Adult Awards and Recognition

Page in Development: (Last updated 3/30/2012)

Northeast Iowa Council Recognition Awards

Annual Awards presented to Scouters by the Northeast Iowa Council (typically these awards are presented at the annual "Scouter Appreciation Dinner")

  • Northeast Iowa Council Scoutmaster's Honor Roll - 
  • Scouting Spirit Award -  Available for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts & Venturing.  Each unit may recognize one deserving adult leader each year for this award. The recipient of the award may be selected by the youth of the unit, the adult leader committee or the chartering organization. 
  • Cub Scouter of the Year -  One per district.
  • Boy Scouter of the Year -  One per district.
  • Jeanne Burkart Memorial Scouter Award - Presented annually in memory of Jeanne Burkart, a long-time scouter in the Northeast Iowa Council, to a registered scouter that has provided exceptional service to scouting in a role often "behind the scenes" or in an anonymous fashion to his/her unit, district or council.
  • District Award of Merit - Available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level. The award is made available annually on the basis of 1 for each 25 traditional units or fraction thereof in each district. The district need not present all the awards to which it is entitled each year.
  • Silver Beaver Award - Introduced in 1931 as a council level Distinguished Service Award of the Boy Scouts of America.  The Silver Beaver Award is the highest recognition that a council can confer on a volunteer. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council.

Other Council Level Awards & Recognitions Available that may be presented on an "as needed" basis at the Scouter Recognition Dinner or other appropriate function.

  • James E. West Fellowship Award - (application to come) James E. West served as the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America for over 30 years. The West Fellowship award is available for gifts of $1,000 or more to a council endowment fund. The gift must be in addition to -and not replace or diminish - the donor's annual Friends of Scouting support. This award may be presented at the Scouter Recognition Dinner or other appropriate council event. 
  • William H. Spurgeon Award - Developed in 1971, this award is the highest recognition for individuals and organizations contributing significant leadership to the Exploring program. This award may be presented at the Scouter Recognition Dinner or other appropriate council event.
  • North Star Award - Awarded to non-Scouters by Councils, areas, regions, and national to recognize individuals for significant contributions such as contributing land for a new service center or for the CPA who has served the council for years. This award is on par with the Silver Beaver which recognizes registered Scouters for their distinguished service to Scouting.  This award would be presented at an appropriate council event or at a community "Distinguished Citizen Awards" program.
  • Distinguished Commissioner Service Award - This award would be presented at a District Court of Honor or District Roundtable or Council Recognition dinner, dependant on the nature of the award being presented whether it be to a Unit or District level Commissioner or a Council Commissioner.
  • George Meany Award - In recognition of their contributions to America's future, the AFL-CIO Executive Council established the George Meany Award. It recognizes union members—men and women—who have made a significant contribution to the youth of their communities by volunteering in the programs of the BSA. The award is named for the AFL-CIO's first president, who gave strong support to Scouting over the years. It is recommended that this award be presented at a council level recognition event or at an appropriate local union member's recognition event.
  • Heroism Medal Award (youth or adult) - Presented to Scouts and Scouters that have saved a life at little or no personal risk. It is recommended that this award be presented at a council level recognition event or at an appropriate community recognition event.
  • Honor Medal Award (youth or adult) - Presented to Scouts and Scouters shown courage in attempting to save a life with personal risk. This award has been presented posthumously to Scouts who have died while attempting to save the life of another. In very exceptional cases the award is presented with crossed gold palms to Scouts and Scouters who have attempted to save a life at great personal risk demonstrating exceptional heroism. It is recommended that this award be presented at a council level recognition event or at an appropriate community recognition event.

Unit Leader Awards

These Awards are typically presented at the unit level.  A Pack Court of Honor such as the Annual "Blue & Gold" Banquet for Cub Scouts, a Boy Scout Troop Court of Honor, or a Venturing Crew Court of Honor. OR depending on the award to be given, a unit's Chartering Organization may wish to present the award at their appropriate recognition event.

Cub Scout Leader Awards

Boy Scout Leader Awards

Venturing Leader Awards

Additional Recognitions and Awards

  • Asian American Spirit of Scouting Award - Information to come...
  • Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award - Information to come...
  • Spirit of the Eagle Award - The Boy Scouts of America has created the Spirit of the Eagle Award as an honorary, posthumous special recognition for a registered youth member who has lost his or her life in an accident or through illness.
  • Silver Antelope Award - The Boy Scouts of America, acting through the National Court of Honor, may award the Silver Antelope to registered Scouters of exceptional character in the Central Region for distinguished service to youth. Nominations are made annually by the Central Region Executive Committee based upon recommendations by the Volunteer Recognitions Committee.
  • Silver Buffalo Award - Created in 1925, the Silver Buffalo is bestowed upon those who give truly noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth. This award, Scouting’s highest commendation, recognizes the invaluable contributions that outstanding American men and women render to youth. The service must be national in character and may or may not be directly connected with the BSA.
  • Community Organization Service Award - Information to come...
  • International Scouter Award - Information to come...
  • Religious Awards - Information to come...
  • Vale la Pena Scouting Service Award - Recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for Hispanic/Latino youth.
  • Whitney Young Jr. Award - Recognizes outstanding services by an adult individual or organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds—this is in fulfillment of Whitney Young’s dream of justice and equality for all.
  • William D. Boyce New Unit Organizer Award - Presented to recognize volunteers who organize one or more traditional Scouting units. The award may be worn on the adult uniform. The award is a square knot placed over the three colors representing the three phases of the BSA program - Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. A volunteer can earn the knot by organizing one traditional unit, and a program device can be earned for up to three additional units organized. The Award may be presented at a District Awards function, a Unit Level Court of Honor or at an appropriate function of the Chartering Organization.
  • Wood's Services Award - This award recognizes outstanding contributions to BSA members who have disabilities. Woods Services, founded in 1913 as The Woods Schools for Exceptional Children, is a nationally recognized leader in services for people with developmental disabilities, brain injury, and mental health diagnoses, serving 1,000 individuals annually.

Recognized Youth Awards that Adults can Wear

(These awards are approved for Adults to wear.. typically as a "knot" patch above the left breast pocket)

  • Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award - 
  • Boy Scout Eagle Scout Award - 
  • Venturing Ranger Award - 
  • Veturing Silver Award - 
  • Venturing SeaScout Quartermaster Award - 
  • Venturing Leadership Award -
  • William T. Hornaday Award -