Scouting Adult Leadership Recognition Program

The Scouting Adult Leadership Recognition Program is one of many ways the Boy Scouts of America recognizes the efforts of Registered Adult Scouting Volunteers.  Below you will find the identification and explanation of the different types of Scout Leadership Knots that may be earned or bestowed upon Registered Adult Scouting Volunteers.


Training Award Knots

Training Award Knots are earned by their recipients by completing specific requirements during a specific tenure.
 

    Tiger Cub Leader Training Award

Application Form

 

Denotes one year served as a Tiger Cub Scout Leader in a quality Tiger Cub den. There are several requirements, including being fully trained for the position, having most of your boys complete their rank requirements, etc.

 
    Den Leader Training Award (Wolf & Bear Den Leaders)

Application Form

 

Denotes one year served as either a Wolf or Bear Cub Scout Leader in a quality Cub Scout den. There are several requirements, including being fully trained for the position, having most of your boys complete their rank requirements, etc.

    Den Leader Coach Training Award

Can No Longer Be Earned

 

Denotes two year served as a Cub Scout Den Leader Coach in a quality Pack.  This knot may no longer be earned. Scouters who have previously earned this knot may continue to wear this knot.

    Webelos Leader Training Award

Application Form

 

Denotes one year served as a Webelos Scout Leader in a quality Webelos patrol. There are several requirements, including being fully trained for the position, having most of your boys complete their rank requirements, etc.

  
    Cubmaster Training Award

Application Form

 

Denotes either two year served as the Cubmaster, or one year as Asst. Cubmaster and one year as Cubmaster in a quality Pack. There are several requirements, including being fully trained for the position, earning the Summertime Achievement Award, earning Quality Unit, etc.

  
    Cub Scouter's Training Award

Application Form

 

Denotes two year served in any position as a registered Cub Scout Leader in a quality Pack. There are several requirements, including serving in supporting roles for the Pack, etc.

  
    Pack Trainer Award

Application Form

 

Denotes two year served as a registered Pack Trainer in a Cub Scout Pack. There are several requirements, including attending Trainer's Development Conference, keeping all key Pack leaders trained for their positions, keeping accurate Pack Training records, etc.

 
    Scouter's Training Award

Boy Scout Leader
Varsity Scout Leader
Venturing Leader
Roundtable Staff

 

Denotes two year served in any position as a registered leader in various Scouting units and positions of responsibility. Requirements vary, depending on position, but all requirements basically amount to creation and/or maintenance of a quality scouting program.

    Scouter's Key Training Award

Scoutmaster
Varsity Scout Coach
Venturing Advisor
Skipper
Roundtable Commissioner
District Commissioner
Unit Commissioner
District Committee

 

Denotes three year served in the top adult leadership position in a given unit or job. Requirements vary, depending on position, but all requirements basically amount to creation and/or maintenance of a quality scouting program.

 

Meritorious Service Knots

These knots denote service at various levels of scouting which go above and beyond what would normally be expected.
 

    Scouter's Award of Merit

Nomination Forms
Scoutmaster
Venturing Advisor
 

 

Denotes 18 months served as a Scoutmaster in a quality Troop or Advisor in a quality Crew.. Applicants are nominated by Troop or Crew officers. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Venturing Leadership Award

Nomination Form

 

The Venturing Leadership Award is presented by councils, areas/regions, and the BSA National Council to Venturers and adults who have made exceptional contributions to Venturing and who exemplify the Venturing Code and Oath. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

Nomination Form

 

The Distinguished Commissioner Service Award is presented to unit, Assistant District, District, Assistant Council, and Council Commissioners whom have served actively as a registered commissioner for at least five years, have completed the Commissioner training courses, received the Arrowhead Honor Award, and whose units/District/Council has achieved a level of quality through the BSA's Quality Unit/District/Council program. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

 
    Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award

Nomination Form

 

The Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award is presented to Arrowmen that have given for a significant period of time service to the Order of Arrow or to Scouting at any level beyond the local Lodge (which is part of the local Council) level. Most Arrowmen receiving this award were youth members serving as leaders at the Sectional, Regional or National level. Most adult Arrowmen receiving this award have served as Arrowmen for an extended period of time, normally more than ten years. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    District Award of Merit

