one for the scouts and macleans...

[davidg]

most interesting, thanks for sharing. although i have never heard of a queen scout, im guessing its an English thing. in the states Eagle scout is the highest achievable rank, of which i am one.

It's "Queen's Scout" and, yes, it is the equivalent of Eagle Scout being the highest award a Scout can gain. If we had a man on the throne then it would be "King's Scout". They earn this award usually by the time they are 16 years old and then move on to Venture Scouts. Some also complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which is open to all young people, not just Scouts, and based on outdoor activities

As you don't have monarchy it couldn't be called Queen's (or King's) Scout in your country and I guess they felt the Eagle, being your national symbol, was the most appropriate name. I don't know the full history but my guess would be that a "President's" Award would tie it to specific people in office at the time whereas the Eagle ties it more correctly and patriotically to the country

[Peter Crowe]

It's "Queen's Scout" and, yes, it is the equivalent of Eagle Scout being the highest award a Scout can gain. If we had a man on the throne then it would be "King's Scout". They earn this award usually by the time they are 16 years old and then move on to Venture Scouts. Some also complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which is open to all young people, not just Scouts, and based on outdoor activities

As you don't have monarchy it couldn't be called Queen's (or King's) Scout in your country and I guess they felt the Eagle, being your national symbol, was the most appropriate name. I don't know the full history but my guess would be that a "President's" Award would tie it to specific people in office at the time whereas the Eagle ties it more correctly and patriotically to the country

When I was a Scout, the Queen's Scout Award was only conferred on qualified Venture Scouts who had reached 18 years old, and was the pinnacle of Scouting achievement in the UK. The highest award a Scout (11-16) could then earn was the 'Chief Scouts Award'.

My paternal grandpa was a King's Scout in the 1920's before the Scout Group system was established (Wolf Cubs/Cub Scouts - Boy Scouts/Scouts - Rover Scouts/Venture Scouts). I believe there has been yet another reform/reorganization of Scouting in the UK from the one in the mid-60's I grew up in making it almost unrecognizable to the movement me, my father, and grandfather were privileged to be part of. My other grandfather (maternal) was a Boys Brigade Lieutenant.