AWARDS
THE BSA FAMILY AWARD
The BSA Family Award program includes a series of activities designed to help strengthen all families--whether two-parent, single-parent, or nontraditional. This program was designed to help families accomplish worthy goals while building and strengthening relationships among family members. All family members are encouraged to participate and may earn the award.
Some packs provide encouragement and support for families pursuing this award through a volunteer family program chair. If your pack does not promote and support the family program, your family may still participate in this program on its own. The BSA Family Activity Book (available at your local council service center) provides all the requirements as well as step-by-step instructions for earning the BSA Family Award.
To earn the award, a family must complete 10 activities within a 12-month period. The family chooses one activity in two topics in each of the following categories:
- Learning Through Fun and Adventure
- Strengthening Family Relationships
- Developing Personal Strengths
- Teaching Responsibility
- Handling Difficult Situations
When a family has completed these requirements, they are eligible to receive an award certificate, patches for uniform wear, and/or pins for non-uniform wear.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Cub Scouts and Leaders can now earn a special Leave No Trace Awareness Award, by learning and following this national outdoor skills and awareness program.
The Leave No Trace Awareness Award is worn on the uniform shirt,
centered on the right pocket as a TEMPORARY patch.
Only ONE Temporary patch may be worn at a time.
Leave No Trace is a plan that helps people to be more concerned about their environment and to help them protect it for future generations. Leave No Trace applies in a backyard or local park (frontcountry) as much as it does in the wilderness (backcountry).
We should practice Leave No Trace in our attitude and actions--wherever we go. Understanding nature strengthens our respect toward the environment. One person with thoughtless behavior or one shortcut on a trail can spoil the outdoor experience for others.
Help protect the environment by remembering that while you are there, you are a visitor. When you visit the outdoors, take special care of the area. Leave everything just as you find it.
Hiking and camping without a trace are signs of a considerate outdoorsman who cares for the environment. Travel lightly on the land.
Watch for hazards and follow all the rules of the park or outdoor facility. Remember proper clothing, sunscreen, hats, first aid kits, and plenty of drinking water. Use the buddy system. Make sure you carry your family's name, phone number, and address.
Stay on marked trails whenever possible. Short-cutting trails causes the soil to wear away or to be packed, which eventually kills trees and other vegetation. Trampled wildflowers and vegetation take years to recover. Stick to trails!
Managing your pet will keep people, dogs, livestock, and wildlife from feeling threatened. Make sure your pet is on a leash or controlled at all times. Do not let your pet approach or chase wildlife. When animals are chased or disturbed, they change eating patterns and use more energy that may result in poor health or death.
Take care of your pet's waste. Take a small shovel or scoop and a pick-up bag to pick up your pet's waste— wherever it's left. Place the waste bags in a trash can for disposal.
When visiting any outdoor area, try to leave it the same as you find it. The less impact we each make, the longer we will enjoy what we have. Even picking flowers denies others the opportunity to see them and reduces seeds, which means fewer plants next year.
Use established restrooms. Graffiti and vandalism have no place anywhere, and they spoil the experience for others. Leave your mark by doing an approved conservation project.
Expect to meet other visitors. Be courteous and make room for others. Control your speed when biking or running. Pass with care and let others know before you pass. Avoid disturbing others by making noise or playing loud music.
Respect "No Trespassing" signs. If property boundaries are unclear, do not enter the area.
Make sure all trash is put in a bag or trash receptacle. Trash is unsightly and ruins everyone's outdoor experience. Your trash can kill wildlife. Even materials, such as orange peels, apple cores and food scraps, take years to break down and may attract unwanted pests that could become a problem.
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- Discuss with your leader or parent/guardian the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines.
- On three separate outings, practice the frontcountry guidelines of Leave No Trace.
- Boys in a Tiger Cub den complete the activities for Achievement 5, Let's Go Outdoors; boys in a Wolf den complete Requirement 7, Your Living World; boys in a Bear den complete Requirement 12, Family Outdoor Adventures; boys in a Webelos den earn the Outdoorsman activity badge.
- Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project.
- Promise to practice the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines by signing the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Pledge.
- Draw a poster to illustrate the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines and display it at a pack meeting.
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- Discuss with your den's Cub Scouts or your pack's leaders the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines.
- On three separate outings demonstrate and practice the frontcountry guidelines of Leave No Trace.
