Knot Recognition Program

Religious Emblem - Youth

Most of the major religious bodies in the United States have programs to recognize adult volunteers who demonstrate faith, observe their creeds or principles, and give service. 

Religious Emblem - Adult

Most of the major religious bodies in the United States have programs to recognize adult volunteers who demonstrate faith, observe their creeds or principles, and give service. 

Medal of Merit

Awarded to youth members or adult leaders who performed an act of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.

Heroism Award

Honors youth members or adult leaders who demonstrate “heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at minimal personal risk.” 

Honor Medal Award

Honors youth members or adult leaders who demonstrate “heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at considerable or extreme personal risk.”

Den Leader Training Award

This award recognizes den leaders who have completed training, tenure, and performance requirements.

Scouter’s Training Award

This award can be presented to registered adult leaders who have two years’ tenure in the pack and have completed position-specific training and other performance requirements designed to encourage and recognize those who give of their resources to make the pack successful.

Scouter's Key

This award is for adult leaders with three years’ tenure — including at least two years as a unit leader — who have completed training and other performance requirements.

Unit Leader Award of Merit

Encourages units to be strong and viable by attaining certain benchmarks characteristic of strong units; seven requirements must be met with nomination by the top youth leader if for a troop, crew, or ship; nomination is certified by the unit commissioner.

Philmont Training Center Masters Track Award

This award promotes educational opportunities by returning to Philmont Training Center over a number of years, growing through advanced-level training, and then taking knowledge back to units, districts, councils, council clusters, and national and international venues.

Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service

This award recognizes commissioners who provide exemplary unit service, focusing on unit performance as measured through the use of the current Scouting America Unit Service Plan and Commissioner Tools.

Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

This award recognizes commissioners who meet benchmarks in their tenure, with at least five years of service.

Doctorate of Commissioner Science Award

This award recognizes completion of a standardized program leading to the completion of a thesis or project and the award of the Doctorate of Commissioner Science from a College of Commissioner Science.

Venturing Leadership Award

This award recognizes those who go above and beyond for the Venturing program; this award honors youth and adults on the council, regional, and national level.

Alumni Award

This award recognizes registered Scouters who help unregistered alumni rejoin the program. 

Professional Circle Award

This award recognizes non-volunteers after completing training courses and working for Scouting America for at least four years.

William D. Boyce Award

This award recognizes adults who establish a new unit with a chartered organization. 

District Award of Merit

This is the highest honor a local district can bestow upon a volunteer leader for service in Scouting.

Silver Beaver Award

This award recognizes registered Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a council.

Silver Antelope Award

This award recognizes registered Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a service territory.

Silver Buffalo Award

This award recognizes registered Scouters and others of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service at the national level.

Silver World Award

This award recognizes world citizens who serve their nation’s youth outside of Scouting America programs.

International Scouter's Award

This award cheers on leaders who promote the Scouting program worldwide. 

Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award

This award is presented at the biennial National Order of the Arrow Conference for service beyond the local lodge level. Fewer than 1,200 of these awards have been given since 1940.

Community Organization Award

This award is used by secular, national, community organizations to recognize their members for voluntary service and achievement.

James West Fellowship Award

This award honors donors who contribute an additional one-time contribution of $1,000 or more to a council endowment fund.

George Meany Award

This award recognizes labor union members who have been unusually effective in giving leadership to youth. 

Scouting Service Award

This award recognizes adult volunteers who have earned one of five different awards, each celebrating a leader's dedication to a special segment of Scouting:

• Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award

• ¡Scouting…Vale la Pena! Service Award

• Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award

• American Indian Scouting Association Grey Wolf Award

• Special Needs Scouting Service Award