BSA Scouting Knots

The cloth knots were obtained from the excellent clipart collection of:
Bobwhite 78's Scouting Page

[email protected]

YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

How to wear Knots Illustration
Recognition Awards

Youth Achievement Awards

Arrow of Light Award Arrow of Light Award{error}
Description: Square knot made up of the WEBELOS badge colors: a gold border, with kelly green and scouting red rope strands, worn with green rope to wearer's right; there is also a square knot, which is shown here, with the colors reversed. �Either one may be worn, although the first one shown is the one which was originally designed for wear in 1973.
Worn by: Male Scouters
The Arrow of Light is the highest youth award earned by Cub Scouts. In order to earn the Arrow of Light, a WEBELOS Cub Scout must complete the seven requirements outlined in the WEBELOS Cub Scout Handbook,including learning joining skills and participating in a Boy Scout Troop visit, in addition to earning several WEBELOS activity pins. Youth members DO NOT wear the knot. They wear the Arrow of Light patch on their uniform in the places prescribed for the wearing of the Award. �In 1990, two emblem manufacturers made an error when reordering this knot emblem to be worn upon the present tan shirts, and it was too late before the BSA's Supply Division caught the error. �As you can see from the two knots above, in getting the new tan backgrounded knots to the field, the two companies reversed the colors of the strands. �The BSA's Supply Division says that more than 40,000 of the "reversed" Arrow of Light knots exist out there. �The BSA's Insignia and Uniform staff knows about the error, and has made plans to tell Scouters that EITHER knot is acceptable for wear but NOT both. �Future orders will return the color combinations back to the original combination shown above to the LEFT.

Eagle Scout Award
Description: Square knot made up of the ribbon colors: red, white and blue, intertwined as one rope. Ends showing blue tips are worn to wearer's right.
Worn by: Male Scouters
The Eagle Scout Badge is the highest youth rank in the Boy Scouting program. It is earned by Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts whom complete a number of merit badges, including several which are from a required list of badges for the rank, a series of successful leadership positions in a unit, a series of service projects including a cumulating project in which he must plan, prepare, execute and evaluate, and personal appearance before a review board at the local Council level. Youth members DO NOT wear the knot. They wear the Eagle Scout patch on their uniform in the places prescribed for the wearing of the Award. Eagle Scouts may earn and wear Bronze, Gold and /or Silver Palms on the Knot for the completion of additional merit badges, leadership experiences and tenure since Eagle. These palms are worn in the highest combination which illustrate the number of merit badges over Eagle in multiples of five.

Old Quartermaster Present Quartermaster Award
Description: Square knot made up of sea blue ribbon color from Quartermaster Medal. Difference between old and new knot is only background in which worn on field uniform.
Worn by: Male and Female Explorers, Male and Female Scouters
The Quartermaster Award is the highest rank in the Sea Exploring portion of the Exploring program. In order to earn Quartermaster, Explorers must show natical profiecency, leadership, and service over a period of time, as well as to earn several rating awards. Quartermaster Awards are conferred after a review board at the local Council level. Rare award.

Ace Award Scan of square knot was provided by Bob Cylkowski
Description: Square knot made up of red and blue ropes on a middle blue background. The colors are from the traditional colors of Exploring, while the middle blue background was made to match the sky blue uniform of the Air Explorer.
Worn by: Male and Female Explorers, Male and Female Scouters
The Ace Award is the highest rank in the former Air Exploring portion of the Exploring program. In order to earn Ace, Explorers must show flying profiecency, leadership, and service over a period of time, as well as to earn several rating awards. Ace Awards are conferred after a review board at the local Council level. The Air Exploring program does not exist anymore and present Aviation Exploring members cannot earn this award. Rare award.

Silver 1 Silver 2 /Exploring G.O.L.D. Award Description: Old square knot made up of three Exploring colors: dark blue for Sea Exploring, amber for Air Exploring and red for "traditional Exploring", with red to wearer's left. Present square knot made up of silver knot with background colors from ribbon colors from second version of award: red, white and blue. Award is worn with red side or red strand to wearer's right.
Worn by: Male and Female Explorers, Male and Female Scouters
The Old Silver Award was created as a replacement for the Ranger and Ace Exploring Awards. National awarded 533 of the first version of the award before reformulating the entire Exploring program. The present Silver Award knot may be worn by previous holders of any Exploring advancement award less the Quartermaster Award and also by holders of a national or local Council Young American Award, a special award designed to recognize achievements in various areas by young adults (whom may or may not be Exploring members). The Exploring Growth Opportunity in Leadership Development (G.O.L.D.) Award (which was originally called the Exploring Achievement Award) is earned by male and female member of any Explorer Post or Ship after a period of service, leadership and tenure. Each Explorer creates their own set of of "requirements" for the award, which presently include learning the Explorer Code. At the end of the period of service and leadership, and at the conclusion appears before the Post or District Exploring Committee to review the path taken to complete the requirements for the award. Silver 1 Very Rare award. Exploring G.O.L.D./Silver 2 Rare award.

