National Outdoor Badges Award
This Award is meant for Scouts BSA.
The six National Outdoor Badges recognize a Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer who demonstrates both knowledge and experience in camping, hiking, aquatics, riding, conservation, and adventure. Scouts earning the National Outdoor Badges have demonstrated that they are knowledgeable, safe, and comfortable in the outdoor activity covered by the badge. Outdoor activities completed as part of any BSA program (Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouting, Venturing, or Exploring) may be used to satisfy the requirements of the National Outdoor Awards so long as conducted as part of an approved unit, district, or council program. This is referred to as "under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America" in the requirements.
When the first badge is earned, the scout receives the center patch and earned segment. Additional segments are added as the badges are earned.
The patch scheme is considered a temporary patch, so it can be displayed centered on the right pocket, or on a jacket, blanket, or other patch display.
These awards replace the individual National Camping award.
These sheets can help scouts keep track of their nights, miles, hours, and activities: Camping, Hiking, Aquatics, Riding, Conservation, Adventure.
National Outdoor Badges may be earned in the following areas:
Camping: A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer earns the National Outdoor Badge for Camping by completing these requirements:
- Earn the Scouts BSA First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Complete the Camping merit badge requirements.
- Complete the requirements for two of the following three: Cooking merit badge or Ranger Cooking core, First Aid merit badge or Ranger First Aid core, Pioneering merit badge.
- Complete 25 days and nights of camping - including six consecutive days (five nights) of camping (Sea Scouts may be on a boat), approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America - including nights camped as part of requirements 1 through 3 above. Youth must complete six consecutive days (five nights) of the 25 nights at a BSA accredited resident camp.
A gold device is earned for each additional 25 nights of camping. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 nights of camping. The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number of nights camping.
Hiking: A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer earns the National Outdoor Badge for Hiking by completing these requirements:
- Earn the Scouts BSA First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Complete requirements for one of the following: the Hiking merit badge, Backpacking merit badge, or Venturing Ranger Backpacking elective.
- Complete requirements for one of these: Orienteering merit badge, Geocaching merit badge, or Venturing Ranger Land Navigation core requirement.
- Complete 100 miles of hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including miles hiked as part of requirements 2 and 3.
A gold device is earned for each additional 50 miles hiked, backpacked, snowshoed, or skied. A silver device is earned for each additional 200 miles of hiking. The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number of miles hiked.
Aquatics: A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer earns the National Outdoor Badge for Aquatics by completing these requirements:
- Earn the Scouts BSA First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Complete requirements for the Swimming merit badge, and either the Lifesaving merit badge or Venturing Ranger Lifesaver elective.
- Complete requirements for the Mile Swim BSA Award.
- Complete requirements for at least one of the following: Canoeing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Rowing, Scuba Diving, Small Boat Sailing, Water Sports, or Whitewater merit badges, or Ranger Award Fishing, Scuba or Watercraft electives. Complete at least 25 hours of on-the-water time, applying the skills that you learned in the merit badge or Ranger elective.
- Complete at least 50 hours of any combination of swimming, canoeing, fishing, fly-fishing, kayaking, rowing, scuba, small-boat sailing, stand up paddleboarding, water sports, or whitewater activity under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including time spent in requirements 2 through 4.
A gold device is earned for each additional 25 hours of aquatics activity listed in requirement 5. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 hours of aquatics activity. The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number of hours of aquatic activity.
Conservation: A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer earns the National Outdoor Badge for Conservation by completing these requirements:
- Earn the Scouts BSA First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Demonstrate the safe use of five of the following conservation tools: pick or pickax; shovel or spade; ax; bow saw; cross-cut saw; prybar; sledge hammer; loppers or shears; fire rake or McLeod; and/or Pulaski. Discuss the ethical use of the tools you chose.
- Complete the requirements for the following:
- Environmental Science merit badge or Sustainability merit badge or both Venturing Ranger Conservation core and Ecology elective
- Soil and Water Conservation merit badge
- One of the following merit badges: Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, or Mammal Study
- Complete 25 hours of conservation work under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America, including hours worked as part of requirements 1 through 3.
