What is people's opinion on the changes to the chief scout's awards? Is it a good idea to be getting rid of the personal challenge and replace it with getting more challenge badges?

Personally Im not that keen on getting rid of the personal challenge and replacing it with more challenge badges, as technically now you could do all the requirements for the chief scout's award at your meeting, but with the personal challenge they have to go away and do something out of scouting to gain it, so in a way they are making it easier to gain.

One thing I do like is that they are making the zones for each section similar which is good in my opinion.

My opinion may change once Ive got use to the new system but only time will tell!

I think they should have kept the personal challenge.

My eldest daughter has just got her bronze award, her personal challenge was learing to ride a bike without training wheels, J doesn't have a lot of self confidence so this was a big deal for her and because we live right next to a very busy main road she could only ride her bike in the local park, that in it's self was an expedition getting 3 kids 2 bikes and a pram over the road to the park.

The badge means more to her because she had to do something personal.

I'm all in favour of the new definition and I'm finding it a lot easier to administer. With a good varied programme and participation in the weekend events most scouts can achieve the CSA.

The community challenge is often the most difficult although most achieve this by helping with the Beaver Colonies and Cubs Packs.

I hope 10 of my scouts will complete their Gold award at Spring Camp in time for our County Award presentation event in May.

As I have been recently informed by my GSL, a Scout can be awarded the same badge more than once (something I disagree with) then this alone would make the attaining the CSA extremely easy!! I feel that removing the personal challenge is wrong as challenges are what Scouting is about. If a Scout can achieve a major award by basically sitting at home, then this is detrimental to the movement.