What would advancement be without special awards?

• BSA Swimmer Test – You can’t go on the water in Scouting without passing this. Yearly.
• The BSA Mile Swim Patch is available for those who meet the test, all 5,280 wet feet of it.
• A Kayak Patch for guys who like to wear their boat like a pair of pants
• Historic Trails Patch – Many times, we travel to places rich in history, and you can show your stuff this way.
• 50-Miler Patch – Fifty miles afoot or afloat over no fewer than five days, with planning and service, deserves a special award: check it out.
• Religious awards in your religious faith To encourage youth in Scouting to become stronger in their faith, religious organizations (not the BSA) have developed unique awards to recognize the link between man and his God.
• National Council Order of the Arrow – The Order of the Arrow is recognized as the BSA’s national brotherhood of honor campers. OA serves as Scouting’s National Honor Society.
• Hornaday (National) Conservation Award – This awards program was created to recognize those that have made significant contributions to conservation.
• The Totin’ Chit is a pocket certificate that all should earn as soon as possible once they get into Boy Scouts. Think of it as being a kind of “Driver’s License” to use knife, axe, and other woods tools in Scouts.
• The Firem’n Chit is the other pocket certificate that all should earn as soon as possible once they get into Boy Scouts. Think of it as being a kind of “Driver’s License” to build and work with cooking and camp fires in Scouts.
• Speak a language other than English? A Scout wearing the Interpreter Strips must be able to carry on a conversation in a foreign language or in sign language, write a letter in the foreign language (not required for signing), and translate orally and in writing from one language to another.
• Really know your science and conservation policy? Scouts are eligible to receive the World Conservation Award after completing the requirements for the following merit badges: Environmental Science, Citizenship in the World, and either Soil and Water Conservation or Fish and Wildlife Management. The World Conservation Award is worn on the uniform shirt centered on the right pocket as a temporary patch. But boy, is it good-looking!
• And last but never least, Boy Scouts can earn and be awarded a Recruiter Strip, to wear below the right pocket on their uniform, signifying they have recruited new boys into our Boy Scout program.