The emblem of the International Spirit Award is worn as a temporary patch by both youth and adult leaders in the

Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

. The award recognizes those who have broadened their knowledge of international Scouting and increased their appreciation and awareness of different cultures and countries. This award replaces the

International Activity Patch The emblem of the International Spirit Award is worn as a temporary patch by both youth and adult leaders in the Boy Scouts of America. The award recognizes those who have broadened their knowledge of international Scouting and increased their app ...

(1991-2012).

Requirements

Requirements for the award vary for Scouters and Scouts of different ages. *

Cub Scout Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with some Scout organizations, for young children, usually between 8 and 12, who are too young to be Scouts and make the Scout Promise. A participant in the program is called a Cub and a group of Cubs ...

s (boys and girls in Grades K - 5) must earn the Cub Scout

World Conservation Award The World Conservation Award is issued by many of the national Scout associations affiliated to the World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scou ...

, learn 10 words in a language different than their own, play two games that originated in another country or culture, participate in

Jamboree on the Air Jamboree on the Air, known by its acronym JOTA, is an international Scouting and Guiding activity held annually; it is on the third full weekend in October. First held in conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary of Scouting in 1957, it was devis ...

Jamboree on the Internet Jamboree on the Internet, known by its acronym JOTI, is an international Scouting activity held annually. Participants, through the use of designated Chats from all over the world, can contact their fellow Scouts by means of the Internet. Common c ...

, organize a

World Friendship Fund The World Friendship Fund is a major endowment fund of the Boy Scouts of America developed during the closing days of World War II, the answer of Scouting to the Marshall Plan, to rebuild Scouting in nations that had been wracked by war. Through ...

collection, and complete two of the ten experience requirements listed below. *

Boy Scouts Boy Scouts or Boy Scout may refer to: * Members, sections or organisations in the Scouting Movement ** Scout (Scouting), a boy or a girl participating in the worldwide Scouting movement ** Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America ...

, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers must earn the

, earn the Citizenship in the World merit badge or complete the "understanding other cultures" requirement of the TRUST award, participate in

and complete three of the ten experience requirements listed below. * Scouters must learn about the

World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...

and explain it to their colleagues, promote at least two items from the most current newsletter from the International Department, help organize two

events, and complete four of the ten experience requirements listed below. * Experience requirements: (1) Host an international Scout, (2) prepare a dinner traditionally served in another country, (3) participate in an international Scout event, (4) take a trip to another country, (5) organize a Messengers of Peace project, (6) earn the Interpreter Strip, (7) present information about Scouting in another country to a group, (8) help your council’s international representative with at least two items, (9) research and present information on obtaining a U.S. passport, (10) present information about a region of the

to a group.

International Activity Patch

The International Activity Patch is a former award of the

for participation in an international event. Requirements were developed by each council. The award was a three-inch circular cloth patch worn on the right pocket of the official uniform as a temporary insignia. The emblem is the universal emblem of the BSA encircled by a rope tied in a square knot on a field of blue. The rope and knot are taken from the emblem of the

World Scout Emblem The world scout emblem, used worldwide by Scouts and many Scout organizations within the Scout Movement is the fleur-de-lis, commonly with a five-point star in each outer lobe. This emblem was adopted by Scouts from the inception of the Scout ...

, the symbol of the

. A five-inch "back patch" for wear on the back of the official jac-shirt and a neckerchief were also available.

Origins

The BSA used the

— called the World Crest in the U.S. —as an award for international activities from 1956 on. Policy was changed in 1991 and the World Crest can now be worn by all members as an emblem of worldwide Scouting. The International Activity Patch replaced the World Crest as an award. In 2012, the International Activity Patch was replaced by the International Spirit Award with specific requirements for each age level.

References

{{Scouting Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America