Introduction

Scouts NI, supported by the NI Museums Council, is proud to launch our brand new NI Challenge Awards – a refreshed and exciting challenge open to all sections, from Squirrels to Network.

Unveiled officially at HMS Caroline in Belfast on 30 April 2025, these awards invite young people across NI to engage with our local heritage, culture, and community through fun, hands-on experiences in museums and beyond.

What is the NI Challenge Award?

The NI Challenge is a cross-section badge for all ages (4-25) in Scouts NI, built around real-world discovery and exploration. Sponsored and funded by NI Museums Council, the badge introduces a museum activity for all Sections as part of their Challenge syllabus.

There are multiple activities, one of which can be completed at a local museum, alongside optional tasks from a wider list tailored to each age group. The activities are designed to be flexible, accessible and engaging – whether completed with a Section, with friends, or with family.

Young people will be able to:

• Explore museum exhibitions and collections.
• Take part in self-guided trails or activity sheets.
• Gain new knowledge and skills through interactive experiences.
• Collect evidence of their visit to share with their leader. (e.g. trail sheets, certificates, or photos)
• Volunteer at a local museum.
• Earn an exclusive NI Challenge Award badge, available for all Sections once everything on the syllabus is completed.

How to take part:

Leaders and young people can find their Section’s NI Challenge syllabus and activity list using the links below:

To gain the badge

Complete the mandatory requirements for your Section and the correct number of optional requirements. It is suggested that Leaders print out a copy of the tick sheet for each young person and these can be updated and checked off throughout the year as they follow their programme. This means there are only a few activities that need to be specially done to gain the Challenge Award.

The Badges cost £1.50 each (this includes P&P).

Once the syllabus for the badge is complete please email the Scouts NI Scouting Support Officer (Programme), pamelaemerson@scoutsni.org with the following information.

Name of Leader and Address for the badge(s) to be posted to.
Scout Group
Number of Badges required by Section (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Network)
The name of the Museums visited.

When Pamela Emerson receives the above information she will email you the link to purchase the badges. On receipt of your Order the badges will then be posted out to the address as detailed above.

Badges are NOT available to purchase from the NI Scout Office or Crawfordsburn Activity Centre.

List of Accredited Museums across NI

Any museum visit meets the criteria, but the following have prepared specific activities connected to these badges:

• Armagh Robinson Library
• Ballymoney Museum
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Down County Museum
• HMS Caroline
• Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum
• Mid-Antrim Museum
• North Down Museum
• The Argory
• Whitehead Railway Museum

A full list of NI Museums Council’s accredited museums and their locations is available below!