Historic Trails Award
Encyclopedia
The Historic Trails Award is an award of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) designed to promote the ideals of Scouting
and in Scoutcraft
, citizenship
, self-reliance, and appreciation of national history. It is awarded for studying about, hiking or camping along, or performing a service project on a historic trail. The award may be earned by Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers
and leaders
.
.
. The requirements include planning and participating in a historic activity, locating a historic trail or site and studying information relating to it, hiking or camping two days and one night along the trail or in the vicinity of the site, cooperating with an adult group such as a historic society to restore and mark all or part of this trail or site (which may be done during the hike or overnight camp), or cooperating with such a group to plan and stage a historic pageant, ceremony, or other public event related to the trail or site—such an event should be large enough to merit coverage by the local press. The unit leader must then file the Historic Trails Award application with the council service center.
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA) designed to promote the ideals of Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
and in Scoutcraft
Scoutcraft
Scoutcraft is a term used to cover a variety of woodcraft knowledge and skills required by people seeking to venture into wild country and sustain themselves independently. The term has been adopted by Scouting organizations to reflect skills and knowledge which are felt to be a core part of the...
, citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, self-reliance, and appreciation of national history. It is awarded for studying about, hiking or camping along, or performing a service project on a historic trail. The award may be earned by Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers
Venturing (Boy Scouts of America)
Venturing is part of the program of the Boy Scouts of America for young adults, men and women, from the age of 14 years old or 13 years old and completed eighth grade through 21....
and leaders
Scout Leader
A Scout Leader or Scouter generally refers to the trained adult leader of a Scout unit. The terms used vary from country to country, over time, and with the type of unit.-Roles:...
.
Award
The Historic Trails Award is presented as a cloth or leather patch and as a decal. The award may not be worn on the uniform but is affixed to equipment such as backpacks or vehicles, or sewn onto items such as patch vests or blankets. The Historic Trails Award was established in April 1956, along with the 50-Miler Award50-miler award
The 50-Miler Award is an award of the Boy Scouts of America designed to promote the ideals of Scouting and in Scoutcraft, conservation, self reliance, and physical fitness. The award may be earned by Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers and leaders....
.
Requirements
Although the Historic Trails Award is an individual award, the requirements are performed as a group, where groups may be the troop, team or crew or a provisional group composed of members of various units. The trip must be properly planned and may include other opportunities for advancement and recognitionAdvancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America
Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America is a tradition dating from the inception of the Scouting movement. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man or woman acquires from his participation in Scouting...
. The requirements include planning and participating in a historic activity, locating a historic trail or site and studying information relating to it, hiking or camping two days and one night along the trail or in the vicinity of the site, cooperating with an adult group such as a historic society to restore and mark all or part of this trail or site (which may be done during the hike or overnight camp), or cooperating with such a group to plan and stage a historic pageant, ceremony, or other public event related to the trail or site—such an event should be large enough to merit coverage by the local press. The unit leader must then file the Historic Trails Award application with the council service center.
Recognized historic trails
BSA recognizes over 300 historic trails. There are BSA-approved trails in all 50 states. This table lists a few of these trails.| Historic Trail | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Trail Appalachian Trail The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long... |
Maine to Georgia | Length of the Appalachian mountain range |
| Freedom Trail Freedom Trail The Freedom Trail is a red path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts, that leads to 16 significant historic sites. It is a 2.5-mile walk from Boston Common to Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Simple ground markers explaining events, graveyards, notable churches and other buildings, and a... |
Boston, MA | American Revolution history |
| Gettysburg Historical Trails Program | Gettysburg, PA | Billy Yank Trail, Johnny Reb Trail, Historic Gettysburg Trail, and more on the Gettysburg Campaign Gettysburg Campaign The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The... |
| Illinois Lincoln Trail | New Salem to Springfield, IL | Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and... history |
| Mormon Trail Mormon Trail The Mormon Trail or Mormon Pioneer Trail is the 1,300 mile route that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled from 1846 to 1868... |
Henefer to Salt Lake City, UT | Mormon history |
| Natchez Trace Natchez Trace The Natchez Trace, also known as the "Old Natchez Trace", is a historical path that extends roughly from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, linking the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers... |
Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN | Old Indian trail |
| Pacific Crest Trail Pacific Crest Trail The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico... |
Canadian border to Mexican border | Crest of Pacific Ridge |
| Santa Fe Trail Santa Fe Trail The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880... |
Franklin, MO to Santa Fe, NM | Gateway to the southwest United States |
| Valley Forge Historical Trail | Valley Forge, PA | Site of George Washington George Washington George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of... 's encampment |