Distinguished Conservation Service Award
First Class and seven conservation merit badges alongside two pre-approved conservation projects, then a board of review by the council conservation committee.
7 steps. · Version 1, published 9 October 2026 · About Distinguished Conservation Service Award
No questions answered
This is the whole plan: everything that could apply to anybody.
The steps
Stage 1 of 7
1 step
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Find an adviser before you plan anything Milestone
The projects need pre-approval from your unit leader, a Distinguished Conservation Service Award adviser and the council conservation committee. The council is encouraged to help identify a qualified adviser.
Stage 2 of 7
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1. Be a First Class Scout Milestone
Usually comes after Find an adviser before you plan anything.
Stage 3 of 7
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2. Five required conservation merit badges Requirement
Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation, and Sustainability.
Stage 4 of 7
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3. Two more from a list of sixteen Requirement
From Bird Study, Energy, Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Gardening, Geology, Insect Study, Landscape Architecture, Mammal Study, Nature, Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Plant Science, Pulp and Paper, Reptile and Amphibian Study, and Weather.
Stage 5 of 7
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4. Plan, lead and carry out two conservation projects Often forgotten Requirement
In two different categories, each pre-approved and documented in the required workbook, with long-term benefit to the environment. One may be your Eagle Scout project.
Usually comes after Find an adviser before you plan anything.
Each project needs pre-approval from your unit leader, your adviser and the council conservation committee before it starts, and must be documented in the Distinguished Conservation Service Award project workbook. Two people cannot claim the same project.
Stage 6 of 7
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5. Board of review by the council conservation committee Milestone
Usually comes after 4. Plan, lead and carry out two conservation projects.
Stage 7 of 7
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Granted through the council Milestone
Granted by the National Council through the local council's conservation committee: a certificate and an embroidered square knot.
Usually comes after 1. Be a First Class Scout, 2. Five required conservation merit badges and 3 others.
This plan is a planning aid: the current Boy Scouts of America publication is always the authority, and the sources used here are listed in full. Each step names its own.