National Outdoor Awards Program

Scouting America's National Outdoor Awards Program recognizes Scouts who are active in the outdoors.  Since Troop 60 is an active Troop, many of our Scouts already qualify for many of these awards.  The key is keeping track of and logging in your adventures, and applying for each award.  

The six National Outdoor Awards badges recognize a Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer who demonstrates knowledge and experience in camping, aquatics, conservation, hiking, riding, or adventure. Youth earning the National Outdoor Awards badges have demonstrated that they are knowledgeable, safe, and comfortable in the outdoor activity covered by the badge.

See: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/noa/ for requirements of each Badge. 

• Most of these will require completion of the rank of First Class and one or more Merit Badges Related to the Badge plus a number of completions miles, hours or outings

• Examples:

  • Camping Badge

    • Completion of the rank of First Class and the Camping Merit Badge

    • Completion of two of the following Merit Badges: Cooking, First Aid or Pioneering

    • 25 camping nights

  • Hiking Badge

    • Completion of the rank of First Class and the Hiking or Backpacking Merit Badge

    • Completion of one of the following Merit Badge: Orienteering or Geocaching

    • 100 miles of hiking or backpacking

  • Aquatics Badge

    • Completion of the rank of First Class and the Swimming Merit Badge

    • Completion of one of the following Merit Badge: Canoeing, Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Kayaking, Rowing, Scuba Diving, Small-Boat Sailing, Water Sports, or Whitewater

    • 50 hours of aquatics 

  • Conservation Badge

    • Completion of the rank of First Class and the Environmental Science AND Sustainability Merit Badges

    • Completion of one of the following Merit Badge: Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, or Mammals

    • 25 hours of conservation work

  • Riding Badge

    • Completion of the rank of First Class 

    • Completion of one of the following Merit Badge: 

      • Cycling Merit Badge and 100 miles of cycling

      • Horsemanship Merit Badge and 20 miles of horseback riding

      • Motorboating Merit Badge and 100 miles of motor boating

      • Skating Merit Badge and 20 miles of skating

    • 200 miles of riding

  • Adventure Badge

    • Completion of the rank of First Class 

    • Completion of one of the following Merit Badge: Wilderness Survival, Search and Rescue, or Emergency Preparedness

    • 10 Adventures (see approved list)

National Medal for Outdoor Achievement

The National Medal for Outdoor Achievement is the highest recognition that a Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer can earn for exemplary achievement, experience, and skill in multiple areas of outdoor endeavor. In order for a youth to earn the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement, he or she must complete the following requirements:

1. Earn the First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6 and hold the Venturing Discovery Award.

2. Earn the National Outdoor Badge for Camping with a silver device.

   • Total of 125 nights of camping

3. Earn any two additional National Outdoor Badges, each with two gold devices.

   • Hiking Badge - 200 miles

   • Aquatics Badge - 100 hours

   • Conservation Badge - 75 hours

   • Riding Badge - 400 miles

   • Adventure Badge - 20 adventures

4. Complete the requirements for all of the following: Backpacking merit badge or Ranger Backpacking elective; Emergency Preparedness merit badge or Ranger Emergency Preparedness core; Nature merit badge; and Wilderness Survival merit badge or Ranger Wilderness Survival core.

5. Complete a 16-hour course in Wilderness First Aid from the American Red Cross, Wilderness Medical Institute, or other recognized provider.

6. Complete a 16-hour Leave No Trace Skills Course from a certified Leave No Trace Level 1 or 2 Instructor.

7. Plan and lead, with the approval of your unit leader, an outing for your patrol, troop, ship, or crew in two of the following activity areas: hiking and backpacking, aquatics activities, or riding. Include in each outing a service element addressing recreational impacts resulting from that type of activity. With the approval of your unit leader, you may plan and lead the outings for another Cub Scout pack, Scout troop, Sea Scout ship, or Venturing crew.

8. Complete at least one of the following:

• 1. Plan and lead, with the approval of your unit leader, an adventure activity identified in the National Outdoor Badge for Adventure for your troop, ship, crew, or patrol.

  2. Successfully complete a season on a council summer camp staff in an outdoor area, such as aquatics, Scoutcraft, nature/environment, climbing, or COPE.