As a movement whose leadership is overwhelmingly
volunteer, the Boy Scouts of America recognizes the need to acknowledge
the invaluable services that men and women render to youth. Of
the hundreds of awards that the BSA presents each year to those
on the local council, regional, and national levels, the Silver
Buffalo, Silver Antelope, Silver Beaver, and Silver World awards
are the most prestigious. Although the criteria are different
for each of these awards, there is one common thread: The recognitions
are granted by one's own peers in Scouting for distinguished
service to youth. Other BSA awards, by comparison, are granted
only to those who have completed a prescribed course of study
or have participated in special training sessions.
Knot Number & Description: No. 05013-
Silver overhand knot on a dark blue background with silver
border. (The silver on this knot is not gray but actually silver
tinsel thread.)
Overview: The District Award of Merit is
a council award presented by districts or Venturing divisions
in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is a national award
presented by councils. The award is available to Scouters who
render service of an outstanding nature at the district or
Venturing division level. The award is made available annually
on the basis of 1 for each 25 units or fraction thereof. The
district or Venturing division need not present all the awards
to which it is entitled each year. It is not appropriate to
nominate a Scouter who has already received this award. Typically,
the selection committee is comprised of previous recipients
of this award.
Requirements: (Nominations must be submitted
on form No. 33720.)
A nominee must be a registered Scouter. (A professional
Scouter is ineligible for this award based on professional
service; however, a professional Scouter who also serves
as a volunteer may be eligible based on volunteer service.)
A nominee must have rendered noteworthy service to youth
in Scouting, outside of Scouting, or both. (Note: The
nature and value of "noteworthy service to youth" may
consist of a single plan or decisions that contributed
vitally to the lives of large numbers of youth or it
may have been
given to a small group over an extended period of time.)
Consideration must be given to the nominee's Scouting position
and the corresponding opportunity to render outstanding
service beyond the expectations of that Scouting position.
The nominee's attitude toward and cooperation with the
district, division, and/or council is to be taken into
consideration.
Nominations cannot be considered for posthumous awards.
Commentary: Reportedly, the blue twill was
actually black (Navy blue?) from 1973 to 1979.
Knot Number & Description: No. 5003 -
Blue and white on a tan background, white to the wearer's right.
Overview: The Silver Beaver Award is a national
award presented by councils. Annually, the council president
will appoint a Silver Beaver Award committee that will consider
candidates and make recommendations.
This award may be made each year upon the nomination of chartered
local councils. These nominations shall be submitted not fewer
than 30 days in advance of the date upon which it is desired
to present the awards.
The award is made for noteworthy service of exceptional
character to youth by registered Scouters within the
territory under the jurisdiction of a local council.
The award is made for noteworthy service of exceptional
character to youth by registered volunteer Scouters
within the territory under the jurisdiction of a local council.
As evidence of the award there shall be presented: a suitable
certificate, duly authenticated by the Boy Scouts of
America, pursuant to the action of the National Court of
Honor;
and a miniature silver beaver suspended by a blue and
white ribbon to be worn around the neck.
It shall be general policy that no public announcements
shall be made by the local council in advance of action
by the National Court of Honor with reference to names presented
for consideration.
These awards shall be made to the recipients by the local
council in connection with its annual meeting or other
suitable public function.
Each chartered local council shall be entitled to one nomination.
Councils having more than 60 traditional units shall
be entitled to further nominations on the basis of one for
each additional
60 traditional units or fraction thereof in their territory,
as of December 31 preceding the nomination, according
to the records of the national office.
Councils not using their full allotment in any year may
accumulate the unused portion for use in any subsequent
year.
In extraordinary cases, the Silver Beaver Award may be
made by the National Court of Honor to a Scouter upon
the recommendation of Scouting authorities who have supervision
of one or more units of the Boy Scouts of America,
located
outside of the United States, and not under the jurisdiction
of a local council.
Requirements: (Nominations must be submitted
on form No. 92-103.)
Must be a currently registered volunteer member and at
least 21 years of age. (Professional Scouters and council
employees are ineligible, as are former professional
Scouters and council employees within 5 years of their employment
with the BSA. - even if employment was on part-time.
