Recycle Devon launches new recycling and environment Scout badge 

A brand new recycling badge is being launched today for all Devon Scouts. 

The new badge has been launched by Recycle Devon and aims to encourage Beavers, Cubs and Scouts across Devon to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

The scouts will work through a variety of challenges and activities to earn the colourful badge.

There are approximately 8,500 girls and boys between the ages of six and 24 who belong to Scout groups in Devon. 

The modern scout movement is about encouraging young people to have fun and adventure while developing the key life skills they need to succeed, now and in the future - and learning how to look after the planet is one of these.

As well as learning about their local recycling facilities, the badge will help young people find out where recycling goes and why they should recycle. 

Other activities include finding out where their nearest repair café or second-hand shop is,  and finding out about the county’s energy recovery facilities. 

Beavers will need to complete six of 12 challenges, while Cubs complete 10 of 18 and Scouts must do 20 of 24 to earn the specially designed badges. 

As well as earning their Recycle Devon badge, the resources also direct leaders to other badge links to help them plan other activities that will help protect the environment. 

The pack for leaders is available through the Zone Recycle Devon website: http://zone.recycledevon.uk/scout-badge

The Devon Scouts County Commissioner Marc Coton said: “We previously worked with Recycle Devon during our Jamboree last summer.   They ran a competition for the Scouts to recycle the most during the week and our young people rose to the challenge with huge increases in recycling rates over previous years.

“Now, this initiative with Recycle Devon to produce a uniform badge will inspire our young people to get recognition for their efforts in reducing the human impact on our planet, not just at camp but for every young person, everywhere in the county.  Scouting builds #skillsforlife in practical engaging ways like this every week.”

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, a Devon county councillor and Chairman of Devon County Scouts, said: “This badge has never been more relevant; pictures from documentaries like Blue Planet and Our Planet have vividly shown us the harm we are doing to the world.

“As we have seen with the climate protests at county hall recently, young people feel very strongly about the environment and their involvement is essential if we are to safeguard the environment and their futures. 

“Sustainability runs through the veins of the Scouting movement. As Baden Powell once said, 'we should all leave the planet a little better than we found it.'