established 2007

Progress Record 

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.

Progress Record 

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.

RETIRED

Progress Record 

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.

Progress Record 

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.

Progress Record 

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.

Progress Record 

Progress Records
Boy Scout Leader
Varsity Scout Leader
Venturing Leader
Roundtable Staff

Progress Records
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.

This is a three track program. First Track attend Philmont Training Center (PTC) as a participant.

Second track: Take an additional Course at PTC. (and) Recruit 3 people to attend a PTC course. (and) Teach a BSA course in your district, council, area or region. Course and participation in the course must be approved by the council or area chair prior to the course.

Third Track: Serve as a faculty member at PTC or attend a third time as a participant. (and) Recruit 3 people to attend a PTC course. (and) Do one of the following: Coordinate a council, area or regional cluster approved training event and coordinate and staff a promotional booth for the PTC at a council event. (or) Conduct a council “Philmont Family Meeting” to share PTC information and encourage family participation. (or) Teach a training course in a foreign county- Coordinated and approved by the BSA international division.

Completing the the first and second track, you would earn the square knot. By completing thing third track you would earn a PTC square knot device.

Requirements

The Doctorate of Commissioner Science Award Knot is available to any currently active commissioner at any position by completing a stringent set of requirements and tenured service. Approval is administered by the local council through the council commissioner and the professional advisor to commissioner service.

In order to spread the message of Scouting, the BSA is maintaining a list of speakers to get the word out about Scouting. After a registered speaker conducts a minimum of 20 speeches and provides feedback, the speaker will receive a knot. Knot recipients will receive recognition at the National Annual Meeting. More information can be found at: BSA Speakers Bank

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.

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.

Nomination Form

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.

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.

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.

Nomination Form

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.

This knot is given in recognition of attaining Cub Scouting's highest rank, the Arrow of Light. If you earned the Arrow of light when you were a Cub Scout, you are entitled to wear this knot.

This knot is given in recognition of attaining Boy Scouting's highest rank, the Eagle. If you are an Eagle Scout, you are entitled to wear this knot.

This knot is offered as a replacement to the Eagle Scout knot when an Eagle Scout chooses to join the National Eagle Scout Association with a Life Membership. It is the same red, white, and blue Eagle Scout square knot, but with a silver metallic thread border. Only one Eagle Scout Award square knot maybe worn at a time, so this one should replace the Eagle Scout square knot on your uniform if you are a NESA Life Member. Learn more at the NESA website

This knot is given in recognition of attaining Sea Scouting's highest rank, the Quartermaster Award. If you earned your Quartermaster when you were a Sea Scout, you are entitled to wear this knot.

RETIRED

These knots were given in recognition of attaining Exploring's highest rank, the Silver, which later transformed into the G.O.L.D. Award. If you earned your Explorer Silver Award or G.O.L.D. Award when you were an Explorer, you are entitled to wear this knot. The Explorer program has evolved into the present-day Venturing program

RETIRED

This knot is given in recognition of attaining Exploring's high adventure award, the Ranger Award. If you earned your Ranger Award when you were an Explorer, you are entitled to wear this knot. The Explorer program has evolved into the present-day Venturing program

RETIRED

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.

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.

Nomination Form

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.

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.

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.

Requirements

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

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.

Nomination Form

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

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.

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.

Nomination Forms
and links listed at right

General Fact Sheet

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

The tenth, The George Meany Award of the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is also part of this category, but retains the use of the original square knot designed for the George Meany Award.

The Professional Training Award may be earned by: Associate District Executives, District Executives, Senior District Executives, Exploring Executives, Senior Exploring Executives, District Directors, and Field Directors with supervisory responsibilities. To earn the award, Professional staff Scouters must: complete or participate in five of eight training or coaching programs (including Wood Badge, Exploring Advanced Seminar, and National Camping School), successfully attend all three sessions of the Professional Executive Institute (PEI), and meet all critical achievements in his or her District/Division/Council for two of the three years.

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.

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.

Application Form

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.

While there is no official order in which the BSA knots should be worn, I believe that the more tenured and higher level of skill or commitment a know requires should determine is prominence.  As such I have developed an "unofficial" order.  Any suggestions as to movement of the knots would be openly and happily accepted.