Awards and Recognitions

Everything in Awards and Recognitions

• STEM Nova and Supernova Awards (retired)

  Scouting America has ended the national STEM Nova and Supernova program. Councils report that national support and Scoutbook recording stopped on June 1, 2025, and that each council may now run a STEM award of its own. Ask your council what it offers.

  STEM Nova and Supernova Awards Awards STEM

• National Outdoor Badge for Camping

  First Class (or the Sea Scout or Venturing equivalent), the Camping merit badge, two of Cooking, First Aid and Pioneering, then 25 days and nights of Scouting camping, including six consecutive days (five nights) at an accredited resident camp.

  National Outdoor Awards Awards Outdoors Requirements

• National Outdoor Badge for Hiking

  First Class (or the Sea Scout or Venturing equivalent), one of Hiking or Backpacking merit badge, one of Orienteering or Geocaching merit badge, then 100 miles of hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in Scouting, including the badges' miles.

  National Outdoor Awards Awards Outdoors Requirements

• National Outdoor Badge for Aquatics

  First Class (or the Sea Scout or Venturing equivalent), Swimming plus Lifesaving merit badge, the Mile Swim Award, one watercraft, fishing or diving badge with 25 hours on the water using it, and 50 hours of aquatics in Scouting overall, including the time from the earlier requirements.

  National Outdoor Awards Awards Outdoors Requirements

• National Outdoor Badge for Conservation

  First Class (or the Sea Scout or Venturing equivalent), safe use of five of ten conservation tools, Environmental Science or Sustainability, Soil and Water Conservation, and one of Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry or Mammal Study, then 25 hours of conservation work in Scouting.

  National Outdoor Awards Awards Conservation Outdoors Requirements

• National Outdoor Badge for Riding

  First Class (or the Sea Scout or Venturing equivalent), one riding merit badge with its own mileage (Cycling 100, Horsemanship 20, Motorboating 100 or Skating 20 miles), then 200 miles of riding in Scouting in all, including those miles.

  National Outdoor Awards Awards Outdoors Requirements

• National Outdoor Badge for Adventure

  First Class (or the Sea Scout or Venturing equivalent), one of Wilderness Survival, Search and Rescue or Emergency Preparedness merit badge, then ten adventure activities from a menu of seven: long backpacking, paddling or whitewater trips, an overnight rock climb, the Historic Trails or 50-Miler Award, or a high-adventure base.

  National Outdoor Awards Awards Outdoors Requirements

• Totin' Chip

  The card that gives a Scout the right to carry and use woods tools. Six responsibilities shown to your Scout leader: learn the handbook's rules, handle knife, ax and saw properly, treat them as tools, keep others safe, cut only with permission, and live by the Outdoor Code. It can be taken away.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Outdoors Requirements Safety

• Firem'n Chit

  The chit that gives a Scout the right to carry matches and lighters and build campfires. Eight responsibilities shown to your Scout leader: the handbook's rules, permits, Leave No Trace and a cleared area, safe storage, never leaving a fire, water or a shovel at hand, the cold-out test, and the codes behind it all.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Outdoors Requirements Safety

• Paul Bunyan Award

  The step beyond the Totin' Chip: know the hazards and first aid for woods tools, earn the Totin' Chip and help someone else earn it, learn nine tools and use four, then spend at least two supervised hours on a conservation project with them.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Conservation Outdoors Requirements Safety Teaching

• Mile Swim Award

  Four requirements with a council-approved counselor: pass the swimmer test, learn how skill, stamina, stroke choice and pace affect distance swimming, qualify with a continuous quarter mile, then swim the mile over an approved course. No time limit, any strokes, no flotation.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Health Outdoors Requirements

• 50-Miler Award

  A group award for at least 50 consecutive miles on a trail or waterway, over at least five consecutive days, without motors. The group plans the trip, does at least 10 hours of work improving the trail or area along the way, and the unit or tour leader files the application with the council.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Conservation Outdoors Requirements

• Historic Trails Award

  A unit award for a historic activity: research a historic trail or site, hike or camp two days and one night along it, and work with a historic society to restore and mark it, or to stage a public event about it. The unit leader then files the application with the council.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Citizenship Outdoors Requirements

• Distinguished Conservation Service Award

  Scouting's highest youth conservation award, which replaced the Hornaday Awards in 2020. For Scouts BSA: First Class, five conservation merit badges and two more from a list of sixteen, two significant conservation projects in two categories with an adviser's approval, and a board of review by the council conservation committee.

  Awards and Recognitions Awards Conservation Outdoors Requirements