- Participate in presenting a den, pack, district, or council awareness session on Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines.
- Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project.
- Commit yourself to the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines by signing the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Pledge.
- Assist at least three boys in earning Cub Scouting's Leave No Trace Awareness Award.
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OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AWARD
Tiger Cubs, Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts have the opportunity to earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. Boys may earn the award in each of the program years as long as the requirements are completed each year.
The first time the award is earned, the boy will receive the pocket flap award, which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. (This is the first time in Cub Scouting history that a pocket flap patch has been authorized for the Cub Scout uniform.)
Each successive time the award is earned, a wolf track pin may be added to the flap. Leaders should encourage boys t o build on skills and experiences from previous years when working on the award for a successive year.
Requirements
All Ranks
Attend Cub Scout day camp or Cub Scout/ Webelos Scout resident camp.
Rank-Specific
Outdoor Activities
With your den, pack, or family:
- Participate in a nature hike in your local area. This can be on an organized, marked trail, or just a hike to observe nature in your area.
- Participate in an outdoor activity such as a picnic or park fun day.
- Explain the buddy system and tell what to do if lost. Explain the importance of cooperation.
- Attend a pack overnighter. Be responsible by being prepared for the event.
- Complete an outdoor service project in your community.
- Complete a nature/conservation project in your area. This project should involve improving, beautifying, or supporting natural habitats. Discuss how this project helped you to respect nature.
- Earn the Summertime Pack Award.
- Participate in a nature observation activity. Describe or illustrate and display your observations at a den or pack meeting.
- Participate in an outdoor aquatic activity. This can be an organized swim meet or just a den or pack swim.
- Participate in an outdoor campfire program. Perform in a skit, sing a song, or take part in a ceremony.
- Participate in an outdoor sporting event.
- Participate in an outdoor Scout’s Own or other worship service.
- Explore a local city, county, state, or national park. Discuss with your den how a good citizen obeys the park rules.
Cub Scout World Conservation Award
The World Conservation Award is worn on the uniform shirt,
centered on the right pocket as a TEMPORARY patch.
Only ONE Temporary patch may be worn at a time, but Cub or Webelos Scouts may wear the Progress Through Ranks (Immediate Recognition) or Webelos Compass Points Emblem suspended from the right pocket button in addition to any temporary patch sewn on the pocket.
The World Conservation Award provides an opportunity for individual Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers to "think globally" and "act locally" to preserve and improve our environment. This program is designed to make youth members aware that all nations are closely related through natural resources and that we are interdependent with our world environment.
The Cub Scout version of the World Conservation Award can be earned by Wolf or Bear Cub Scouts, and by Webelos Scouts.
This award can be earned only once while you are in Cub Scouting
(i.e. as either a Wolf Cub Scout, a Bear Cub Scout, or as a Webelos Scout).
As a Wolf Cub Scout, you can earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award by doing the following:
- Complete achievement #7 - Your Living World
- Complete all Arrow Points in 2 of the following 3 Electives:
- Participate in a den or pack conservation project in addition to the above
As a Bear Cub Scout, you can earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award by doing the following:
- Complete achievement #5 - SHARING YOUR WORLD WITH WILDLIFE
- Complete all requirements in 2 of the following 3 electives:
- Participate in a den or pack conservation project in addition to the above
As a Webelos Scout, you can earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award by doing the following:
- Earn the Forester activity badge.
- Earn the Naturalist activity badge.
- Earn the Outdoorsman activity badge.
Participate in a den or pack conservation project.
CRIME PREVENTION
CRIME PREVENTION AWARD
The Crime Prevention Award is available to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, Explorers, and participants in Learning for Life, as well as adults. All participants - including those not registered in Scouting or Learning for Life - are eligible to earn the Crime Prevention Award provided they fulfill the requirements of the two phases outlined below, and detailed on the appropriate application forms.
The Award for completion of the requirements is the patch shown at the top of this page or a pocket pin, and a wallet card, shown at the bottom of this page. In addition, a wall certificate is available for individuals, families, dens, packs, patrols, teams, crews, posts, or other groups who participate in the program.
The patch is worn on the uniform shirt, centered on the right pocket as a TEMPORARY patch. Only ONE Temporary patch may be worn at a time. The pin is NOT worn on the uniform.
CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM RESOURCES
• Crime Prevention Award Guidelines
RECRUITER AWARD
Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts may be awarded, and wear, below the right pocket of their uniform, the recruiter strip shown above.
There are no formal requirements for this strip. Each unit establishes the procedure for awarding. Ideally, a Recruiter Strip is awarded to a Cub Scout or Boy Scout the first time is successful in getting a friend, relative, classmate, or other acquaintance to join his unit.
ONE strip is awarded to a boy while he is a Cub Scout, and another may be awarded when he becomes a Boy Scout.
Unit Awards
These awards are granted to an entire unit (den or pack) rather than to an individual adult or youth member. Pursuing these recognitions can be a great way to practice teamwork and foster a sense of unity.
National Den Award
The National Den Award recognizes dens that conduct a quality, year-round program. Service projects, Cub Scout Academics and Sports, field trips, character development, and Cub Scout camping are areas that are emphasized. Dens earn the award as a team, not as individual den members. The recognition is a ribbon for the den flag or den doodle.
To earn the National Den Award, a Cub Scout den must
- Have at least 50 percent of the den's Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, or Webelos Scouts attend two den meetings and one pack meeting or activity each month of the year.
- Complete six of the following during the year:
- Use the denner system within the den.
- In a Tiger Cub den, use shared leadership and rotate the boy/adult host team.
- Have 50 percent of the den go on three field trips per year. A field trip may be used in place of a den meeting.
- As a den, attend a Cub Scout day camp, Cub Scout or Webelos Scout resident camp, or a council family camping event with at least 50 percent of the den membership.
- Conduct three den projects or activities leading to a Character Connections discussion.
- As a den, participate in at least one of the Cub Scout Sports programs.
- As a den, participate in at least one of the Cub Scout Academics programs.
- Have 50 percent of the den participate in a den conservation/resource project.
- Have 50 percent of the den participate in at least one den service project.
Once the requirements are completed as stated, the signed National Den Award application is sent to the local council service center where the ribbon can be obtained.
An application for the National Den Award may be downloaded from the Cub Scout forms page.
National Summertime Pack Award
A pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award certificate and streamer by planning and conducting three pack activities—one each in June, July, and August. This award can be an incentive for greater attendance at your summer pack activities.
Qualifying packs receive a colorful streamer for their pack flag. Dens with an average attendance of at least half their members at the three summer pack events will be eligible for a colorful den participation ribbon. Boys who participate in all three pack events are eligible to receive the National Summertime Pack Award pin, which they can wear on the right pocket flap of their uniform.
The purpose of the National Summertime Pack Award is to encourage packs to provide a year-round program by continuing to meet during the time periods when school is out of session for several weeks or months. If a pack is in a "year-round school" (or is part of a home-school association), the pack could earn the Summertime Pack Award by having a special pack activity during those breaks.
An application for the National Summertime Pack Award may be downloaded from the Cub Scout forms page.
National Quality Unit Award
The Quality Unit Award recognizes outstanding packs, troops, teams, crews, and ships that conduct quality programs for their youth. All members, both youth and adults, of a pack that earns this award may wear the Quality Unit emblem (pictured to the right) on their uniforms, and a streamer may be displayed on the pack flag.
To qualify as a Quality Unit, a pack must meet all of the following conditions:
- The Cubmaster and at least half of all den leaders must be fully trained—i.e., they have completed both Fast Start and Basic Leader Training.
- The pack must have two-deep leadership, including an active, registered, and trained assistant Cubmaster as well as a registered adult who is responsible for promoting Youth Protection training.
- The pack must provide at least one approved outdoor experience for its Scouts.
- The pack must renew its charter on time—before the previous year's charter expires.
Additionally, the pack must meet two of the following conditions:
- The pack must provide at least nine pack meetings per year and qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award (above).
- The pack must have at least one active Tiger Cub den.
- The pack must complete at least one community service project.
- At least 75 percent of the Scouts must advance in rank.
- All Scouts subscribe to Boys' Life magazine.
- The pack must demonstrate positive membership growth.
Though it is possible to qualify as a Quality Unit for meeting only six of the 10 conditions above, Cub Scout leaders are encouraged to aim for all 10. These qualities have been shown to be critical indicators of successful pack operations.
Applications for the Quality Unit Award may be downloaded from the Cub Scout forms page.