Orland Park ScoutsBSA Troop 318

National Outdoor Badges for

Camping, Hiking, Aquatics, Riding, and Adventure

The six badges of the award recognize a Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer who demonstrates both knowledge and experience in camping, aquatics, conservation, hiking, riding, or adventure. Youth 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. http://usscouts.org/advance/scoutsBSA/changes/outdoor-badges-19.asp

In order for a Scout to earn one or more of the  National Outdoor Badges (and/or the gold or silver devices), the Scout must complete the following requirements.

Note: The large center badge shown above is awarded when a Scout earns the first of the five badges described below.

Camping

1. Earn the First Class rank.
2. Earn the Camping merit badge.
3. Earn two of the following three merit badges: Cooking, First Aid, Pioneering.
4. Complete 25 days and nights of camping—including six consecutive days (five nights) of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America—including nights camped as part of requirements 1 through 3 above.

A gold device may be 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 his current number of nights camping.

Hiking

1. Earn the First Class rank.
2. Earn the Hiking and Orienteering merit badges.
3. Complete 100 miles of hiking or backpacking under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including miles hiked as part of requirement 2.

A gold device may be earned for each additional 50 miles hiked.

A silver device is earned for each additional 200 miles of hiking.

The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling his current number of miles hiking.

Aquatics

1. Earn the First Class rank.
2. Earn the Swimming and Lifesaving merit badges.
3. Earn the Mile Swim BSA Award.
4. Earn at least one of the following merit badges: Canoeing, Rowing, Small Boat Sailing, Whitewater.
   Complete at least 25 hours of on-the-water time, applying the skills that you learned in the merit badges.
5. 5. Complete at least 50 hours of any combination of swimming, canoeing, rowing, small-boat sailing, or whitewater activity under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including time spent in requirements 2 through 4.

A gold device may be earned for each additional 25 hours of aquatic activity.

A silver device is earned for each additional 100 hours of aquatic activity.

The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling his current number of hours of aquatic activity.

Riding

1. Earn the First Class rank.
2. Complete at least one of the following: Cycling merit badge and 100 miles of cycling; or Horsemanship merit badge and 50 miles of horseback riding.
3. Complete 200 miles of riding activities, either on a non-motorized bike or a stock animal, under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including the miles in requirement 2.

A gold device may be 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 his current number of miles of riding.

Adventure

1. Earn the First Class rank.
2. Complete either the Wilderness Survival or the Emergency Preparedness merit badge.
3. Complete 10 of any combination or repetition of the following adventure activities under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America:
   1. A backpacking trip lasting three or more days and covering more than 20 miles without food resupply
   2. A canoeing, rowing, or sailing trip lasting three or more days and covering more than 50 miles without food resupply
   3. A whitewater trip lasting two or more days and covering more than 20 miles without food resupply
   4. A climbing activity on open rock, following Climb On Safely principles, that includes camping overnight
   5. Earn the National Historic Trails Award
   6. Earn the 50-Miler Award
   7. 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 may be 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 his current number of activities.

Click here for the application form used for these badges and devices

(and for the National Outdoor Achievement Medal).