At the first Boy Scout camp held by founder Robert Baden-Powell on Brownsea Island in 1907, the pioneer Boy Scouts were organised into four patrols and presented with a brass fleur-de-lis badge. They were then taught practical outdoor activities, such as knotting, tracking and camping, and tested on these skills. Upon passing the tests, each boy received a bronze badge in the shape of a scroll, featuring the words "Be Prepared". The fleur-de-lis badge would later become the Scout's membership badge, also known as Tenderfoot, while the scroll badge became the Second Class Scout badge.

This book compiles various collections of badges over the past century, from Boy Scouts and Wolf Cubs to Rover/Venture Scouts and adult Scouters. It also contains the collections of related accessories such as hat plumes and medals, as well as information about the history of Scouting. Informative and extensive, A Century of Scouting Badges is required reading for anyone with an interest in the Scouting movement and its story.