William T. Hornaday

Awards

University of Scouting2017

Goals of This Course

Get an appreciation for the role of conservation work

in Scouting.

Discuss awards Scouts and units can earn by doing

conservation work.

Provide information leaders can take back to their

units to encourage participation in these awards.

Definitions

Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation,

or renewal of forests, waters, lands, and minerals for

the greatest good of the greatest number for the

longest time. Gifford Pinchot (1905)Advisor to President Theodore Roosevelt

Ecology is the study of relationships of organisms to one another and to their physical environment. The

word comes from the Greek oikos (household) and

logia (study).

William T. Hornaday Awards

The original program was created to recognize citizens who made significant contributions to conservation.

It was started in 1914 by Dr. William T. Hornaday, director the NY Zoological Park and founder of the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Dr. Hornaday was an advocate for conservation and a leader in saving the American bison from extinction. He named the original award the Wildlife Protection Medal.

After his death in 1937, the award was renamed in his honor and became a BSA award.

The present awards program was started in the early 1970s, and the scope was expanded to include environmental awareness in addition to wildlife protection.

William T. Hornaday Awards

About 1100 Hornaday medals have been awarded

over the last 80 years. They represent a substantial

commitment of time and energy.

The youth award may be earned by a Boy Scout,

Varsity Scout, or Venturer.

Each project must be based on sound scientific

principles and must be guided by a conservation

professional or well-versed layperson.

The goal of the program is to encourage and

recognize truly outstanding conservation efforts by

Scouts, units, or adult leaders.

Youth Awards

Badge Bronze Medal Silver Medal

Unit Award Certificate

Adult Recognition

Badge Square Knot(worn by adults who earned a Hornaday medal as a youth)

Gold Medal

Hornaday Project Categories

Energy Conservation

Soil and Water Conservation

Fish and Wildlife Management

Forestry and Range Management

Air and Water Pollution Control

Resource Recovery / Recycling

Hazardous Material Disposal / Management

Invasive Species Control

A Hornaday Project

Each project done for a Hornaday medal is a significant commitment of time and effort. Some people have said a Hornaday project is like an Eagle project on steroids.

Each project must include planning, leading, executing, and following through to ensure the conservation objectives of the project are met.

The projects must include a significant hands-on element. They can’t be just paperwork, classes, research, or other ‘soft’ projects.

Each project has a qualified Conservation Advisor.

One project may be the Scout’s Eagle project.

One project may be on BSA property.

Hornaday Project vs. Eagle Project

Conservation Project for

William T. Hornaday Badge

Eagle Scout

Leadership Service Project

Conservation Related Any Topic

May Be Done Individually Must Lead a Group

Much Research Required Research Not Required

Restricted to Certain Categories Unrestricted Choice

No Fundraising Required Fundraising Can Show Leadership

Must Be Long-Lasting Need Not Have Ongoing Impact

Few Approvals Required Many People Must Approve

Scientific Based Required Subjective Judgement of Benefit

Follow-up Required No Follow-up Needed

Often Hundreds of Hours No Minimum Number of Hours

Required & Elective MBs

1st Youth Award: Badge

Be a First Class Scout or higher.

Earn 3 of the following merit badges:

Energy, Environmental Science, Fish & Wildlife

Management, Forestry, Public Health, Soil & Water

Conservation

Earn 2 of the following merit badges:

Bird Study, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Gardening, Geology,

Insect Study, Landscape Architecture, Mammal Study,

Nature, Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Plant Science,

Pulp & Paper, Reptile & Amphibian Study, Weather

Plan, lead, and carry out 1 significant project in natural resource conservation from one of the

project categories.

This award is administered by the local council.

2nd Award: Bronze Medal

Be a First Class Scout or higher.

Earn the Environmental Science merit

badge and 3 of these:

Energy, Fish & Wildlife Management, Forestry, Public

Health, Soil & Water Conservation

Earn 2 of the following merit badges:

Bird Study, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Gardening, Geology, Insect

Study, Landscape Architecture, Mammal Study, Nature,

Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Plant Science, Pulp &

Paper, Reptile & Amphibian Study, Weather

Plan, lead, and carry out 3 significant projects in natural resource conservation from 3 different project

categories.

This award is administered by national BSA.

3rd Youth Award: Silver Medal

Be a First Class Scout or higher.

Earn ALL of the following merit badges:

Energy, Environmental Science, Fish & Wildlife Management,

Forestry, Public Health, Soil & Water Conservation

Earn 3 of the following merit badges:

Bird Study, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Gardening, Geology, Insect

Study, Landscape Architecture, Mammal Study, Nature,

Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Plant Science, Pulp &

Paper, Reptile & Amphibian Study, Weather

Plan, lead, and carry out 4 significant projects in natural resource conservation from 4 different project

categories.

This award is administered by national BSA.

Work Flow for Hornaday Medals

Contact Hornaday

Coordinator

Select Conservation Advisor

Research

Project

Ideas

Develop Unique, Significant Project

Plan

Project Conduct Project

Project Write-up

Complete Additional Projects (2 or 3)

Application NationalConservation Committee

Award Presentation

A2 A1

A3

Complete Required Badges

Review by

There is now a 40-page Hornaday Project Workbook

much like the Eagle project workbook.

It is available at: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/HornadayAwards/Forms.aspx

Hornaday Project Workbook

Finding a Conservation Advisor

The Hornaday project advisor must be someone with significant expertise in the subject area of the project.

Professionals from these organizations might make good advisors:

•National Audubon Society• Izaak Walton League•National Wildlife Federation• Environmental Protection Agency•U.S. Forest Service•Army Corp of Engineers• Bureau of Land Management• Fish and Wildlife Service•National Park Service•University research or cooperative extension

Unit Award

The unit completes one significant and well-

planned project.

At least 60% of the unit’s members participate.

This award is administered by the local council.

Adult Hornaday Awards

Adults can earn a Hornaday badge for significant

leadership over a period of more than three years in

conservation at a council or district level.

Adults may be nominated to national BSA for

consideration for the Hornaday gold medal for

outstanding leadership over a period of more than

twenty years.

As with the youth awards, the adult recognitions

require extensive time and effort in conservation work.

Only six adult medals are awarded nationwide each

year.

Roles

Roles in the Hornaday Process

Candidate

Develops Project Ideas

Documents Projects

Records Budget Information

Contacts Advisor/Professional

Plans and Researches

Obtains Labor and Material

Completes Hornaday Workbook

Ensures Project is Long-Lasting

Finds Publicity Outlet (if needed)

Contacts Media for Publicity

Integrates Eagle Project (if desired)

Conservation Advisor

Facilitates Hornaday Application

Answers Application Questions

Discusses Project Ideas

Delivers Application

Helps Select Appropriate Projects

Shows Candidate How to Document Projects

Introduces Candidate to His Role in Conservation

Beneficiary Offers Venue for Project

May Provide Materials and/or Funding

Eagle Advisor (if an Eagle Project is used as a Hornaday Project)

If Needed, Ensures Project Meets Eagle Requirements

How You Can Help

Encourage Scouts to pursue awards:

A Scout whose Eagle project is conservation-related

An older Scout who is ready for a new challenge

Encourage work on the unit award:

Helping a Scout complete his Hornaday project

As a stand-alone activity

Become a merit badge counselor.

If you have the appropriate qualifications, become a

Conservation Advisor.