Earn the National Outdoor Badges

SCOUTS TAKE HOME all sorts of souvenirs from camp-outs, including bug bites, sunburns, and something better: great memories. Now they also can take home awards that recognize their outdoor achievements. The new National Outdoor Badges and National Medal for Outdoor Achievement recognize Scouts who excel in outdoor activities.

What are the National Outdoor Badges? These five awards cover camping, hiking, aquatics, riding (horseback riding or cycling), and adventure.

How is adventure defined? Adventure includes backpacking treks; canoeing, rowing, sailing, and whitewater trips; climbing activities; and participation in national or nationally recognized high-adventure programs.

What are the requirements? They’re posted atscouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/Youth/Awards/NOA.aspx. For each badge, though, a Scout must complete the First Class rank, earn certain merit badges, and participate in activities that add up to a specified number of days, hours, or miles completed under the auspices of the BSA. For example, the camping award requires 25 days and nights of camping.

What are the devices, and how do they relate to the National Outdoor Badges? Much like Eagle Palms, gold and silver devices (small pins) represent additional achievement. For example, a Scout who has earned the Camping badge would receive a gold device for each additional 25 nights of camping and a silver device for each additional 100 nights of camping.

What is the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement? This challenging award recognizes Scouts who go beyond the requirements of the National Outdoor Badges.

What are the requirements for the medal? A Scout must complete three National Outdoor Badges (with specified devices), earn four outdoor merit badges, complete training in Wilderness First Aid, become a Leave No Trace Trainer, plan and lead at least two hiking, backpacking, aquatic, or riding outings, and either plan and lead an adventure activity or serve on camp staff.

Who can earn the National Outdoor Badges and National Medal for Outdoor Achievement? Any Boy Scout or Varsity Scout is eligible. There’s no adult award.

What recognition items do recipients receive? The Scout receives a pentagon-shaped pocket emblem for his first National Outdoor Badge, along with a smaller emblem representing the activity area. Additional emblems represent other activity areas. Devices are worn on these emblems.

Who approves completion of the awards? The Scoutmaster or coach signs the application, which is then submitted to the local Scout council service center for final approval.


9 Comments

  1. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUN TIME THAT A BOY SCOUT TAKE TO EARN EACH BADGE.
    OR THERE IS A TIME LIMIT TO EARN EACH BADGE

  2. The scout can earn the basic 5 sided patch with the sections on each side. Once completed the scout begins to collect the various pins as they work toward the medal. The medal requires extra training and leadership.

    We have a scout who has 700 miles of cycling and and over 100 hours of aquatic time, but is still earning the 100 camp nights.

  3. In Scouting Mag. it was announced that the award would be updated including a conservation segment. Does anyone know the new requirements and/or any other updates to the badge and medal ?

  4. My son went to both AP Hill and to Bechtel Ranch Jamborees. Do either or both of these count as attending a high-adventure base or specialty adventure program in earning the Adventure patch which is part of the National Outdoor Badges?

  5. I have a similar question to John (above). Does attending NOAC 2015, or attending a weeklong OA conclave in Puerto Rico (we are from NJ) qualify as attending a specialty adventure base?

  6. For the Camping Badge, are the 25 nights of camping in addition to the nights needed for the Camping MB? I know only 1 long-term resident camp is eligible for the Camping MB but do extra long-term camps count towards the Badge?

    • Rebecca, I believe nights camped at multiple resident camps do count towards the 25 nights for the original award, plus for each of the gold/silver devices.

      But for the original award, since the Camping MB requires 20 nights and and only six consecutive nights of those can be from a long-term resident camp, a Scout only needs five additional nights to meet the requirement for NOA-Camping. Those nights could be from another long-term resident camp.

  7. It has been a while since this page has been updated. The medal may still be available if your ScoutShop calls other shops.
    There are a very few left in inventory at shops.
    But, when I went to order one they had to call around. And someone came in not too much longer after me and the ScoutShop could not find another.

    The medal is still on National’s website, but has been discontinued.

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