New Outdoors Awards

Three new awards for recognizing scouts that really get outdoors are available this summer. Or, I guess you could say it's seven awards.

The National Outdoor Badges recognize a scout's expertise and participation in five categories: Camping, Hiking, Aquatics, Riding, and Adventure. A scout earns the core patch and a segment, then can add the other four segments over time or concentrate on a single category and add gold and silver devices for additional participation.

When a scout accomplishes enough of the Outdoor Badges and wants to push himself a little more, he can earn the National Outdoor Achievement award. Recognition for this award is a medal. I like the requirements of Wilderness First Aid and Leave No Trace training, since that knowledge is vital for the other planning and leading requirements.

Finally, the unit can earn a streamer for its flag by completing the National Outdoor Challenge. The requirements are pretty substantial, requiring summer camp, merit badges, Leave No Trace program, and interaction with Webelos.

I don't know is where this blob of patches, segments, and pins is supposed to go. I suppose it's centered on the right pocket, but I'm pretty sure a plastic patch holder isn't going to cut it. Lots of troops already have segmented patch systems from summer camp on their right pockets - we do anyway.

Scout On