Adult Leadership Awards

Scoutmaster Award of Merit
Description: Knot is composed of a white knot on a tan background.
Worn by: Scoutmasters, Male and Female Scouters
The Scoutmaster Award of Merit is earned by a registered Scoutmaster after serving as Scoutmaster for at least 18 months, have attended Scoutmaster Fundamentals (basic training), earned for his Troop the Quality Unit Award at least once, and have successfully trained his or her youth Troop leaders. The Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Committee Chair recommends the Scoutmaster for the award, based on the unit's performance over the past 18 months.

Scouters' Training Award
Description: Knot is composed of a green knot on a tan background.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
The Scouters' Training Award can be presently earned by the following groups of Scouters:
Boy Scouters: �Assistant Scoutmasters, Committeemembers and the Chartered Organization Representative
Varsity Scouters: �Assistant Coaches, Committeemembers and the Chartered Organization Representative
Exploring Leaders: Assistant/Associate Advisors, Committeemembers, Consultants and the Chartered Organization Representative
Sea Exploring Leaders:Mates, Committee members, Consultants, and the Chartered Organization Representative
District/Council Scouters: Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Varsity Scout Roundtable/Huddle staff members.
There are different requirements covering basic training, performance, tenure, and certification for each award. �Scouters earning the Training Award in one program area MUST complete ALL requirements (including tenure) for subsequent training awards in other program areas. �Additionally, Scouters earning a Training Award cannot use the tenure for the training award toward earning the Scouters' Key Award in that program area. �

Scouters' Key Award
Description: Knot is composed of �green and white ropes on a tan background. Knot is worn with green rope toward the wearer's right.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
The Scouters' �Key Award can be presently earned by the following groups of Scouters:
(the Cubmaster Key may still be worn by those Cubmasters earning this award prior to the start of the present Cubmaster Award (1987) �although Cubmasters may NOT earn the Key anymore.)
Boy Scouters: �Scoutmaster Varsity Scouters: �Coach Exploring Leaders: � Advisor Sea Exploring Leaders: �Skipper
District/Council Scouters: Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Varsity Scout Roundtable/Huddle Commissioners, Exploring Service Team members and Chairs, Unit, Assistant District and District Commissioners, District Committeemembers
There are different requirements covering basic training, performance, tenure, and certification for the award. �Scouters earning the Training Key in one program area MUST complete ALL requirements (including tenure) for subsequent training Keys in other program areas. �Additionally, Scouters earning a Training Key cannot use the tenure for the training key toward earning a training award in any program area

Den Leader (Training) Award
Description: Knot is composed of a gold (yellow) knot on a blue background.
Worn by: Male and Female Cub Scouters
The Den Leader Award is earned byDen Leaders�and may be worked on by Assistant Den Leaders after completing two years of service (one year may be as an Assistant Den Leader), completing the Cub Scout Basic training course and attendance at a Pow-Wow, and the completion of five from eight performance projects.

old Den Ldr Coach �Den Ldr Coach (Training) Award
Description: Old Knot is composed of a gold (yellow) and light blue rope on a blue background, with the light blue rope worn to the wearer's right. �The present knot is composed of a light blue knot on a blue background. �Note that old knot is now used for a different Scouting Award, and there are still holders of the old version of the award wearing the older square knot on the uniform.�
Worn by: Male and Female Cub Scouters
The Den Leader Coach�Award is earned by Den Leader Coaches�after completing two years of service, �completing the Cub Scout Basic training course including the Den Leader Coach session and attendance at a Pow-Wow, and the completion of three from four performance projects.

Cub Scouters' (Training) Award
Description: Knot is composed of a gold (yellow) and light blue rope on a blue background, with the light blue rope worn to the wearer's right. �Note that this knot was used for a different Scouting Award, and there are still holders of that award wearing this same square knot on their uniform.�
Worn by: Male and Female Cub Scouters
The Cub Scouter�Award can be earned by any other registered Cub Scouting leader at the Pack, District or Council level �after completing two years of service, �completing the Cub Scout Basic training course and attendance at a Pow-Wow, and the completion of five from eleven performance projects.