Nomination Form

 

The District Award of Merit is awarded by a District Committee to a registered Scouter for district-level service to youth in the District. Generally, the award is presented for service to youth in excess of five years. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Silver Beaver (Council level Award of Merit)

Nomination Form

 

The Silver Beaver Award is presented upon action of a Council Executive Board for service to youth within the Council. Generally, the Silver Beaver is awarded for service to Scouting for at least ten years or longer. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Silver Antelope (Regional level Award of Merit)

Nomination Form

 

The Silver Antelope Award is presented upon action of the Regional Executive Board of one of the BSA's four Regions for longtime service to youth within the Region. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Silver Buffalo (National level Award of Merit)

Nomination Form

 

The Silver Buffalo Award is awarded upon action of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America to volunteers Scouters and other individuals for service to youth on a national basis or over a significant period of national service to a youth agency or in actions affecting youth.  The Silver Buffalo Award is the traditional award presented to the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America sometime during his term of office. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Silver World (International level Award of Merit)
 

Informational Form

 

The Silver World Award 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 Scout associations are members of the World Scout Conference. United States citizens may receive the recognition only if they are not registered members of the Boy Scouts of America.


Meritorious Action Knots
These knots are awarded to youth or adult Scouts for doing something noteworthy.
    Honor Medal

Nomination Form

 

Awarded to a youth member or adult leader who demonstrates unusual heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at considerable risk to his or her own. In cases of exceptional skill or resourcefulness and extreme risk of life, the medal is awarded with crossed palms. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Heroism Award

Nomination Form

 

Awarded to a youth member or adult leader demonstrating heroism in saving or attempting to save a life at minimum risk to self. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Medal of Merit

Nomination Form

  The Merit Medal honors Scouts, Venturers and Scouters that have performed some act of meritorious service above and beyond what is normally expected of a youth or adult member of the Boy Scouts of America. Key in the difference between this award and the heroism awards is that the action need not involve saving life, but must employ some aspect of Scouting learning or skills in the execution. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

Scoutreach Service Award Knots

These knots are awarded for outstanding service to Scoutreach units.
 

    Whitney Young, Jr. Service Award

Nomination Form

 

The purpose of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds—this is in fulfillment of Dr. Young's dream of justice and equality for all. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award

Nomination Form

 

The purpose of the Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Asian American youth. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Scouting...Vale la Pena! Service Award

Nomination Form

 

The purpose of the Scouting…Vale la Pena! Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic American/Latino youth. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.


Religious Knots

These knots are to celebrate earning the religious award for your faith.
 

    Adult Religious Service

Requirements

 

This knot is worn by Scouters who have received a religious service emblem or award for their faith. This award is NOT a BSA award; it is an award presented by a church body for education, service and devotion to faith. BSA then allows the Scouter to wear a knot signifying his completion of that award. Requirements for this award vary from religion to religion.

  

Other Knots
 

    William H. Spurgeon III Award

Nomination Form

 

This award is presented to adults and organizations for outstanding service to youth. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    George Meany Award

Nomination Form

 

The Meany Award is presented to Scouters and to union organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Scouting program at either the local Council or national levels. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    William T. Hornaday Award

Nomination Form

 

The William T. Hornaday Award recognizes Scouts, Venturers and Scouters for their service to conservation and ecology efforts in their communities. To earn the Hornaday Award as an individual, youth members must earn a series of merit badges followed by a concentrated series of conservation and/or environmental education projects to be conducted in the member's community or nearby, under the advisement of a trained conservation, naturalist, or environmental engineering expert. The present adult Gold Award is nominative in nature, and extends over at least a ten-year span of working in or with conservation or environmental education/reclamation efforts in the community, state or nation. Self-nomination automatically disqualifies a candidate.

