ADULT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The Silver Beaver Award
The Silver Beaver Award is the highest honor a council can bestow on a volunteer. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have impacted the lives of youth through service at the council level.
Silver Beaver Nomination Tips
- Read the form carefully. Review the official nomination form and instructions before you begin.
- Start early. Allow at least six months to gather information and feedback, especially about service outside Scouting. Aim to submit at least 30 days before the deadline.
- Highlight community service. Include the nominee’s volunteer service to youth and the broader community, not just Scouting.
- Focus on volunteer impact. Emphasize volunteer service and clearly distinguish it from professional responsibilities.
- Gather insights. Discreetly contact colleagues, family members, or organizations where the nominee serves for additional perspective.
- Consult your District Key 3. They can provide guidance and review your nomination before submission.
Whitney M. Young Service Award
The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award recognizes outstanding service by an adult or an organization involved in development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds.
Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Qualifications
- Be an adult individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding service to youth through Scouting.
- Show meaningful involvement in developing or implementing Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban communities.
- Demonstrate service that expands access to Scouting and supports youth who may otherwise have limited opportunities to participate.
- Nominees may serve at the unit, district, council, or executive board level and may be of any race or income level.
Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Guidelines
- Nominations are submitted through the local council using the official Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award nomination form.
- Nominations may be submitted by committee members, professional staff, or other registered Scouters.
- The local council reviews and selects worthy nominees before submitting nominations for national approval.
- Allow at least 60 days for national review, approval, and delivery of the award.
- Do not announce or present the award until national approval has been received.
- The award is not presented posthumously.
Council Duty to God Award
The Council Duty to God Award recognizes registered Scouters who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in supporting and promoting the spiritual foundation of Scouting at the council level. The award honors individuals whose service reflects Scouting America’s principles of faith, fellowship, service, and duty to God. Nominations are open to candidates of all faiths and religious traditions.
Council Duty to God Award Qualifications
- Be currently registered as an active, participating adult member of Scouting America.
- Have at least five years of volunteer or professional leadership and service to Scouting at the council or territorial level, other organizations or institutions, and the nominee’s faith tradition.
- Have received an appropriate adult religious recognition from the nominee’s religious organization or from another religious organization whose youth the nominee has served.
- Demonstrate outstanding spiritual, moral, ethical, and transformational leadership through service to the community and Scouting.
- Show significant leadership in advancing and promoting a Scout’s duty to God and Scouting’s shared values, regardless of faith tradition.
Council Duty to God Award Guidelines
- Preference should be given to nominees who have demonstrated leadership and service across multiple faiths.
- Include at least three letters of recommendation, including one from a registered Scout leader familiar with the nominee’s council-level Duty to God service and one from a current leader within the nominee’s place of worship or affiliated religious organization.
- Include a separate narrative describing the nominee’s service to faith and youth, along with examples of personal character relevant to the award.
- Do not notify candidates that they have been nominated.
- Submit the nomination and all supporting materials as one collated electronic file to the Council Scout Executive or designee.
- Nominations may be submitted annually from the first business day in October through the last business day in January.
Council Venturing Leadership Award
The Venturing Leadership Award is presented by councils, areas, regions, and the BSA National Council to Venturers and Venturing Advisors who have made exceptional contributions to Venturing and who exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Venturing Leadership Award Qualifications
- Be registered and actively involved as a Venturer or Venturing Advisor for at least one year.
- Hold a leadership position or office at the unit, district, council, territory, or national level, as appropriate for the award level.
- Demonstrate exceptional dedication, leadership, and service to Venturing and Venturers at the appropriate level.
Venturing Leadership Award Guidelines
- Include letters of recommendation from Venturers, Scouters, acquaintances, teachers, faith leaders, or others familiar with the nominee’s service.
- Youth nominations may be submitted for up to one year after the nominee’s 21st birthday.
Scouting America Distinguished Conservation Service Award
The Distinguished Conservation Service Award (DCSA) is the Scouting America’s highest conservation award available. Developed to encourage learning by the participants and to increase public awareness about natural resource conservation through sound stewardship.
Scouting America Distinguished Conservationist Qualifications for Adult Leaders
- Be an adult Scouter who has provided distinguished and exemplary service to natural resource conservation and environmental improvement for at least 20 years.
- Demonstrate significant involvement with youth through conservation education, volunteerism, and efforts that inspire young people to excel in conservation, natural resource management, and environmental improvement.
- Have conservation accomplishments at the regional, national, or international level.
- Demonstrate a meaningful influence on educational programs that promote responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Scouting America Distinguished Conservationist Guidelines
- The award is by nomination only. Nominations may be submitted by any recognized conservation or environmental protection organization.
- Include a nomination letter describing the nominee’s contributions and identifying whether the accomplishments were part of paid professional responsibilities, volunteer service, or both.
- The nominee should not participate in preparing the nomination and, if possible, should not be informed of the nomination before the award presentation.
- Submit the nomination to the National Scouting America Director of Conservation for review by the National Conservation Awards Committee.