WEBELOS Den Leader�Award is earned by WEBELOS Den Leaders �(and may be worked on by their Assistants) after completing two years of service (one of which can be as an Assistant WEBELOS �Den Leader), �completing the Cub Scout Basic training course including the WEBELOS Leader Outdoor session and attendance at a Pow-Wow, and the completion of five from ten performance projects.

Cubmaster (Training) Award
Description: Knot is composed of a light blue knot on a yellow background
Worn by: Cubmasters, Male and Female Scouters
The Cubmaster �Award is earned by Cubmasters�(and may be worked on by their Assistants) after completing two years of service (one of which can be as an Assistant Cubmaster), �completing the Cub Scout Basic training course and attendance at a Pow-Wow, and the Pack's earning the Quality Unit Award twice during the three year period and earning once the National Summertime Pack Award.
Tiger Cub Organizer/Coach (Training) Award
Description: Knot is composed of orange and black ropes on a yellow background with a red border, with the orange rope worn toward the wearer's right. �(personal comment here: the BSA redesigned this square knot to match others; the earlier version was narrower and the design of the knot did not correspond to any of the other established square knot designs)�
Worn by: Tiger Cub Leaders, Male and Female Scouters
The Organizer/Coach�Award (soon to be changed to Tiger Cub Leader Award) �is earned by Tiger Cub Leaders after completing two years of service,�completing the Cub Scout Basic training course including the session for Tiger Cub Leaders�and attendance at a Pow-Wow, and the completion of five of eight performance projects.
Professional Training Award /Professional Circle Award
Description: Knot is composed of a black knot on a fully embrodered white background with a black border. �The symbolism comes from the administrative (executive secretarial) nature of the professional executive. �
Worn by: Male and Female Professional Scouters
The Professional Training�Award �is earned by Associate District Executives, District Executives, District Executive multiple-persons, Senior District Executives, Exploring Executives, Senior Exploring Executives, �District Directors, and Field Directors with supervisory responsibities for District or Exploring Executives. �To earn the award, Scouters must have successfully attended all three sessions of the Professional Executive Institute (PEI), have completed or participated in five of eight training or coaching programs �(including Wood Badge, Exploring Advanced Seminar, and National Camping School), and have met all critical achievements in his or her District/Division/Council for two of the three years. � The Professional Circle Award (the adding of the small Universal/Troop device to the center of the knot) is earned by completing all eight coaching or training programs, meeting of all critical achievements within all three years, and the completion of a research paper to be forwared to the National Executive Training Center for approval. �Rare award.
Sea Badge
Description: Taken from an earlier unofficial knot emblem, the emblem in the center is a blue trident on a grey (silver) background with a blue border. �(personal opinion: the BSA needs to approve the older unoffical design, which looks better and fits the field uniform better.)�
Worn by: Male and Female Sea Exploring Leaders, Male and Female Scouters
The Sea Badge Course is the advanced training course for Sea Exploring leaders at the Ship, District, Council or Regional level. �The course consists of a four or five day resident course and up to two years to apply the principles taught in the course to develop and extend the Sea Exploring program of Exploring in the local Council or within a Ship. �Attendance at the Sea Badge course is nominative.

Service or Tenure Awards

Adult Religious Service Award
Description: Deep purple square knot on grey (silver) background with silver Mylar border.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
This square knot is worn by those whom have received a religious emblem or award as an adult member of the BSA or some other organization (Girl Scouting, YMCA, Salvation Army, etc.). The awards are NOT BSA awards; they are awards presented by a church body for education, service and devotion to faith. Only ONE adult award square knot is worn, no matter how many times the holder earns a second or subsequent religious award as an adult member. Since many faiths offer several awards for various levels of service, it is recommended that those whom choose to show multiple faiths or awards place the small tie-tac or other small emblem of the award to the knot.

Silver World Award
Description: Blue globe with three stars on red and white striped background with dark green border. Emblem is worn with two stars to wearer's right. Colors correspond to red, white striped ribbon on medal.
Worn by: Individuals whom have been presented this award by the Chief Scout Executive, National President, International Commissioner BSA, or other designated person.
Nominative
The Silver World Award was originially designed for presentation to adults whom supported the BSA whom are not registered members of the BSA. The Chief Scout Executive, National President and the BSA's International Commissioner had the group authority to authorize the award to anyone that they chose. This created several situations whereby the Silver World Award was indeed awarded to BSA Scouters. The awards have been suspended in 1994 by action of the National Executive Board until narrower requirements for the awarding of the medal is made. �It is estimated that of the 40 or so Scouters whom were presented the award for international service to the BSA's Scouting programs, that more than half were presented to Scouters belonging to the Direct Service Council, the Canal Zone Council, or to a stateside local Council.� Very Rare.