  
    Community Service Award

Nomination Forms
and links listed at right

General Fact Sheet

 

This knot is worn by those whom have received an award recognized by the BSA's Relationships Division while serving as an adult member of the BSA. The awards are NOT BSA awards; they are awards presented by a community service, fraternal, corporate or governmental organization for education, service and/or devotion to youth.

There are ten awards which fall into this classification. Nine of them wear the Community Service Award knot:
 -
The Marvin M. Lewis Award of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
 -
Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award
 -
Veterans of Foreign Wars Scouter's Achievement Award
 -
American Legion Scouting Square Knot Award
 - Department of Defense/Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
 - Herbert G. Horton Alpha Phi Omega Youth Service Award
 - USPS Finley Sea Scout Service Award
 -
Cliff Dochterman Award of the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians
 -
Ruritan Scout Leader Community Service Award of Ruritan National Service Clubs

    James E West Award
   

The James West Fellowship Award is presented through a local Council to any individual that gives $1000 or more to the local Council's West Fellowship Fund (local Councils have differing names for this special pool) on behalf of him/herself, or another individual to be honored or recognized through membership within the West Fellowship.  The money goes to support critical local Council and national programs which have suffered major losses due to diversion of funding for national-level resolutions of risk-management issues.

  
    William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award

Requirements &
Application Form

 

The William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award is presented to recognize volunteers who organize one or more traditional Scouting units. The award may be worn on the adult uniform. The award is a square knot placed over the three colors representing the three phases of our program—Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. A volunteer can earn the knot by organizing one traditional unit, and a program device can be earned for up to three additional units organized. Self nominations IS allowed.

  
    International Scouter's Award

Application Form

 

The International Scouter's Award encourages Scouters to broaden their involvement in Scouting through participation in world Scouting activities and recognizes Scouters for their contributions to world Scouting.  Applicants must be currently registered adult Scouters of the Boy Scouts of America. All applicants must receive the approval of their local council's international committee chairperson or international representative and their council Scout executive.

Requirements

Complete any six of the following, from at least three of the following categories:

  1. Giving leadership to international Scouting:
    1. Serve as council international representative, council international committee member, or BSA International Committee member for a minimum of three consecutive years.
    2. Serve as a registered adult leader with a Direct Service Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, or Venturing crew.
    3. Serve at least one year in any international Scouting position approved by the BSA International Division.
  2. Giving leadership to international events held in the United States:
    1. Host Scouts/Scouters (minimum of three visitors per group) from another country as part of an official national, council, district, or unit activity.
    2. Serve on the international staff at a national Scout jamboree.
    3. Assist in the organization of your council's participation in the International Camp Staff program. Be responsible for bringing a foreign Scout on staff to the council's summer camp program for two summer camp seasons.
  3. Giving leadership to international events held in other countries:
    1. Serve as an adult leader in a BSA contingent to a world Scout jamboree or Pan-American Scout jamboree.
    2. Serve as an adult leader for a group of BSA Scouts participating in an event held by a foreign Scout association recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. The activity may be an exchange program, camp experience, tour activity, or home hospitality function.
    3. Serve on the international service staff of a world Scout jamboree.
  4. Educating self and others:
    1. Attend an international Scout conference at the Philmont Training Center. Share what you have learned with others in your council.
    2. Promote international Scouting at a district, council, regional, or national event.
    3. Participate in organizing or providing leadership for a BSA Scout activity in another country that involves interaction with Scouts from that country, such as an exchange program, camping experience, or tour activity.
  5. Giving support to international Scouting:
    1. Organize a collection for the World Friendship Fund at two district and/or council events.
    2. Become or recruit a member of the Order of the Condor for the Interamerican Scout Foundation.
    3. Become or recruit a Baden-Powell Fellow for the World Scout Foundation.
  
    Seabadge Award
   

This award is presented to registered Sea Scout adults that attend and complete the Seabadge Conference advanced training course. This course is similar to the Woodbadge course for general scout leaders. Additionally, at this time, in the Southern Region only, participants must also complete their Rudders (similar to the Woodbadge Tickets) to earn the right to wear this knot. There are no additional requirements or signatures necessary. Completion of this course entitles you to wear this knot.


 

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