BSA TROOP 116
Scouts BSA Awards and Recognitions
Ranks and Merit Badges are only some of the awards that Scouts can earn as they move through scouting.
Awards Central is the Boy Scouts of America’s repository for information about official awards and recognitions. Check there for the most up-to-date information about BSA-related awards, including award applications and nomination forms.
This page will be updated to highlight some of those awards that are available for the Scouts to earn.
Contact the Advancement Coordinator with any questions regarding these or any other Scouting Award.
National Outdoor Awards Program
When a Scout excels in outdoor participation, there are awards to show for it! This program, conceived by the BSA’s National Camping Task Force, includes a series of six badges designed to recognize a Scout who has exemplary knowledge and experience in performing high-level outdoor activities. The award consists of up to six emblem segments positioned around the perimeter of a beautiful center emblem. All are embroidered in full color. The segments represent six areas of emphasis: Camping, Aquatics, Conservation, Hiking, Riding, and Adventure, with rigorous requirements to earn each segment. The center emblem features an outdoor scene with fleur-de-lis and the words “National Outdoor Awards.”
Here are the requirements for one of the 6 areas. See the attached documents for information on the other 5 areas and for the application form.
Camping. A Scout may earn the National Outdoor Badge for Camping upon successfully completing the following requirements:
1. Earn the First Class rank.
2. Complete the Camping merit badge requirements.
3. Complete the requirements for two of the following three: Cooking merit badge; First Aid merit badge; Pioneering merit badge.
4. Complete 25 days and nights of camping—including six consecutive days (five nights) of camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America—including nights camped as part of requirements 1 through 3 above. Scouts must complete six consecutive days (five nights) of the 25 nights at a BSA accredited resident camp.
A gold device may be earned for each additional 25 nights of camping. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 nights of camping. The youth may wear any combination of devices totaling his or her current number of nights camping.
Mile Swim Award
The Mile Swim BSA Award recognizes those swimmers who have trained for distance swimming both in the water and by understanding the health benefits and safety precautions to be taken. They have then completed a Mile Swim over a measured course.
VFW Scout of the Year Scholarship
WHO CAN ENTER Scouts who are registered, active members of a Boy or Girl Scout Troop, Venturing Crew, or a Sea Scout Ship who have received the Eagle Scout Award, Girl Scout Gold Award, Venture Summit Award or Sea Scout Quartermaster Award.There is no minimum age requirement for applicants as long as all other eligibility criteria has been met.The maximum age requirement for applicants is 18 years old and if an applicant reaches their 18th birthday during the nomination year they remain eligible as long as they are still in high school at the time of the submission deadline.
HOW TO ENTER Scouts should download and submit a completed VFW Scouting Scholarship form, resume of high school activities, scouting record,community service record and letters of recommendation to a local VFW Post no later than March 1. Locate your local Post here.Note: A Scout can enter through ONE VFW Post only.
HOW IT WORKS Local VFW Posts submit their winning candidates with full entry criteria to their respective VFW Department (state) by April 1. Ensure that if a District judging is taking place that entries are forwarded to the District first and that enough time is allotted to ensure that the Department still receives the entry by April 1. From there, the Department selects a winner and forwards the entry to the VFW National Headquarters by May 1 for national-level judging.
https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/scout-of-the-year