The Awards
The William T. Hornaday Awards are presented for distinguished service in natural resource conservation. The award is given in one of seven forms.
- The local council may present the William T. Hornaday unit certificate for a conservation project by a pack, troop, team, or crew.
- The council may award the Hornaday badge to individual Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers for outstanding service in conservation.
- The council may award the Hornaday gold badge to adult Scouters who have given significant leadership to conservation at a council or district level.
All other Hornaday Awards are conferred by the National Council:
- Scouts and Venturers may apply for the bronze and silver medals.
- Adult Scouters may be nominated for the gold medal.
- Organizations unaffiliated with Scouting may be nominated for the gold certificate.
Hornaday Award Administered by Awarded to Type of Award How to Qualify Maximum
Awards/YearRequirements Unit award Council Pack, troop, team, crew Certificate Be nominated or apply Unlimited Complete one project; 60% of unit contributes Badge Council Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer Badge and certificate Apply Unlimited Complete advancement requirements; complete one substantial project Bronze medal National Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer Medal, certificate, and square knot Apply Unlimited Complete advancement requirements; complete three bronze substantial projects, each from a different project category Silver medal National Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer Medal, certificate, and square knot Apply Unlimited Complete advancement requirements; complete four silver substantial projects, each from a different project category Gold badge Council Adult Scouter Badge Be nominated Unlimited Adult Scouter; leadership to conservation at council or district level for at least three years Gold medal National Adult Scouter Medal, certificate, and square knot Be nominated Six Adult Scouter; leadership to conservation at national or regional level over a lifetime (at least 20 years) Gold certificate National Corporation or organization Certificate Be nominated Six Outstanding contribution to youth conservation education for at least three years William T. Hornaday Unit Award
A Hornaday unit certificate, No. 21-110, is awarded to a pack, troop, team, or crew when that unit plans and carries out at least one local environmental/conservation project. At least 60 percent of the registered unit members must participate. These units may be nominated, or they may apply to their BSA local council for recognition.
William T. Hornaday Badge
The Hornaday badge is awarded, upon approval of the local council, to a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer for outstanding service to conservation and environmental improvement.
The Requirements
- Earn First Class rank (Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts only).
- Plan, lead, and carry out at least one project from one of the following categories:
- Energy conservation
- Soil and water conservation
- Fish and wildlife management
- Forestry and range management
- Air and water pollution control
- Resource recovery (recycling)
- Hazardous material disposal and management
- Invasive species control
- Complete the requirements for any three merit badges listed in bold type on the application, plus any other two listed there.
Venturers must attach a statement from their Advisor stating that ecology and plant and wildlife requirements for the Ranger Award have been satisfied.
Applicants meeting all requirements receive a certificate, No. 21-111, and the William T. Hornaday badge.
William T. Hornaday Bronze or Silver Medal
These individual awards are granted by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer for exceptional and distinguished service to conservation and environmental improvement.
The Requirements
- Earn First Class rank (Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts only).
- For the bronze medal: Plan, lead, and carry out three projects from three separate categories listed below. For the silver medal: Plan, lead, and carry out four projects from four separate categories.
All projects are to be planned and carried out in a way that encourages others to understand and appreciate sound conservation and environmental practices. Exacting standards of project documentation must be met. (See "How Applications Are Judged")
- Energy conservation
- Soil and water conservation
- Fish and wildlife management
- Forestry and range management
- Air and water pollution control
- Resource recovery (recycling)
- Hazardous material disposal and management
- Invasive species control
- Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts: Earn the Environmental Science merit badge. For the bronze medal, earn at least three more merit badges listed in bold type on the application, plus any two other merit badges listed there. For the silver medal, earn all six merit badges in bold and any other three listed on the application.
Venturers must complete the ecology and plant and wildlife requirements for the Venturing Ranger Award and submit project documentation as specified. (See "How Applications Are Judged")
The silver medal, the most distinguished in Scouting for exceptional conservation service, will be awarded for clearly outstanding efforts in planning, leadership, execution of plans, involvement of others, and opportunities taken to help others learn about natural resource conservation and environmental improvement. The distinction between the bronze and silver medals is based primarily on the number and quality of the projects and their impact on the local community. The William T. Hornaday Awards Committee may award a bronze medal if the application does not meet the standard of exceptional service required for the silver medal. There is no limit on the number of bronze medals that may be awarded each year. Both awards include the medal (bronze or silver), a certificate, and an embroidered square knot.
William T. Hornaday Gold Badge
The gold badge is by nomination only and is awarded by the local council to an adult Scouter. The nominee should have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to the education of youth on a council or district level for significant conservation efforts for a period of at least three years. Nominations are made to the local council. The award includes the gold badge.
William T. Hornaday Gold Medal
The gold medal is by nomination only and is awarded to an adult Scouter. It recognizes unusual and distinguished service in natural resource conservation and environmental improvement at the regional, national, or international level. Nominations must be approved by the Hornaday Awards Committee and by the Conservation Committee of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America. Any recognized conservation/environmental organization may submit a nomination. The award includes the gold medal, a certificate, and an embroidered square knot.
William T. Hornaday Gold Certificate
This award is by nomination only and is granted to an individual, corporation, or organization not affiliated with Scouting. The nominee should 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 may be nominated by any recognized conservation/environmental organization. Up to six awards may be granted annually. Each nomination must be approved by the Hornaday Awards Committee and by the Conservation Committee of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, in consultation with the Chief Scout Executive.
Awards Presentation
The Conservation Service of the Boy Scouts of America supplies certificates, medals, and badges at no charge to local councils. Certificates are printed with the recipient's name.
Information packages containing a history of the award and pictures of Dr. Hornaday are available from the national office upon request. Councils are encouraged to maximize press coverage on the occasion of the award presentation—this distinguished honor reflects favorably on the Scouting program.
