The Great Indoors Badge

In Stage 1 you’ll learn something new that can teach you something about yourself or the world around you.

We've included some suggested activities for each requirement. Of course, they were designed for face-to-face Scouts, so you’ll probably need to make some tweaks. Take a look at the ‘Tips’, where we’ve put together some suggestions for how to adapt some of the common phrases you may encounter.

How to earn your badge:

Practical skills
Try one new practical skill that you can do from home.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) A knotty challenge

Cubs (8-10½ years) A flair for hot air

Scouts (10½-14 years) Crystal creations

Explorers (14-18 years) Brush bugs
Outdoor skills
Try one new skill that would help you to explore or survive in the outdoors.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Craft a camp blanket

Cubs (8-10½ years) Billy can breakfast beans

Scouts (10½-14 years) Mud glorious mud

Explorers (14-18 years) Reinvent the wheel
Physical activity
Try one new physical activity that gets your blood pumping.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Let the dice decide

Cubs (8-10½ years) Cat run

Scouts (10½-14 years) Cosmic quest

Explorers (14-18 years) Let the dice decide
Community engagement
Learn about one local service or charity in your community that’s helping people affected by the spread of COVID-19.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Company and kindness

Cubs (8-10½ years) A day for everyone

Scouts (10½-14 years) A safe bridge

Explorers (14-18 years) Chatty charities
Social action
Do something that helps family members in your home.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Clean machine

Cubs (8-10½ years) Creative composting or Bee prepared

Scouts (10½-14 years) Butcher, baker, bath bomb maker

Explorers (14-18 years) Can the stain take the strain?
International
Play one traditional game from another country.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Djembe drums or Wild world

Cubs (8-10½ years) Games from around the globe

Scouts (10½-14 years) Strongest shelter challenge

Explorers (14-18 years) Word or phrase charades
Creative
Try one creative activity that you’ve never tried before.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Blue sky thinking

Cubs (8-10½ years) A sheet of stars

Scouts (10½-14 years) To foldly go

Explorers (14-18 years) Build a wellbeing box
Spiritual
Try one craft, type of food, song or game related to a faith or belief that’s not your own and learn about why it’s important to that faith or belief.

Suggestions:

Beavers (6-8 years) Henna hands

Cubs (8-10½ years) Celebrate the festival of light

Scouts (10½-14 years) Play a tune for the Inca Sun God

Explorers (14-18 years) A cut above
Nights away
Take part in a night away at home, sleeping in a den or tent, indoors or in the garden.

More info here >

Tips

Often, the person leading the activity doesn’t have to be a grown up (though there are some activities that need an adult to make sure everyone stays safe); many of our activities have been designed so that anyone can pick them up and take charge. Some young people may be able to read through the information by themselves, while others may need a helping hand from a parent, carer, or older sibling. If you’re part of a group and they’re meeting online, perhaps the person leading the meeting could introduce an activity for everyone to try before the next meeting?
If you’re part of a group that’s meeting online, you could show everyone what you’ve been up to – maybe you’ll inspire each other to try something new. If not, who else could you show? It could be someone you’re living with, or you could use technology to share with friends or family further afield. You could also show us! Let us know what you’ve been up to by emailing social.media@scouts.org.uk or by sharing your posts on Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re part of a group that’s meeting online, you could include chatting as part of the meeting – just let the person leading the meeting know before it starts. Otherwise, who else is around for a chat? You could see what someone you’re living with thinks, or chat with a friend or family member online. If you just need a listening ear, we’ve heard that pets make a great audience too.
We know that not everyone’s lucky enough to have a garden or balcony. Some outdoors activities will work inside, and you may be able to do others as you exercise outdoors (if you’re able to). Some people are finding other creative solutions – if you need to gather leaves, maybe you could use scrap paper or old newspapers, or you could see if YouTube can bring the outside indoors.
Some places are working hard to make online or virtual tours possible. If not, maybe you could do all the planning now and save the trip for when things get back to normal – there’s no rush, just do what you can for now.
We know that everyone’s home situation is different, and that plenty of people don’t have loads of space. Could you adapt the game or activity to work with what you have? If you’re able to head outside for exercise, could you do it on the way?
If you’re part of a group and they’re meeting online, you may be able to make the activity work over the internet. If not, think on your feet. Could you ask someone you’re living with to give it a go? It doesn’t matter how old they are (or if they’re not part of Scouts) – these activities are for anyone who’s willing to get involved.
Head over to Scout Stores to get your badge >

May 2020.

Requirements can be adapted to suit each young persons abilities. See our guidance on flexibility.

How to earn your badge:

Practical skills

Outdoor skills

Physical activity

Community engagement

Social action

International

Creative

Spiritual

Nights away

Tips

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