Rules for the Zodiac Award
The Zodiac Award is open to all Scouts. Record cards should be countersigned by a Leader or camping companion.
The completed card should be returned to your Assistant District Commissioner (Scouts) or District Commissioner who will sign the appropriate authorisation form and will make arrangements with the Scout Leader for a Bronze, Silver or Gold Badge to be awarded.
If you are unable to access your Assistant District Commissioner (Scouts) or District Commissioner then the relevant card can be returned to Scottish Headquarters (SHQ) for authorisation.
The SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenges have been introduced to allow a degree of flexibility in the challenges and allow for changes to be made without having to make major changes to the record cards or wallcharts.
Bronze Award
- Spend one night per calendar month for a total of eight months in the year under canvas, bivouac or bothy.
- Two of these camps should be from the list of challenges on the record card.
- Bronze participants must complete one of the SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenges.
Silver Award
- Hold the Bronze Award.
- Complete a different challenge from the list for a total of nine months in the year.
- Silver participants must complete two of the SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenges.
Gold Award
- Hold the Silver Award.
- Complete a different challenge from the list for a total of ten months in the year.
- Gold participants must complete three of the SHQ Commissioner Annual Challenges.
SHQ Commissioner Challenges 2012
For those currently on the scheme, or just starting, the 2012 SHQ Commissioner Challenges take effect from 1 January 2012.
- Challenge 1 Camp as part of the Scottish Scout Challenge Badge
- Challenge 2 Camp as part of an Olympics Themed Camp
- Challenge 3 Camp at the side of a loch
- Challenge 4 Camp on a boat (note: change from a canal boat!)
SHQ Commissioner Challenges 2011
For those currently on the scheme, or just starting, the 2011 SHQ Commissioner Challenges take effect from 1 January 2011.
- Challenge 1 Camp at the side of a loch
- Challenge 2 Camp as part of your Outdoor Plus Challenge Badge
- Challenge 3 Camp on a canal boat
- Challenge 4 Camp as part of your Chief Scout's Gold Award
Zodiac Challenges - to camp...
- At 0 degrees or below
- Above 2000 feet
- On an island
- Outwith Scotland
- At sea level
- At Fordell Firs, Meggernie or Lochgoilhead
- With 20 people or more
- In a bivouac
- At least 6 feet above ground level
- Jointly with Cub Scouts
- Jointly with Explorers or Network
- With another Youth Organisation
- With Overseas Scouts
- To complete an Activity Badge
- At a conservation project
- At a District event
- In a “Spartan” bothy
- In a different “Spartan” bothy
- As part of an Explorer expedition
- Camp for 4 consecutive nights
- To complete an Award or Challenge
- As part of an Expedition on water
- As part of an Expedition on bikes
- With a new recruit
- As part of an organised Patrol Camp
- In a forest At District or Regional campsite
- As part of a Join-In-Jamboree event
- Take part in one of the above activities which involves a member with Special Needs
- Take part in one of the above activities which involves an activity with a Special Group
- SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenge 1
- SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenge 2
- SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenge 3
- SHQ Commissioners Annual Challenge 4
Answers to some FAQs
- The Zodiac Award is a progressive award with the Bronze Award requiring to be completed before the Silver Award is started.
- It is not necessary for a level of the award to be completed within a calendar year, indeed in some cases this may not be possible, but it is acceptable if necessary to complete a challenge in May 2010 and then complete the award with a final challenge in May 2011 as this is now in the next calendar year. In all cases, the young person should not be disadvantaged if it is necessary to spread the Bronze, Silver or Gold level over more than one calendar year.