I'm sorry but what's a queen's scout or an eagle scout?
The Queen Scout Award is the highest youth award in the equivalent sections of Venturer Scout/Explorer Scout/Senior Scout in member nations of the British Commonwealth where World Scouting exists. You are not awarded a Queen Scout, rather you become one. Named for the reigning Monarch of the day (today, QE2), it was referred to as the Queen Scout Badge before 1968 and before 1962 it was the Kings Scout Badge (for King George VI).
Many people elect to do their Duke of Edinburgh Award at the same time (indeed, in the UK it can cut short the amount of service you need to do). On being a Queen Scout, you are awarded a parchment from a representative of the Monarch, if not Herself (if you live in one of the realms (AU, NZ, CA, etc.).
The Queens Scout and Queens Guide Awards are comparative to each other; there are some people who have gone for both over the years too as well.
The Eagle Scout is the highest youth award and is available for Scouts in the USA, Indonesia, Zambia, and the Philippines (there may be more locations, but that’s all I know of). The requirements are long and challenging, but many Eagle Scouts and Queen Scouts) have gone onto hold office around the world.
The Eagle Scout must be achieved before a Scouts 18th birthday. Queen Scouts generally have a maximum time frame of a few years, around the time of mid- to late-teens (again, this depends on where you are).
Of the 24 men to travel to the moon on the Apollo 8 and Apollo 10-17 missions, 20 were Scouts, including 11 of the 12 moonwalkers and all three members of the Apollo 13 crew. Many of these were Eagle Scouts.
Basically, the QS and the ES awards are equally worthy awards, but available for different geographical locations. The requirements are different for each, and also depending on where you are. Having said that, it is a challenge to achieve it and I encourage anyone who is thinking about doing it to go for it.
The Eagle Scout Award is usually referred to briefly in American television productions, to insinuate that the character is noble, hardworking, perhaps of moral high-ground, etc. Such a reputation is as pathetic as referring to Scouts as people who simple tie knots, camp in tents, and salute flags – we are so much more than just that, and doing an Eagle Scout or Queen Scout will really challenge you in many ways you wouldn’t have thought of.
Thanks for the question Anon, I enjoy answering them!
(if there's anything important that I've missed, please tell me and I'll add it)