A gold device is earned for each additional 25 hours of conservation work. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 hours of conservation work (for example, the first silver device is earned at 125 total hours of conservation work). Scouts may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number of hours of conservation work.
Riding: A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer earns the National Outdoor Badge for Riding by completing these requirements:
- Earn the Scouts BSA First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Complete requirements for at least one of the following:
- Cycling merit badge or Ranger Cycling/Mountain Biking elective, and 100 miles of cycling
- Horsemanship merit badge or Ranger Equestrian elective, and 20 miles of horseback riding.
- Motorboating merit badge or Ranger Watercraft elective, and 100 miles of motor boating.
- Skating merit badge or Ranger Winter Sports elective, and 20 miles of skating.
- Complete 200 miles of riding activities, including cycling, stock riding, skating, motor boating, mountain boarding, snowmobiling, (including ATV or PWC riding at an approved council program), under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including the miles in requirement 2.
A gold device is earned for each additional 100 miles of riding. A silver device is earned for each additional 400 miles of riding. The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number of miles of riding.
Adventure: A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer earns the National Outdoor Badge for Adventure by completing these requirements:
- Earn the Scouts BSA First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Complete requirements for one of the following: Wilderness Survival, Search and Rescue, or Emergency Preparedness merit badges or Ranger Wilderness Survival core, Ranger Emergency Preparedness core, or Ranger First Aid elective.
- Complete 10 of any combination or repetition of the following adventure activities under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America:
- A backpacking trip lasting three or more days and covering more than 20 miles without food resupply.
- A canoeing, rowing, or sailing trip lasting three or more days and covering more than 50 miles without food resupply.
- A whitewater trip lasting two or more days and covering more than 20 miles without food resupply.
- A climbing activity on open rock, following Climb On Safely principles, that includes camping overnight.
- Earn the National Historic Trails Award
- Earn the 50-Miler Award
- Attend any national high-adventure base or any nationally recognized local high-adventure or specialty-adventure program.
Items 3a-g may be repeated as desired. A single activity that satisfies multiple items in 3a-g may be counted as separate activities at the discretion of the unit leader. Similarly, a single activity that doubles an item in 3a-d may be counted as two activities at the discretion of the unit leader. A gold device is earned for each additional five activities. A silver device is earned for each additional 20 activities. The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number of activities.
The unit leader completes the National Outdoor Badges application and submits it to the local council service center.
Click one to vote:
Comments:
Jul 21, 2015 - Chris Musial
Question: I haven't found any explicit
age requirements for these awards. My son
has been dual registered in Boy Scouts
and Ventures for several years; he turns
18 in October. Will be still be able to
work on these awards as a Venture once he
turns 18?
Jul 21, 2015 - Scouter Paul
@Chris - Yes, he can earn them as a Venturer until he turns 21.
Aug 04, 2015 - Emke Groenewald
Question: For the riding award, we use the Cycling MB (150 miles) but it also asks for an
extra 100 miles under #2a. Would that be extra on top of the Cycling MB's 150 miles? If
you look at #3 it asks for 200 miles including #2a. But if the 100 miles is extra, then 2a is
already at 250 miles. A bit confusing.
Aug 04, 2015 - Scouter Paul
@Emke - Yes, the 100 miles is in addition to those required by the
cycling merit badge. The requirement here says to earn the merit
badge AND 100 miles.
Requirement #3 says that the 200 miles total includes the 100 miles in the previous requirement. That is consistent with the following text about another device being earned for each additional 100 miles.
Requirement #3 says that the 200 miles total includes the 100 miles in the previous requirement. That is consistent with the following text about another device being earned for each additional 100 miles.
Aug 19, 2015 - Randi
If someone earns the camping outdoor award on 1/10/15, do the
nights camping start from there? My son earned the next 25 nights
before he earned the camping outdoor award, do they still count?
Thanks!
Aug 21, 2015 - Zachary
The requirement for the Camping says to include at least one week long camp, can I use
more then one? Thanks.
