The United States Heritage Award
The United States Heritage Award was designed by Scouts and adults to give youth recognition for learning about the heritage of the United States of America. By completing this award, it is hoped participants will not only increase their understanding of the United States but also foster greater sense of patriotism through service in local communities.
The award may be earned by any youth in the United States. A medal and patch can be awarded to each youth that successfully completes the requirements for the award. All requirements may be completed with a unit, group, family, or individually.
There is a silver medal for youth 6 - 10, and a gold medal for youth 11 - 18. Adults can also earn the gold medal. More information, worksheets, and adult guides are available at: www.nationstrails.com.
Award
A silver medal and patch can be awarded to each youth that successfully completes the requirements for the award. The request form must be completed to purchase the medals and patches. All requirements may be done with a unit, group, or individually.
Requirements
To earn the Silver United States Heritage Award a youth must:
- Tell when the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
- Learn the first verse of the national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner”.
- Know the Pledge of Allegiance. Explain what it means.
- Learn about the United States Flag.
- What colors does the United States flag have?
- How many stars are on the blue rectangle (canton)? What do the stars symbolize?
- How many stripes are on the flag? What colors are the stripes? What do the stripes symbolize?
- How do you show respect for the United States flag?
- Make a list of the original thirteen states of the United States of America.
- Know who is the current President of the United States of America.
- My America. Do one of the following:
- Write a short story or poem about one of the following topics :
- Why America Is Special To Me,
- What It Means To Be Free,
- If I Were President…
- Draw a picture of a famous person in American History and tell what they did.
- Render a service that benefits a neighborhood or community
- Write a short story or poem about one of the following topics :
For more information go to http://www.nationstrails.com/awards/
Boys’ Life 2012 Reading Contest – Last Chance!
From Boys' Life website:
Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boys’ Life 2012 “Say Yes to Reading!” contest.
The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words — 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories:
8 years old and younger
9 and 10 years old
11 years old and older
First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog. Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate, and third-place winners a $50 certificate.
Everyone who enters will get a free patch like the one on this page. (And, yes, the patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform shirt, on the right pocket. Proudly display it there or anywhere!) In coming years, you’ll have the opportunity to earn different patches.
The contest is open to all Boys’ Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school on the entry.
Send your report, along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope, to:
Boys’ Life Reading Contest
S306
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2012 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Click here to read the winning essays in the 2011 contest.
New International Spirit Award
The International Spirit Award is a temporary emblem that is awarded to registered Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and Scouters who have completed the necessary requirements, have gained a greater knowledge of international Scouting, and have a greater appreciation and awareness of different cultures and countries.
This award serves as a replacement for (and therefore eliminates) the International Activity emblem and the Youth Exchange emblem.
International Spirit Award emblems cost $4 each and can be purchased from the International Department. Visit www.scouting.org/international/applications to fill out the application with the date that each requirement was completed. All requirements must be met within five years from the start of the award. Please mail the completed, signed application and a check (made payable to Boy Scouts of America) to:
Boy Scouts of America
International Department, S221
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
Discover New Worlds through NOVA and STEM
BSA's New NOVA Awards Program is Growing Minds
through STEM Achievements!
Discover the coolest new ways to expand your mind and build critical real-world skills!
BSA's NOVA Awards program introduces fun and rewarding opportunities for Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Venturers to explore various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) topics.
Featuring:
- Support from a partnership with ExxonMobil®
- Honorary Chairman and National Spokesperson, Dr. Bernard Harris, former Boy Scout and NASA space shuttle astronaut
- Distinctive NOVA pocket patch with separate pin-on device, medals, and more
- Related merit badge activities and specialized programs to come!
For more information and program details, please visit here.
Messengers of Peace
Scouts in dozens of countries are working for peace by solving conflicts in their schools, building links between divided communities, teaching their peers about health and wellness, and repairing environmental damage.
To recognize their efforts—and to inspire more young men and women to help Scouting create a better world—the World Scout Committee has launched the Messengers of Peace initiative. The Boy Scouts of America is proud to join this effort in 2012.
Scouts who complete MOP projects will be eligible for a special recognition: a ring patch that goes around the World Crest. That patch will symbolize their participation in an ever-widening circle of Scouts who are not just visualizing world peace, but are helping to make it a reality.
The Scouts of the world have always been a powerful force for good. This initiative lets us celebrate what our Scouts have already accomplished and inspire them to accomplish even more. Please join us as we work together to create a better world.
For more information about Messengers of Peace, visit the BSA’s Messengers of Peace website at www.scouting.org/messengersofpeace.
The New Internet Scout Patch Program
The U.S. Scouting Service Project is pleased to announce Version 2 of it's Internet Scout Patch Program. With the explosive growth of the Internet and the rise of Social Media, it was necessary to re-engineer the program to assure it remained relevant and useful. The new program focuses on fostering a dialog between parent/mentor and Scout that will help prepare Scouts to be aware and alert when using the Internet.
This is a difficult and challenging program. It will require both the mentor and the participants to work hard. But, it will be worth it! As we continue to become more dependent on the Internet in our daily lives, it is critically important that we develop an understanding of its dangers and how to be prepared, aware, and alert to avoid trouble.
Find out more on how to earn this patch here.
Boys’ Life 2011 Reading Contest – Last Chance!
From Boys' Life website:
Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boys’ Life 2011 “Say Yes to Reading!” contest.
The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words — 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories:
8 years old and younger
9 and 10 years old
11 years old and older
First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog. Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate, and third-place winners a $50 certificate.
Everyone who enters will get a free patch like the one on this page. (And, yes, the patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform shirt, on the right pocket. Proudly display it there or anywhere!) In coming years, you’ll have the opportunity to earn different patches.
The contest is open to all Boys’ Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school on the entry.
Send your report, along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope, to:
Boys’ Life Reading Contest
S306
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2011 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Click here to read the winning essays in the 2010 contest.
SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge
Today, BSA launches the new SCOUTStrong Program to get youth more active and fit. SCOUTStrong was kicked off by announcing a collaboration with the President’s Challenge, the premier program of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN), resulting in a Scout-specific Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) challenge.
This challenge is open to everyone associated with BSA, including Scouts, parents, volunteers, and alumni. To earn the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge Award, you are required to meet a daily activity goal of 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for kids under 18 for at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. Stick with the program and you’ll earn an award in less than two months!
After successfully completing the challenge, send a request to the Awards Chairs for the joint BSA/PALA SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge award patch. Find out more and sign up for the challenge here.
Awards and More
School will be out in a couple weeks. As you plan for summer, don't forget the upcoming Pack events. Scouts who participate in 3 summer Pack activities (one each in June, July, and August) will receive the National Summertime Award. The following activities are eligible.
- 6/11-12 USS Hornet Overnighter
- 6/20-24 Cub Scout Day Camp
- 7/3 Huey Washdown
- 7/4 Danville 4th of July Parade
- 8/12-15 Yosemite Camping
- 8/13 MDSC Family Flight Day
- 8/28 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Speaking of awards, check out this very cool video and read on for Scouting Magainze's coverage of the inspiring message and heroes behind it. Enjoy and badgetize!
Emergency Preparedness
Newscasts on the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan have been horrifying to watch, yet they serve as reminders of the importance of being prepared. While we express our condolences to the victims and their families, we should not forget to get ourselves ready. Take this opportunity and work with your children on the Emergency Preparedness Award. This award is available to all cub scouts, boy scouts, as well as Scouters. Check out the requirement over here, and send award request to the Awards Chairs upon completion. Be Safe.
P.S. If you have a boy scout at home, this may be a good time to work on the Nuclear Science Merit Badge too.