Also,
nominations cannot be considered for posthumous awards.)
Nominator must provide a record of the nominee's service
in the BSA.
Nominator must provide a record of noteworthy service of
exceptional character to youth within the territory
under the jurisdiction of this council.
Nominator must provide a statement covering the nominee's
standing in the community, citing activities in which
the individual is most active in business, professional, civic,
religious, educational, fraternal, veteran, rural,
or other
fields exclusive of Scouting.
Commentary: The same knot is also authorized
for wear by recipients of the Silver Fawn.
Knot Number & Description: No. (see Commentary)
- Gold (actually golden-yellow) and white on a tan background,
gold to the wearer's right.
Overview: Granted for outstanding service
to youth within the territory of a BSA region. The criteria
are similar to those for the Silver Buffalo, with one major
difference: a recipient must be a registered adult member of
the BSA. (Candidates for this award must be nominated; self-nomination
disqualifies the candidate. Nominations are made annually by
the regional executive committee based upon the recommendations
by the Volunteer Recognitions Committee.) A region is entitled
to one nomination for each 30,000 registered adults within
its territory, as of October 31 preceding the nomination, according
to the records of the national office. In the Western Region,
the deadline for submission to the region is January 15th.
Requirements: (Nominations must be submitted
on form No. 92-105.)
Noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Cub
Scouters, Scouters, Varsity Scouters, and Venturing leaders, 21 and older,
within the region's assigned territory. Professional Scouters and council
employees are ineligible while serving or within 5 years of their leaving
employment with the BSA. (The requirements are very similar to those
for the Silver Beaver. Refer to that award for more detailed information)
Commentary: The knot number for this varies,
depending on the source used. It is listed as No. 05005 in
the Insignia Guide, but as No. 5012A in The Scoutmaster Handbook.
Knot Number & Description: No. 5004 -
Red and white on a tan background, white to the wearer's right.
Overview: BSA's oldest and highest commendation
for distinguished service, the Silver Buffalo is awarded to
men and women associated with Scouting, and to others not directly
associated with Scouting, for extraordinary and truly noteworthy
service of a national or worldwide character to youth. The
service can be directly connected with the BSA or independent
of the movement. The first Silver Buffalo Award was conferred
upon Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Among the other 20 initial recipients
who were awarded this honor in 1926 were William D. Boyce and
the Unknown Scout. Some of the better known subsequent recipients
include Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, Bob Hope, Neil Armstrong,
and Colin-Powell. Fifteen Presidents of the United States have
also received this honor. It is customary to present this award
to the U.S. President sometime during his term of office, in
large measure because of his status as Honorary President of
the Boy Scouts of America.
Requirements: (Nominations must be submitted
on form No. 92-102.)
Bestowed upon those who give truly noteworthy and extraordinary service
to youth. The service must be national in character and can be directly
connected with the BSA or independent of the movement. Send nominations
to: National Court of Honor, BSA, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box
152079, Irving, Texas, 75015-2079.
Knot Number & Description: No. 5019-
Alternating red and white horizontal stripes with a blue world,
outlined in silver, centered thereon and containing three silver
5-pointed stars, two oriented to the wearer's right, all within
a black frame.
Overview: This award is a distinguished service
award similar to the Silver Buffalo, Silver Antelope, and Silver
Beaver, But unlike those awards, this one may not be awarded
to any registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. It is
presented by the BSA to world citizens who give outstanding
service to their nation's youth or to young people in other
countries. Award recipients must be citizens of countries whose
Scouting associations are members of the World Scout Conference.
A limited number of awards are presented, based upon on for
every 50,000 registered BSA youth members at the end of the
proceeding year.
Requirements: Presented in recognition of
service of exceptional character to the youth of a one's own
country, or on an international basis. United States citizens
may receive the recognition only if they are not registered
members of the Boy Scouts of America. Nominations are made
in writing by letter, containing all the pertinent facts about
the individual.
Nominations should be submitted to the International Division
of the Boy Scouts of America for consideration of a special
selection committee.
Commentary: Prior to 1994. less restrictive
criteria resulted in about 40 awards being presented to BSA
Scouters. The award elements are reportedly available from
the office of the Chief Scout Executive.