Aug 21, 2015 - Terry
For the camping award, if a boy works at a summer camp, do those nights count as camping nights? I would think so (since summer camp nights count when they are campers) but wanted to make sure.
Aug 22, 2015 - Scout mom
Do the additional miles need to be at Boy Scout Activities or can they be at other activities?
Aug 24, 2015 - Scouter Joe
@Randi Personally I would count them. Though use your best judgement.
@Zachary Yes! This awards is not written as the Camping Merit Badge
@Terry I would count them, as long as it was in a tent.. which most are, I'm not sure I could count nights spent in a cabin ha ha!
@Scout Mom They can be done at other activities. Though I would advised keeping a well documented journal of all miles obtained.
@Zachary Yes! This awards is not written as the Camping Merit Badge
@Terry I would count them, as long as it was in a tent.. which most are, I'm not sure I could count nights spent in a cabin ha ha!
@Scout Mom They can be done at other activities. Though I would advised keeping a well documented journal of all miles obtained.
Nov 06, 2015 - Sherrie Nielsen
How does a female in a Venturing Crew earn the Camping Merit Badge for the Camping Award?
Nov 17, 2015 - Quickest1
The commentators from August seem to be missing the section of
each badge that refers to "under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of
America." See BryanOnScouting Blog, �Interpreting �under the
auspices� in National Outdoor Awards requirements�, March 13,
2014. In regards to the Camping MB, it doesn't say earn it, it
says complete the requirements. FYI requirements were updated on
11/13/15.
Mar 01, 2016 - Ralph
How are miles calculated for the skating portion of the riding outdoor badge? My son is a competitive figure skater and skates now 5 - 8 hours / week. IS it a simple calculation of the rink's diameter x the number of times around?
Mar 01, 2016 - Scouter Paul
@Ralph - Figure skaters don't just do laps, so it seems it would
be pretty difficult to determine the miles skated when skating
various figures all around a rink for a few hours. I guess it
would need to be estimated.
Please review this page, especially Eric
Hiser's comments since his is the BSA National view.
Your son's
competitive practice and performance skating should not count
for this BSA award because it is not a scouting activity and is
not focused on earning this award.
Mar 31, 2016 - Eileen
I believe that the Riding requirement for 2a is incorrectly
written. The cycling merit badge requires 150 miles, while the
Ranger riding elective requires 210 miles for biking or 120
miles for mountain biking.
Scouter Paul, replying to Emke above, is only counting the 100 miles portion of 2a and NOT counting those required to earn the merit badge or elective.
To be consistent with the other segments, I don't think the additional 100 miles of 2a should be listed. I agree with Emke - Requirement #3 would be redundant if 2a really requires this extra 100 miles. If it is not included, then Requirement #3 makes sense to bring the total miles to 200.
Who do I contact at BSA to report/clarify this?
Scouter Paul, replying to Emke above, is only counting the 100 miles portion of 2a and NOT counting those required to earn the merit badge or elective.
To be consistent with the other segments, I don't think the additional 100 miles of 2a should be listed. I agree with Emke - Requirement #3 would be redundant if 2a really requires this extra 100 miles. If it is not included, then Requirement #3 makes sense to bring the total miles to 200.
Who do I contact at BSA to report/clarify this?
May 20, 2016 - Deaf Scouter
Eileen.
Try Bryan Wendell at Bryan on Scouting for Tuesday Talks. Bryan asks National Council experts to clarify these kinds of questions.
Try Bryan Wendell at Bryan on Scouting for Tuesday Talks. Bryan asks National Council experts to clarify these kinds of questions.
Jun 19, 2016 - rick scouter
can you use stuff like raking leaves at a state park and cleaning up ab oat lunch for towards 25 hours of conservation
Jun 20, 2016 - Scouter Paul
@rick - Raking leafs doesn't strike me as conservation work. If
the area around your boat launch has become a garbage dump and the
scouts do a significant clean-up to make the location more usable,
then that sounds like conservation work.
Oct 21, 2016 - NHMom
What "programs" fulfill the requirements of part 3g of the Adventure badge? Do High-adventure
programs like challenge events and shotgun shell reloading and shooting offered at Philmont count
individually? Or do all of those backcountry programs (except climbing/rappelling) that cannot be
offered on a normal camp out really get lumped into only one credit?
