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The World Crest, also called the World Membership Badge

The World Crest, also known as the World Membership Badge is a badge or patch worn by Scouts and Scouters around the world to indicate their membership in the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Each national organization may determine where on their Scout uniform this emblem is worn.

The current patch design was introduced with the 8th World Scout Jamboree in 1955, although the arrowhead, or fleur-de-lis, had already been a symbol of the Scout Movement since it was founded in 1907. The use of the arrowhead has led to some controversy, with critics citing its military symbolism. However, Robert Baden-Powell himself denied this link, writing and speaking about the various other meanings of the symbol.^[1][2]

1950s version of the emblem, used by the World Scout Committee

Baden-Powell began awarding a brass arrowhead to Army Scouts whom he had trained whilst serving in India in 1897. He went on to issue a copper arrowhead badge to all participants of the experimental camp on Brownsea Island in 1907.^[2]

Baden-Powell included a design for the Scout's badge in his work, Scouting for Boys, which was a simple arrowhead with the motto "Be Prepared" on a scroll below it. He reasoned that the arrowhead was commonly used as the symbol for north on maps, and a Boy Scout was to show the way in doing his duty and helping others.^[3]

The plumes of the arrowhead became symbols for Service to Others, Duty to God, and Obedience to the Scout Law. These three principles form the Scout Promise which is made by new Scouts as they join the movement. The arrowhead was modified shortly after, to include the two five-pointed stars, which symbolize Knowledge and Truth. A "bond" was also added tying the three plumes together to symbolize the family of Scouting.^[4]

The final design which is now worn on the uniforms of all Scouts around the world includes a rope which encircles the arrowhead and is tied in a reef knot at the bottom of the badge. The rope is there to symbolize the family of the World Scout Movement, and the knot symbolizes the strength of the unity of the World Scout Movement. The colors chosen have heraldic significance, with the white of the arrowhead and rope representing purity, and the royal purple denoting leadership and service.^[4]

Several of the national Scout organizations use the emblem in various ways.

The Scout Association refers to the emblem as the World Membership Badge.^[4] It is used as the Beaver Scout Membership Award, the Scout Membership Award and the Explorer Scout Membership Award with requirements intended to help the Scout understand their commitment to Scouting.^[5][6][7]

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) refers to the emblem as the World Crest. The BSA used the badge as an award for Scouts who participated in an international Scouting event from early 1956 through 1991. It was awarded to Scouts and Scouters who had participated in an international Scouting event, such as a World Jamboree. In 1991, the BSA made it part of the uniform for all Scouts.^[8] The World Scout Crest can now be worn by all BSA members as an emblem of world-wide Scouting. The International Activity Patch replaced the World Scout Crest as an award.

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