Official Name: The Order of
the Arrow Distinguished Service Award
Instituted: 1940 (though the knot wasn't
approved until 1976)
Knot Number & Description: No. (see Commentary)
- White knot on red background.
Overview: Presented to youth & adults
for exceptional service to the Order of the Arrow above
the lodge level.
Requirements: Recipients must be Arrowmen
who have rendered outstanding service to the Order on a sectional,
area, regional, or national basis. Awarded primarily for dedicated
service over a period of years (usually 10 years or more).
Commentary: The knot number for this award
varies, depending on the source used. It is listed as No. 05528
in the Insignia Guide, and as No. 6892 in The Scoutmaster
Handbook.
Knot Number & Description: No. (see Commentary)
- Blue knot on red and white background, red to wearer's right.
Overview: Established by the AFL-CIO Executive
Council for award to any adult union member who has made significant
contributions to the youth of their community by volunteering
in the programs of the BSA. It is estimated that one out of
every four top unit leaders in the BSA is a union member. The
award is named for the AFL-CIO's first president, George Meany
(1894-1980), who gave strong support to Scouting over the years.
More than 1500 awards have been presented since the award was
established.
Requirements: (Nominations must be presented
using G.M.A. application)
The central labor council or state federation may develop its own standards
for judging, but will consider such factors as the nominee's record in:
Promoting and expanding the use of the American Labor merit
badge.
Recruiting youth to earn the American Labor merit badge.
Forming Scouting units, especially those to be operated
by local unions or other labor groups.
Contributing to Scouting in the field of labor relationships,
and bring the Scouting and labor movements together
to serve the community.
Taking Scouter training and setting a good example for
youth.
Promoting Scouting for all youth, regardless of race, creed,
or handicapping condition.
Although a nominee's length of service in Scouting may be
considered, no specific number of years should be required.
A person's record of accomplishment should weigh more heavily
than longevity.
Commentary: Not available from National Supply
Division. Available on a restricted basis for recipients only
from the Relationships Division at the national office.
Knot Number & Description: No.5027A -Black
and white knot on tan background with red border.
Overview: Awarded to a volunteer who has
made an outstanding contribution through Scouting to low-income
urban/rural youth. Whitney M. Young, Jr. (1921-1971) was
the executive director of the National Urban League in the
1960's.
In a speech delivered at the 58th. National Annual Meeting
of the B.S.A., he challenged Scouting's leaders to tackle
the "unfinished
task of making real the dream of justice and equality" for
American youngsters. Soon afterward, he was chosen by PResident
Lyndon B. Johnson to receive the Presidential Medal of
Freedom - the nations highest civilian award. Mr. Young
died in a drowning
accident in 1971. Recipients are approved nationally through
nomination to the Scoutreach Division by a local council.
A council's annual quota of awards is limited to the number
of
districts in the council; however, emphasis should be placed
on being selective, with no intention that the full quota
(which is non-cumulative) must be used every year. A total
of 1,754
awards have been presented through late 2003.
Requirements: (Nominations must be presented
on form No. 7-427)
Performance of outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization
demonstrated through involvement in the development and implementation
of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low income urban
backgrounds.
Commentary: Also awarded to organizations.
The knot number for this varies, depending on the source used.
It is listed as No. 05015 in the Insignia Guide, but
as No. 5027A in The Scoutmaster Handbook. The award
elements, including the knot, are issued on a restricted basis
from the Scoutreach Division at the national office to recipients
only. Use BSA form No. 7-427 and allow at least two month's
lead time for nominations to be processed and approved by the
5-member committee at the national level.
Created in 1969, the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is
the only distinguished service recognition that depends on
one's
association with Scouting as a youth. The recipient must
have attained the Eagle Scout rank a minimum of 25 years
before
his nomination, and over those years he must have rendered
outstanding service to others.
Award recipients have included 38th President Gerald R. Ford;
former astronaut Neil Armstrong; cartoonist Milton Caniff;
late actor Ozzie Nelson; H. Ross Perot, founder of Electronic
Data Systems and The Perot Group; United States Secretary of
Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld; retired General William C. Westmoreland;
retired Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr.; Senator Richard G. Lugar;
film director Steven Spielberg; former FBI Director William
S. Sessions; former United States Representative J. J. Pickle;
Donald F. Wright, senior vice president of the Times Mirror
Co.; and former Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander.
