¶ Chief Scout Diamond Award
¶ 🔍 Overview
The Chief Scout’s Diamond Award is the second of three top awards in Scouting. It is often the developing point for Explorers and Network looking to challenge themselves, many completing their Platinum Award beforehand, but is not mandatory.
📌 Who is it for? Explorer or Network Scouts (between 15 to 24).
📌 How does it link to DofE? It closely aligns with DofE Silver, meaning you can complete both awards at the same time by using the same activities.
📌 Why should you do it? It develops key skills in leadership, personal development, and adventure, setting you up for the King Scout Award (KSA).
¶ ☑️ Requirements
- Be a member of Explorer or Network Scouts for 12 months.
- If you previously earned the Chief Scout Platinum Award, time spent on that award counts toward this requirement.
- Complete 12 nights away as an Explorer/Network Scout.
- 8 nights must be camping in a tent.
- 4 nights can be indoors or elsewhere.
- Nights away from the Platinum Award count towards this.
You cannot use the nights away from your DofE expedition or any activity from your ICV list
- Complete four activities from the International, Community, and Values list for Diamond Award
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If you have already completed the Chief Scout’s Platinum Award, you only need to complete two ICVs for the Diamond Award.
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Choose wisely; the ICVs can be difficult to do!
I ran the Worlds Faith Activity Badge (Values) for my Young Leader unit, and local community service (Community) helped me achieve the ICV requirement. Read them, and choose two you can do.
Tip: If you plan to complete the King’s Scout Award (KSA), you’ll need six ICVs in total (2 from Platinum, 2 from Diamond, 2 from KSA, from each three categories)
Your mentor is often your Explorer or Network Scout leader. Speak to them if you have an activity which is not listed.
- Hold the Duke of Edinburgh Silver (This is self-explanatory; complete it and show your leader that all of your sections have been signed off)
¶ ⌚ Example Timeline
This is a suggested timeline I made, based on my personal experience. Your progress may vary depending on when you start each section.
- 0-3 months: Enrol into DofE
- 3-5 months: Achieve three nights away
- 5-7 months: Achieve ICV 3
- 7-8 months: Complete DofE Expedition
- 8-9 months: Achieve ICV 4, and complete three more nights away
- 9-10 months: Achieve DofE Silver & finish Diamond Award
¶ 🧠 Lessons Learned
- If you young leader, take this as an advantage! You can complete ICVs by helping achieve certain badges.
- You are in no rush to complete the award; take your time. You have up to 9 years!
- Note what ICVs you want to achieve, and write out how to achieve them. Do ones that you enjoy.
- National volunteering can help with additional nights away.
- Keep a log of your ICVs and Nights away, and get evidence to prove you meet the requirements.
- If you get stuck, talk to your leader, they can suggest ways to help you.