Oct 21, 2016 - Scouter Paul
@NHMom - Comparing 3g to 3a-f, each trek would count as 1
activity.
The explanatory paragraph at the end allows unit leaders to double dip (or more) if they want. A trek at Philmont where the scout backpacks, rock climbs, and earns his 50 Miler, could conceivably be counted for 3a, d, f, and g.
The explanatory paragraph at the end allows unit leaders to double dip (or more) if they want. A trek at Philmont where the scout backpacks, rock climbs, and earns his 50 Miler, could conceivably be counted for 3a, d, f, and g.
Mar 07, 2017 - Tim
Requirement #4 in Aquatics reads "Earn at least one of the
following: Canoeing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Rowing,
Scuba Diving, Small Boat Sailing, Water Sports, or Whitewater
merit badges, or Ranger Award Fishing, Scuba or Watercraft
electives. Complete at least 25 hours of on-the-water time,
applying the skills that you learned in the merit badge or
Ranger elective."
My question is does the 25 hours apply to each merit badge or can a boy earn a couple of the merit badges and their combined hours equal 25 hours..?
A boy in our Troop has earned the Canoeing, Fishing and Kayaking merit badges and has a total of 35+ hours on-the-water. The Advancement Chair states that he needs 25 hours in Canoeing, or 25 in Fishing or 25 in Kayaking.
My question is does the 25 hours apply to each merit badge or can a boy earn a couple of the merit badges and their combined hours equal 25 hours..?
A boy in our Troop has earned the Canoeing, Fishing and Kayaking merit badges and has a total of 35+ hours on-the-water. The Advancement Chair states that he needs 25 hours in Canoeing, or 25 in Fishing or 25 in Kayaking.
Mar 07, 2017 - Scouter Paul
@Tim - Since another device can be earned for each additional 25
hours of accumulated aquatic activity, I'd say that initial 25
hours should also be accumulative, not a specific activity. Req
#5 says 50 hours of any combination, so that second part of Req #4
seems redundant.
By the way, it's not really the advancement chair's job to decide who earns what - s/he should make sure things are tracked, turned in, and recognized.
By the way, it's not really the advancement chair's job to decide who earns what - s/he should make sure things are tracked, turned in, and recognized.
May 10, 2017 - NHmom
Would NYLT or Wilderness First Aid training count as a "specialty-adventure program" for requirement 3g of the Adventure badge?
May 10, 2017 - Scouter Paul
@NHmom - No, those are training programs.
Jun 08, 2017 - Eva
Presuming the device has been earned in one or more areas and the Scouter is now tracking
hours / miles for a gold or silver device, do these hours / miles need to be done "under the
auspices of Scouting..."? In other words, can a Scouter who has already completed the
merit badges and hours requirement for Aquatics use hours outside of Scouting to earn a
gold device.?
Jun 08, 2017 - Scouter Paul
@Eva - No, the requirement specifics do not change for working on
a gold device.
Oct 02, 2018 - Stephen
When a scout reaches 125 camping nights, does he receive a gold
device and a silver device, or just a silver device?
Oct 02, 2018 - Scouter Paul
@Stephen - The scout would get a patch for the first 25, then a
gold at 50, a gold at 75, a gold at 100, then a silver at 125.
Giving both a silver and a gold at 125 would just cost $$$.
Trying to be thrifty, for even higher counts, I would ask the scout to just wear their current devices rather than purchasing redundant golds that would not actually be worn. For example, the silver and 3 golds already owned to show 200.
If the scout really wanted to, 4 gold devices could be worn to signify the 125, according to the statement in the requirements - "Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number".
Trying to be thrifty, for even higher counts, I would ask the scout to just wear their current devices rather than purchasing redundant golds that would not actually be worn. For example, the silver and 3 golds already owned to show 200.
If the scout really wanted to, 4 gold devices could be worn to signify the 125, according to the statement in the requirements - "Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling the current number".
