All Programs Square knot insignia Left Side personal recognition square knot insignia

These are all awards which are earned or awarded to YOUTH AND/OR ADULT members of the Boy Scouts of America. These knot emblems represent special awards for meritorious action/service; for distinction in conservation or environmental quality; for organizing and extending the Scouting program; or for financially supporting Scouting over a period of time.

Some awards listed have links to where you may download and complete a recommendation form for the award or recognition. The most updated versions of the application or recommendation form should be obtained through your Commissioner or the local Council service center.

Example of all nine personal recognition award "knot emblems" worn together.

Description: Old square knot consists of mylar silver knot on a deep purple background with purple border. Present square knot is made identical except that deep purple background is fully embroidered .

Worn by: Cub Scouts, Boy/Varsity Scouts, Male and Female Venturers, Male and Female Scouters

This square knot is worn by those whom have earned a religious emblem or award as a youth member of the BSA or some other organization (Girl Scouting, YMCA, Salvation Army, etc.). The actual medal or medallion are NOT BSA awards; they are awards presented by a church body for education, service and devotion to faith.

Only ONE youth award square knot is worn, no matter how many times the holder earns a second or subsequent religious award as a youth member. Since many faiths offer several times within a youth's tenure opportunities to earn an award or emblem, the program(s) in which the award(s) is earned is denoted by small program devices which are placed on the square knot. Devices are available for Cub Scouting, WEBELOS Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Exploring and Venturing.

Hornaday Badge

W.T. Hornaday Award square knot emblem

Hornaday Award Bronze Medal
Hornaday Award Silver Medal
Hornaday Award Gold Medallion

Description: Badge is either Gold, Silver or Bronze, with a beaver on the wearer's right, a flying bird making the top part of the bar, and a large fish making the left side of the bar. In the center is a wilderness scene above a small bar with the lettering "BSA" and below this, on the Silver and Bronze Awards, the lettering "William T. Hornaday Award". (In the first version of the Hornaday Award Badge, the lettering describing the Award does not appear below the letters "BSA")

The square knot emblem is made up of green, white and blue strands intertwined as one rope. Ends showing blue tips are worn to wearer's right as shown above.

Worn by: Boy/Varsity Scouts, Male and Female Venturers, Male and Female Scouters

The William T. Hornaday Award recognizes Scouts, Venturers and Scouters for their service to conservation and ecology efforts in their communities. Prior award holders only earned a gold version of the Silver Award medal, and were instructed to wear the Badge in the same manner and location as other square knots because the BSA did not provide for a square knot insignia piece for this award. Present Bronze and Silver Medalists now wear the square knot; present Gold Medallion holders may wear the Gold Badge or the square knot; and those whom have earned the Badge as a group (Den, Patrol, Crew or Squad), may only wear the Badge.

To earn the Hornaday Award medal as an individual, Boy/Varsity Scout and Venturers/Sea Scouts youth members must earn a series of merit badges followed by a concentrated series of conservation and/or environmental education projects to be conducted in the member's community or nearby, under the advisement of a trained conservation, naturalist, or environmental engineering expert. Cub Scouts may only presently earn the Badge. The present adult Gold Award is nominative in nature, and extends over at least a ten-year span of working in or with conservation or environmental education/reclamation efforts in the community, state or nation. Bronze and Silver Awards are Rare. Gold Awards are Very Rare.

old Merit Medal knot emblem

current Merit Medal knot emblem

Merit Medal

Description: Knot emblem is composed of blue and gold ropes, with the blue end worn to wearer's right as shown.

Worn by: Cub Scouts, Boy/Varsity Scouts, Male and Female Ventures, Male and Female Scouters

The Merit Medal honors Scouts, Venturers and Scouters that have performed some act of meritorious service above and beyond what is normally expected of a youth or adult member of the Boy Scouts of America. Key in the difference between this award and the heroism awards is that the action need not involve saving life, but must employ some aspect of Scouting learning or skills in the execution. Very Rare.

