Conservation Awards
Since 1910, conservation and environmental studies have been an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts have rendered distinguished public service by helping to conserve wildlife, energy, forests, soil, and water. Past generations of Scouts have been widely recognized for undertaking conservation Good Turn action projects in their local communities. Through environmental explorations, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts visit the outdoors and discover the natural world around them. Many natural resource careers are born in Scouting.
Since its first appearance in the 1955 printing of the Boy Scout Handbook, the Outdoor Code has reminded Scouts to be conservation-minded.
The Outdoor Code
As an American, I will do my best to—
Be clean in my outdoor manners.
Be careful with fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
Be conservation-minded.
For all current information on the awards below, please head to the National Scouting Outdoor Programs page for Conservation and Environment
Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor principles that help guide our behavior towards the Outdoor Code, and is supported by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. There are multiple levels of training available, that will help you become your unit’s Outdoor Ethics Guide, which can be counted towards your leadership position requirements for rank advancement.
The World Conservation Award encourages all youth members to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our local environment. Information about the requirements for Scouting Program is available here. To purchase the awards, bring the applications from the information page to the Scout Shop.
The Conservation Good Turn Award is a unit-level award for ALL levels of Scouting that can be earned by completing a conservation project. The most current information about the award is available here, including project ideas that are appropriate for each level of the Scouting program. Projects can take place at a Scout Camp, a public park or preserve, or other part of your local community; and do not require prior approval from the Council prior to completion.
- For NEIC units: Click this link to submit your Conservation Good Turn Award application
- This will send your application directly to the Conservation Committee, who will respond with an update upon review.
- After your application is reviewed, the certificate will be sent to your unit leader
- Patches for individuals involved in the project are available at the Scout Shop.
The Distinguished Conservation Service Award is a high—level award for youth. If you are interested in learning more about it, the most current information is available here. Projects must be reviewed and approved by the NEIC Conservation Committee prior to starting; you will be assigned an advisor to guide you through the process. This award can be started by any Scouts BSA youth that is 1st Class rank or higher, as well as any Venturers or Sea Scouts.
If you are interested in working towards this award with NEIC, please do the following:
- Read the information linked here to understand the commitment and time involved in completing the requirements for the award
- Review the Workbook available at the linked information above
- Review FAQ at the linked information above
- Once you have done the above, please contact the Conservation Committee staff adviser to get started on your path towards the Distinguished Conservation Service Award
BSA Safe Service Project Resources
Before your next service project, please look at these two updated risk assessment tools to maintain a SAFE Scouting experience. The SAFE Service Project Planning Checklist and simplified SAFE Project Tool Use Guidelines are located in the appendix to the Guide to Safe Scouting.