Nov 14, 2018 - Christie
Are female Venturers able to earn the NOAs for camping and
conservation? My question comes from two points. First, all of
the other NOA badges have requirements to EITHER complete MB
requirements OR Venturing ranger requirements. Camping and
Conservation are the only two that only list MBs for completing
the award. Point two, boy scouts “earn” MBs just like they
“earn” their ranks. But the requirements for each NOA badges
simply say “complete the requirements” for XX merit badge. Does
this mean a female Venturer who cannot earn a MB can still earn
by NOA by “completing the requirements” for the specified MBs?
Nov 14, 2018 - Scouter Paul
@Christie - Yes! to both your questions.
Scout On!
Scout On!
Apr 08, 2021 - Carl
If a Scout serves as a lifeguard at BSA approved camps, do those hours count towards the Aquatic NOA award requirement 5?
Mar 04, 2022 - Wayne H Trout
I am serving as my NOA Coordinator for two troops. My question is about
the Conservation Award requirement #2. Demonstrate the safe use of five
tools and explain their ethical use. What does the "ethical use" aspect
mean? I have not been able to find anyone who can explain it. Any
direction on this would be appreciated.
Mar 06, 2022 - Scouter Paul
@Wayne - Good question, but unfortunately not document anywhere that I am
aware of. I believe it is intended to ensure there is a thought about
how to appropriately use these tools with care to minimize damage to the
environment. For example, cutting the minimum living flora that needs to
be removed for a trail corridor. Or, not indiscriminately digging and
disrupting the ground. It would be nice to have a specific statement,
but I've not found one yet.
Jan 09, 2023 - David S
Just a note that the medal looks like it has left the scoutshop
listing. I know that my shop can't find any more. The patches are still
available.
I would hate for a kid to do the extra stuff for the medal and there
not to be any. Given my son put off finishing the last MB he needed
until the last minute (surprise) he quite likely was the last one in
the country to get the medal
Also, the person who wrote the program was interviewed by
BrianOnScouting where he clarified that ALL activities during ANY part
of scouting count. That includes Cub, Scout, and Explorers/Venturing.
It was a bit of a pain to go back and figure out what my son and I had
done during Cubs, but it helped his progress.
Also helping was the summer he was on staff at our Council's camp and I
convinced him to stay in a tent. The two summers after that he was too
social and went into the cabins.
For @Wayne I'd suggest the answer is in the LNT principles. As I drove
my son 5 hours to the LNTT session needed for the medal, I also did the
LNTT.
Jun 19, 2024 - Charles S
Looking at the Aquatics award wording relative to Sea Base adventures - I noticed it mentions specifically "small-
boat sailing", which many of the boats associated with Sea Base are not. So, if one took the large catamaran, what
hours actually would count? The Scouts are actively sailing (and Sea Scouts are nearly always sailing something
other than a small boat), learning.
Would the boat need to qualify relative to this wording in the small-boat sailing merit badge: "While no specific sail
plan is recommended, it is suggested that the craft be smaller than 20 feet. The boat must be capsizable and have
the capability of sailing to windward."
Would the in-water snorkeling and scuba-diving and other in-water activities only count in this case?
Jun 19, 2024 - Scouter Paul
@Charles - 'Small Boat Sailing' is defined in the Small Boat Sailing
merit badge as you pointed out. If the 'large catamaran' meets the
definition, and can do all the items in requirement #6 of the merit
badge, then it could be used.
Jun 20, 2024 - Charles S
Sailing to windward is a given. However, capsizing a larger multi-hull vessel is a different beast than a
monohull. One can complete req 6, but one could not ever get this vessel righted! Once the mast hits
the water, it isn't coming back up (but there should be a procedure for what to do in the unlikely event
of a capsizing). I've seen many discussions about using all the time onboard at Sea Base toward the
aquatics award, but the "small-boat" portion seems to be forgotten. I think the spirit is being pushed.
Not all adventures use 40' or larger boats (kayaks instead, or truly small craft). But there is a lot of
active sailing and operation on the vessels when you are on duty, and I think that should count. I
appreciate the perspective!
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