire us with

• The badge is earned. Not only by meeting the badge's own criteria, but also by demonstrating the wearer's commitment.
  
  Before one can earn a badge, one must first have participated and demonstrated their willingness. "Second Class Scout." After that, one can apply for a badge but not all. One must earn his or her "first class" status before being eligible for major badges.
  
  This way, the value of the badge is not diluted by passing dilettantes. A site that gives away a badge on the first visit at the same time sends the message that its badges aren't worth much. Better to erect an entry threshold if you want to increase the value of the badge.
  
  
• The badge demonstrates the interest of the holder. It can be displayed as soon as one is well engaged in the process.
  
  The "public" badge is above all a symbol that identifies the interest of its bearer in the subject. Even if one does not master all aspects of it, one is at least aware and have passed the first degree. People interested in the same subject can recognize each other and help each other.
  
  A site can offer a badge as soon as the first stage of the badge is passed (the patent) and enrich it at each stage. As long as it is possible to verify where the candidate is in their progress.
  
  
• The badge is consistent with the mission and values of the issuer.
  
  Scouting issues badges in relation to its mission of developing the potential of young people and its social mission. Each of the badges includes elements of personal and ethical development.
  
  The badge awarded by an institution constitutes a recognition of the institution itself, almost a mark of prestige. The richer it is in elements of its mission, the better it is and the more it will extend its reputation.
  
  
• The badge is a means of emulation
  
  Em proposing lofty, but seemingly attainable goals. The badge encourages the applicant to commit to a path toward completion. Without this incremental proposal, the applicant may not have evaluated himself or herself as being able to achieve it.
  

Badges are an excellent tool for recognition and reinforcement of belonging; they also offer incremental goals and stimulate commitment. Earning them appeals to concepts of competence, certainly, but also perseverance, honor and integrity, concepts whose human aspect is not lost on anyone. One is then proud to display them.

References

Wood Badge course - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_Badge

Scout Badges

• Life in the Wilderness
• Sports
• Human Discovery
• Expression
• Artisanship (including mechanics and Computer Science!)

List of Scout Badges - https://fr.scoutwiki.org/Liste_des_badges_%C3%A9claireurs_(AGSE)

Robert Baden-Powell - Wikipedia - https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Baden-Powell

Increasing the value of your badges - Thot Cursus
https://cursus.edu/en/10297/augmenter-la-valeur-de-vos-badges

Badges? Getting Started Safely - Thot Cursus
https://cursus.edu/17216/badges-pour-commencer-sans-risques