Central Valley Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Recipients
Roger M. Schrimp
Bert Crane, Senior
John Garamendi
Thomas R. Stone
William T. Hornaday Award
Think of it as an Olympic Medal
Bestowed by the Earth!
The goal of this awards program is to encourage and recognize
outstanding efforts in natural resource conservation and environmental
protection.
Conservation and the Boy Scouts of America have been partners
for a long time. Camping, hiking, and respect for the outdoors
are a part of the Scouting heritage. Many of the requirements
for advancement from Tenderfoot through Eagle Scout rank call
for an increasing awareness and understanding of the natural
sciences. Many former Scouts have become leaders in conserving
our environment and protecting it from abuse. Right now Scouts
are involved in learning about environmental problems and actively
working to make a difference.
This awards program was created to recognize those that have
made significant contributions to conservation. It was begun
in 1917 by Dr. William T. Hornaday, director of the New York
Zoological Park and founder of the National Zoo in Washington,
D.C. Dr. Hornaday was an active and outspoken champion of natural
resource conservation and a leader in saving the American bison
from extinction. He named the award the Wildlife Protection
Medal. Its purpose was to challenge Americans to work constructively
for wildlife conservation and habitat protection. After his
death in 1938, the award was renamed in Dr. Hornaday's honor
and became a Boy Scouts of America award.
In the early 1970s, the present awards program was established
with funding help from the DuPont Company. At that time, the
late Dr. Hornaday's idea of conservation was broadened to include
environmental awareness.
The Hornaday Awards are highly prized by those who have received
them: Only slightly more than a thousand medals have been awarded
over the past 70 years. These awards represent a substantial
commitment of time and energy by individuals who have learned
the meaning of a conservation/environmental ethic. Any Boy
Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer willing to devote the time
and energy to work on a project based on sound scientific principles
and guided by a conservation professional or a well-versed
layperson can qualify for one of the Hornaday Awards. Any of
the awards will take months to complete, so activities should
be planned well in advance.
The fundamental purpose of the Hornaday Awards program is
to encourage learning about natural resource conservation and
the environment. Understanding and practicing sound stewardship
of natural resources and environmental protection strengthens
Scouting's emphasis on respecting the outdoors. The goal of
this awards program is to encourage and recognize truly outstanding
efforts undertaken by Scouting units, Scouts and Venturers,
adult Scouters, and other individuals, corporations, and institutions
that have contributed significantly to natural resource conservation
and environmental protection.
¡Scouting...Vale
la Pena! Spirit of Scouting Service Award
The BSA Scoutreach Division has introduced a new
recognition to honor volunteers or organizations for service that
directly benefits Hispanic-American/Latino young people.
The ¡Scouting...Vale la Pena! Spirit of Scouting Service
Awards is modeled after the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service
Award and share similar council procedures and criteria.
Nominees are chosen for outstanding services and demonstrated
involvement in developing and implementing Scouting opportunities
for Hispanic-American/Latino youth.
Recipients are nominated by local councils and approved nationally. Nomination
forms (No. 11-193) is available from local councils.
The forms provide helpful information on the purpose of the
awards, complete council procedures, criteria, and forms for
ordering awards and optional recognition pieces.
Persons at all levels of Scouting involvement, from executive
board to district Scouters to unit personnel, are eligible.
The BSA Scoutreach Division has introduced a new
recognitions to honor volunteers or organizations for service that
directly benefits Asian-American young people.
The Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award is modeled
after the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award and share similar
council procedures and criteria.
Nominees are chosen for outstanding services and demonstrated
involvement in developing and implementing Scouting opportunities
for Asian-American youth.
Recipients are nominated by local councils and approved nationally. Nomination
forms (No. 11-194) is available from local councils.
The forms provide helpful information on the purpose of the
awards, complete council procedures, criteria, and forms for
ordering awards and optional recognition pieces.
Persons at all levels of Scouting involvement, from executive
board to district Scouters to unit personnel, are eligible.
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