The Hornaday Awards are a series of seven conservation awards presented by the Boy Scouts of America to recognize outstanding efforts in natural resource conservation and environmental protection. There are three council-level awards (Badge, Gold Badge, Unit Certificate) and four national-level awards (Bronze Medal, Silver Medal, Gold Medal, Gold Certificate) that can be earned by youths and adults for completing conservation-focused merit badges, projects, and service. The document provides details on the requirements and application processes for each of the Hornaday Awards.

1. The Hornaday Awards
“Think of it as an Olympic Medal
bestowed by the Earth.”
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/HornadayAwards.aspx

2. Brian Seeton
1993-1997 Seven Ranges, Ecology Staff/Director
1999-2006 Northern Tier, OA Voyage Staff/Director
2003 Philmont, Volunteer Philbreak Staff
2008 OA Arrowcorps5 BTNF Operations Chief
2011 OA Summitcorps Operations Chief
Area/Council Conservation Committee
bseeton@gmail.com

3. Course Objectives
Learn brief history of the William T.
Hornaday Awards.
Become familiar with each of the seven
Hornaday Awards.
Become familiar on the requirements of a
Hornaday Award adviser.
See a way a Scout can work towards a
Hornaday Silver Medal.

4. BSA Conservation Awards
National Local (Buckeye Council)
• William T. Hornaday Awards • Environmental
(C, B, V, A)
•Paul Bunyan Woodsman Award
Interpreter’s Strip
(B, A) •John Burroughs Award
•World Conservation Award (C, •Hutch’s Trail Award
B)
• Leave No Trace Awareness
Award (C, B, A)
•National Outdoor Badges for
Hiking, Aquatics, Riding, and
Adventure (B, V, A)
•Conservation Good Turn Award
(C, B)
•Keep America Beautiful
Hometown USA Award (B)
•Ranger Award (V)

5. Buckeye Council’s
Conservation Emphasis
Brave (Bronze) Fellow (Gold) Knight (Silver)
Plant Life 50 75 100
Wildlife 30 40 55
Rocks and Minerals 10 20 35
Astronomy 10 20 25
Extra Points 60 80 100
Total Points 160 240 315
Project 4 hours 6 hours 10 hours

6. William T. Hornaday
Credited with saving the American Bison from
extinction
Founded the National Zoological Park, and the
American Bison Society
Father of the “modern zoo”
‘accidental’ conservationist
Created the Wildlife Protection Medal. Later
adopted by the BSA and renamed to the
William T. Hornaday Medal after his death in
1938.
In 1938 FDR, and the NPS named a peak in
Yellowstone after him.

7. Hornaday Awards Background
The goal of this awards program is to encourage
and recognize truly outstanding efforts
undertaken by Scouting units, Scouts and
Venturers, adult Scouters, and other individuals,
corporations, and institutions that have
contributed significantly to natural resource
conservation and environmental protection.
Since 1917 only approximately 1,100 Hornaday
Medals have been awarded.

8. Hornaday Awards
Currently seven awards in all.
Three are awarded by the council.
The other four are administered and
awarded by the National BSA
Conservation Committee.

9. Council Awards
Badge
Gold Badge
Unit Certificate

10. Badge
Youth Award
Earn the required merit badges and complete one
Eagle Scout quality project from the suggested
categories. Apply for the award with the official
application.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hornaday-badge.pdf

11. Gold Badge
Adult
Granted by the local council to an adult Scouter.
Nominations are made to the local council. Central to
the selection process is the influence the nominee has
had on youth and educational programs emphasizing
sound stewardship of our nation’s natural resources and
environmental improvement during a period of at least
three years.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hornaday-g-bdg.pdf

12. Council Awards
Unit Certificate
As a unit complete one age
apropriate service project
out of the suggested
categories with at least
60% of the unit
participating. Apply with
the official application.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hornaday-award.pdf

13. National Awards
Bronze Medal
Silver Medal
Gold Medal
Gold Certificate

14. National Awards Gold Certificate
This award is by nomination only
and is granted to an individual,
corporation, or organization. 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.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hornaday-g-cer.pdf

15. Gold Medal
Adult
This award is by nomination only and is for an adult
Scouter or Venturing leader who has
rendered distinguished and unusual service to natural
resource conservation and environmen-
tal improvement over a sustained period (at least 20
years). Nominations are accepted from
any recognized conservation/environmental
protection organization. The nominee’s accomplish­
ments must be at a regional, national, or international
level. Up to six awarded a year nationally.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hornaday-g-med.pdf

16. Hornaday Youth Medals
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.

17. Bronze Medal
Youth
--A Scout must apply for the medal before his
18th birthday
--A Venturer must apply for the medal before
his/her 21st birthday.
--There are separate requirements for Venturers
an Scouts.
Scout Requirements: Earn the required merit
badges, and complete at least 3 Eagle Scout
quality projects in the suggested categories.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hornaday-medal.pdf

18. Silver Medal
Youth
Scout Requirements: Earn the
required merit badges, and
complete at least 4 Eagle Scout
quality projects in the suggested
categories
Only six awarded per year
nationally.

19. Medal Application
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/hor
naday-medal.pdf

20. Primary Merit Badges

21. Elective Merit Badges

22. Hornaday Project Caregories
Energy Conservation
Air and Water Pollution Control
Soil and Water Conservation
Resource Recovery (Recycling)
Fish and Wildlife Management
Hazardous Material Disposal and Mgmt.
Forestry and Range Management
Invasive Species Control

23. Project Examples and
Explanations
http://www.meritbadge.net/phpbb/viewto
pic.php?f=9&t=3256
http://ezinearticles.com/?Choosing-a-
William-T-Hornaday-Conservation-Project-
for-Boy-Scouts&id=6454494

24. Advice for Earning Award
Make sure the youth and the advisor understand
the application process thoroughly and what is
expected from the projects
Start early in your Scouting career, a Silver
Medal takes a minimum of 18 months.
If you run out of time as a Scout, become a
Venturer, but remember there are separate
Venturing requirements and expectations.

25. Advice for Projects
 Documentation: before, during, after, outcomes, what
did you learn?
 Photos
 Was the project based on sound scientific reasoning?
 There is a leadership component.
 There is an education component (think press releases).
 You may use your Eagle Project as a Hornaday Project.
 Only one project may occur on a Scout property
 Go for the SILVER! If you aren’t awarded a silver, you
can fall back on a bronze.

26. Hornaday Advisor
 It could be you!
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/HornadayAwards1/adviser.aspx

27. Trail to Badge to Medal

28. Council Conservation
Committee
4th Tuesday of the month and council office,
7:00pm.
We are currently new and growing, and looking
for new members. Come join us!

29. Course Objectives
Learn brief history of the William T.
Hornaday Awards.
Become familiar with each of the seven
Hornaday Awards.
Become familiar on the requirements of a
Hornaday Award adviser.
See a way a Scout can work towards a
Hornaday Silver Medal.

30. http://db.tt/Z7RG6pF4
Brian Seeton
bseeton@gmail.com