Silver Buffalo Award
Description: �Square knot consisting of red and white ropes, with red rope worn toward wearer's right.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters.
Nominative
The Silver Buffalo Award is awarded upon action of the National Execuitve Board of the Boy Scouts of America to volunteers Scouters and other individuals for service to youth on a national basis or over a significant period of national service to a youth agency or in actions affecting youth. �The Silver Buffalo Award is the traditional award presented to the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America sometime during his term of office. � Very Rare.

old Silver Antelope Silver Antelope Award
Description: Knot is composed of orange and white ropes, with orange rope worn toward wearer's right. � Difference between old and new knot is only background in which worn on field uniform.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
Nominative
The Silver Antelope Award is presented upon action of the Regional Executive Board of one of the BSA's four Regions for service to youth within the Region or for longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter residing within that Region. �Rare.

old Silver Beaver Silver Beaver Award
Description: Knot is composed of light blue and white ropes, with the blue rope worn toward wearer's right. Difference between old and new knot is only background in which worn on field uniform.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
Nominative
The Silver Beaver Award is presented upon action of a Council Executive Board of one of the BSA's �319 local Councils or the Direct Service Council for service to youth within the Council or for longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter residing within that Council. �Normallly, the Silver Beaver is awarded for service to Scouting for at least ten years or longer. �Career members of the Boy Scouts of America may receive this award upon concurrance of the Council Scout Executive and the Director of Operations at the National office, BSA.

District /Division Award of Merit
Description: Knot is composed of a silver Mylar overhand knot on a deep blue background with a silver Mylar border.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
Nominative
The District/Division Award of Merit is awarded by a District or Exploring Division to volunteer and professional adults for service to youth in the District or Division. Normally, the award is presented for service to youth in excess of five years. �A person may receive more than one District/Division Award of Merit, although there are no provisions for the wearing of a device or emblem officially to denote the second or subsequent awards. �Unofficially, those Award holders that have received more than one may wear a small Universal device centered on the knot. �The BSA has no records of any volunteer or professional earning the Award of Merit in more than two separate Districts or Divisions. � Career members of the Boy Scouts of America may receive this award upon concurrance of the Council Scout Executive and the Director of Operations at the National office, BSA.

Commissioner Award of Merit
Description: Knot is composed of a silver (grey) knot on a deep red background with a silver border. �The colors are taken from the colors of the insignia of unit, district and council commissioners.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
The Commissioners' Award of Merit is presented to unit, Assistant District, District, Assistant Council, and the Council Commissioner that have served activily as a registered commissioner for at least five years, have completed the Commissioner training courses, received the Arrowhead Honor Award, and whose units/District/Council has achieved a level of quality through the BSA's Quality Unit/District/Council program. �The award consists of a plaque and boloties for informal wear. � Member's of Exploring's Service Teams at the Council and District/Division level are also eligible for this award.

Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award
Description: Knot is composed of a white knot on a red background. �The colors are taken from the colors of the ribbon of the award as well as the colors of the Order of the Arrow.
Worn by: Male and Female Arrowmen
Nominative
The Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award is presented to Arrowmen that have given for a significant period of time service to the Order of Arrow or to Scouting at any level beyond the local Lodge (which is part of the local Council) level. �Most Arrowmen receiving this award were youth members serving as leaders at the Sectional, Regional or National level. �Most adult Arrowmen receiving this award have served as Arrowmen for an extended period of time, normally more than ten years. �The award consists of a silver arrowhead with an arrow through it, suspended from a white ribbon with small red arrows centered on the ribbon throughout, a certificate and knot. �Rare.

Spurgeon Award
Description: Knot is composed of a gold (yellow) knot on a kelly green background with a gold (yellow) border.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
Nominative
The Spurgeon Award is presented to adult Exploring leaders and to businesses and organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Exploring program. �Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot. �The award consists of a plaque, tie-tac (for individuals only) and knot.

Whitney Young Jr. Service Award
Description: Knot is composed of a black and white with a red border. The knot is worn with the black rope toward the wearer's right.
Worn by: Male and Female Scouters
Nominative
The Young Award is presented to Scouters and to businesses and organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Scouting program presented in either rural or urban areas of the Council or nationally. �Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot. �The award consists of a plaque, tie-tac (for individuals only) and knot. �Very Rare.

George Meany Award�
Description: Knot is composed of a bright blue knot on a red and white fully embrodered background.
Worn by: Male and Female Union Scouters
Nominative
The Meany Award is presented to Scouters and to union organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Scouting program at either the local Council or national levels.. �Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot. �The award consists of a plaque, tie-tac (for individuals only) and knot. �Rare.