The Zodiac Award encourages outdoor nights away experience including camping, bivouacs, and expeditions in different – and sometimes unusual – environments at different times of the year.
The award encourages and challenges Scout Troops, Explorer Scouts, and Scout Network Units to camp more frequently in unfamiliar enviroments and for different duriations.
There are four awards – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – that require completing different numbers of nights away with experiences and each experience has to include at least one Zodiac Aware Challenge.
Award FAQ
What is the Zodiac Award?
The Zodiac Award encourages outdoor Nights Away experience including camping, bivouacs, and expeditions in different – and sometimes unusual – environments at different times for the year.
It encourages and challenges Scout Troops, Explorer Scouts, and Scout Network Units to camp more frequently in unfamiliar environments and for different durations. There are four awards – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – that each require different numbers of nights away experience.
Who can do the Zodiac Award?
All four Zodiac Awars are available to young people ages 10-25; so suitable for Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network. They can be started at any qualifying age. However, they are progressive, and you must do them in order – Bronze, Silver, followed by Gold which recognises and rewards members who are the most nights-away active.
The Platinum Aware can be done alongside the Gold Award.
The individual awards do not have to be achieved within one calendar year; can cross into subsequent years and across sections as required, until the requirements have been met.
If your camp starts at the end of one month and finishes the start of the next then you can use this as two months to go towards your challenge
What are the Zodiac Award Challenges?
There is a list of Zodiac Award Challenges that are aligned to each level. A printable record card is available to track the Zodiac Award Challenges undertaken and this will need to be follow the young person, as they progress.
Can I make reasonable adjustments to the challenges?
As long as reasonable adjustments are in keeping with the ethos of the Zodiac Award, yes you can.
Why is the Platinum Zodiac Award different?
The Platinum Zodiac Award is intended to encourage and recognise young people who take more of a leading role in the planning and delivery of peer-led camp; allowing them to develop Nights Away leadership skills.
It is also intended for Young Leaders (Explorer Scouts) who are actively involved in the delivery of outdoor Nights Away experiences for Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, or Scouts and for members of Scout Network who have active leadership appointments within other sections.
Where necessary, an adult with the relecant Nights Away Permit should be involved and this doesn’t prevent the Young Leader or Scout Network member with an active leadership appointment from planning or delivering the actual experience. Nights Away Permit holders may also be required to issue Nights Away Event Passports for peer-led camps.
You do not need to wait until the Gold Zodiac Award has been achieved to start working towards the Platinum; as it has a different purpose in encouraging leadership skills and both awards could be done together allowing young people to take a leading role in planning and delivering qualifying Nights Away experiences.
Where do I get the badges from?
Badges are available for purchase from the BSO Southern Europe District – who are hosting the scheme.
Where do the badges go on my uniform?
As a challenge badge, the Zodiac Award can either be worn on the right chest – above the Union Flag, or on the left sleeve with other Activity Badges.
Don’t forget!
All activities should follow all Scouting rules, under P.O.R. Risk Assessments should be carried out as normal and communicated to everyone within the group. Remember to have the correct permits e.g. if you are moving into Terrain 1 and 2. If in doubt please ask