"Boys are not alone in their love of badges to wear. I have heard of grown-up men who would risk, and have risked, their lives to get a medal. So, although it may be counted immoral to appeal to this touch of vanity in the boy, we have instituted badges of proficiency which any Boy Scout can earn by taking the trouble to qualify and pass tests for them. These badges are awarded for proficiency in such things as carpentry, swimming, ambulance work, etc., etc. There are nearly sixty different subjects, among which every boy should be able to find one or more suited to him." --- Lord Baden-Powell 1933