New Biosphere badge launched for Scouts and Guides

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new Biosphere badge for Scouts and Guides, an opportunity for Leaders to view southwest Scotland through a fresh lens and for young adventurers to explore, learn, and develop new skills.

To create the badge, the GSA Biosphere worked in partnership with South West Scotland Scouts, Girlguiding Dumfries & Galloway, and Girlguiding Ayrshire South.  Leaders select six activities from the accompanying booklet which Scouts and Guides must complete to earn their badge.  Activities have been carefully designed to provide something for all ages, from Squirrels and Rainbows to Rangers and Explorers.  There are options for indoors as well as outside, and several with intriguing titles like ‘Become David Attenborough’ and ‘Ninja Communities’.  All the activities are aimed at increasing understanding of local heritage and the special environments for which the region is recognised worldwide.

Jenna Cains, GSAB’s Community & Education Lead Officer, says, “It’s a privilege to have helped create a Biosphere badge for local Scouts and Guides.  The Scouting and Guiding movement is all about empowerment: giving young people room to grow, to try new things, and to make a positive difference in the world.  It connects on many levels with the UNESCO Biosphere ethos and what we as an organisation are trying to achieve.  The launch of the badge is just the beginning of our relationship with the southwest’s Scouting and Guiding groups and we look forward to future opportunities for supporting delivery of their amazing programme.”

Jenna presented the new badge at a meeting of Galloway Scouts in May; pictured above are Bob Peace (District Chairman) and Nick Ong (Regional Commissioner) with the Leader’s Booklet.

The Biosphere badge for Scouts and Girl Guides is available now and the Leader’s Booklet is also free upon request.  Please email jenna@gsabiosphere.org.uk.