William T. Hornaday Awards

William T. Hornaday Badge

The Hornaday Badge was awarded, upon approval of the local council, to a Boy Scout, or Venturer for outstanding service to conservation and environmental improvement.  The candidate had to have been a First Class Scout, Venturer, or Sea Scout.  This award included a silver badge for wear on the uniform. Approximately 2700 Scouts earned the Badge after it was introduced in 1914.

The Gold Badge was by nomination only and was awarded by the local council to an adult Scouter.  The nominee must have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to the education of youth on a council or district level for a period of no less than three years.  This award included a gold badge for wear on the uniform. Approximately 600 Scouters earned the Gold Badge after it was introduced in 2000.

Awarded to packs, troops, teams or crews which completed a significant conservation project with at least 60 percent of unit contributing.  The unit must have written a conservation report for the project and submitted the Unit Award application to the local council.  Since all unit types are eligible to earn this award (from Cub Scout Packs to Venturing Crews), spanning many different experience levels of youth, there were different expectations of youth leadership for each unit type. Approximately 1000 units earned the award after it was introduced in 1951.

Square Knot Insignia

These medals were awarded by the National Council for Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts or Venturers for exceptional and distinguished service to conservation and environmental improvement.  To qualify, the Scout must have completed numerous advancement requirements, and completed at least three (for Bronze) or four (for Silver) conservation projects, each from a different project category.  Each project must have been significant in nature and have contributed in a long-lasting manner to conservation efforts, with the scale of each project being no less than that of an Eagle Scout service project.  This award included a medal and square knot insignia for wear on the uniform, and a lapel pin for civilian wear. Approximately 300 Scouts earned youth medals after the requirements were clarified and updated in 1975.

The Gold Medal was by nomination only and was awarded to an adult Scouter.  It is for unusual and distinguished service in natural resource conservation and environmental improvement at the regional or international level.  Nominations would then be approved by the Hornaday Awards Committee and the National Conservation and Environment Task Force.  Any respected conservation organization could submit a nomination.  This award included a gold medal and square knot insignia for wear on the uniform, and a lapel pin for civilian wear.  Up to six Gold Medals were able to be awarded per year. Approximately 50 Scouters and conservation professionals earned the Gold Medal after it was introduced in 1974.

This award was by nomination only and was awarded to an individual, corporation, or organization.  The nominee must have made an outstanding contribution to youth conservation education and demonstrated commitment to the education of youth on a national or international level, reflecting the natural resource conservation and environmental awareness mission of the Boy Scouts of America.  Candidates could be nominated by any conservation or environmental organization.  Up to six awards were able to be granted annually. Approximately 15 certificated were awarded to organizations after it was introduced in 1990.[2]