Heroism Award square knot emblem
Description: Red square knot on white background with white border. Knot was previously used on Sea Explorer white uniforms to represent the Honor Medal. Colors correspond to red, white and red ribbon on medal.

Worn by: Cub Scouts, Boy/Varsity Scouts, Male and Female Ventures, Male and Female Scouters

The Heroism Medal is presented to those that save live at little or no personal risk. In the past, those persons would receive a Certificate of Heroism from the local Council. Today, those previous holders of Certificates of Heroism as well as present Scouts, Venturers or Scouters are honored with the present Medal. Very Rare.

old Honor Medal knot emblem

Honor Medal square knot emblem

Honor Medal knot emblem with Crossed Palms

Description: Knot is composed of two red ropes. Difference between old and new knot is only background in which worn on field uniform.

Worn by: Cub Scouts, Boy/Varsity Scouts, Male and Female Venturers, Male and Female Scouters

The Honor Medal is presented to those for life saving at some personal risk or to those whom died while attempting to save life. In very exceptional cases, the Medal is presented with crossed bronze palms, to Scouts, Venturers and Scouters whom risked their life at a great personal risk. Holders of the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms place the Palms in the center of the Honor Medal square knot emblem informally. Very Rare.

James West Fellowship Award knot emblem

James West Fellowship Award knot emblem with device

James West Fellowship Award (certificate shown right)

Description: Knot is composed of green and gold ropes, with the green end worn toward the wearer's right as shown above. Device, if presented, is worn centered on knot emblem

Worn by: Male and Female Scouters, male and female youth members

The James West Fellowship Award is presented through a local Council to any individual that gives $1000 or more to the local Council's West Fellowship Fund (local Councils have differing names for this special pool) on behalf of him/herself, or another individual to be honored or recognized through membership within the West Fellowship. The money goes to support critical local Council and national programs which have suffered major losses due to diversion of funding for national-level resolutions of risk-management issues. Only registered Scouters or youth members receive and wear the square knot emblem; all contributors receive special invitations to local Council and national West Fellowship Dinners, special publications, and a certificate as shown in addition to some local Council plaques and other items.

(the following additional information was provided by Robert Rescott):

The BSA endowment recognition program also includes these two awards: The Founders Circle Award, for deferred gifts with a minimum value of $100,000; and the 1910 Society, for current gifts of $25,000 or more (see devices above or at here . )

The James E. West Fellowship Award embroidered square-knot insignia (shown above) is worn above the uniform left shirt pocket, indicating a Scout/Scouter is a James E. West fellow. Membership in the other two endowment programs is indicated by wearing a device on the same knot emblem: the 1910 Society (BSA Supply No. 19118) or the Founders Circle (Supply No. 00929). Robert Rescott was very kind in providing these scans of the two devices shown above along with the certificate. Thanks!!

OLD/FORMER Boyce Organizer Award square knot emblem

CURRENT Boyce Organizer Award square knot emblem

Description: Square knot and certificate are presented to unit organizers meeting the requirements for the award. Additional information on Organizer awards and items can found here. EITHER VERSION of the cloth knot emblem may be worn; the first version (the top of the two) was designed in 2004 when the BSA's Supply Group misplaced the "templates" used to order/design the various square knot insignia. The current version was redesigned/reordered in 2008 and local Councils and the BSA's Scout Shops™ were instructed to destroy or otherwise remove the older version.

Worn by: Boy/Varsity Scouts, Male and Female Venturers, Male and Female Scouters. Rare Award.

BSA Speakers' Bank Award square knot emblem

Description: Square knot and certificate are presented to Scouters meeting the requirements for the award which include at least 20 public speaking opportunities. Additional information can found here.

Worn by:Male and Female Scouters. Rare Award.

BSA Alumni Award square knot emblem

Description: Square knot and certificate are presented to Scouters meeting the requirements for the award which include promoting the BSA program among former members or alumni of Scouting units. Additional information can found at the BSA's Alumni Task Force website or through local Council offices. Here is a copy of the requirements for this award.

Worn by:Male and Female Scouters. Rare Award.

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