The Scouter's Key Award is an adult recognition of the Boy Scouts of America

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...

. This award is available across several different program areas and can be earned more than once.

History

In 1927 the Boy Scouts of America began to recognize adult leaders who completed specific training and performance goals over a five year period of service with the Scoutmaster's Key. In 1948, the award was renamed the Scouter's Key Award and the tenure requirement was changed from five years of service to three years. The award could now be earned by Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Senior Scout Advisors and commissioners. The Skipper's Key, created in 1939, was discontinued in 1948 and replaced with the Scouter's Key. The medal emblem was changed from the First Class emblem to the universal emblem. The Skipper's Key was reinstated as a separate award in 2001 using the original medal and knot designs.

Award

The medal is a pendant suspended from a green ribbon with a thick vertical stripe. The pendant is a Tenderfoot emblem on a keystone, all in a brass colored metal. The square knot insignia is an embroidered green and white square knot on a cloth khaki patch. Multiple awards are denoted by the wear of program devices, worn on the square knot award and the ribbon of the award medal.

Requirements

Requirements vary, depending on position, but all requirements basically amount to creation and/or maintenance of a quality Scouting program, while serving for a period of three years. The award may be earned as a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, Venturing Advisor, roundtable commissioner, district commissioner, assistant district commissioner, unit commissioners, council commissioner, assistant council commissioner, district committee chairman, or district committee member.

Scoutmaster's Key

• Complete Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Training
• Complete New Leader Essentials
• Complete Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training
• Complete Youth Protection Training
• Complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
• Earn the Boy Scout Leader’s Training Award
• Conduct troop youth leader training three times
• Participate in one supplemental training course either at a local council or national level
• Participate as an adult in youth leader training by either serving on the staff or attending the Scoutmaster orientation session of the national youth leader training conference
• Complete at least three years of registered tenure as a Scoutmaster within a five year period
• Earn the Boy Scout Troop National Quality Unit Award two times during the three year period

Varsity Scout Coach's Key

• Complete Varsity Scout Fast Start Training
• Complete New Leader Essentials
• Complete Varsity Coach Leader Specific Training
• Complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
• Conduct youth leader introduction to leadership training twice
• Participate twice in a team leader seminar
• Participate in one training course beyond Varsity Scout Leader Specific Training (local council or national level experience)
• Complete at least three years of tenure registered as a Varsity Scout Coach within a five year period
• At least twice during the three year period, serve as Coach of a Varsity Scout team that earns the National Quality Unit Award

Venturing Advisor's Key

• Complete Venturing Fast Start
• Complete Venturing Leader Basic Training
• Conduct crew officers’ seminars each year for three years
• Conduct at least one Venturing Leadership Skills Course
• Earn the Venturing Leader Training Award
• Complete three years of registered tenure as a Venturing crew Advisor within a five-year period
• Earn the Venturing Crew National Quality Unit Award two times
• Have a crew parents’ night each year

Unit Commissioner Key

• Complete the three-session training program outlined in the Commissioner Basic Training Manual: "Why Commissioners?", "First Visitation", "Units: The Commissioner’s Greatest Priority", "Second Visitation", "Third visitation" and "How to Help a Unit"
• Complete personal coaching orientation including orientation projects
• Complete 3 years as a registered commissioner within a five year period
• Earn the Arrowhead Honor Award

1. Complete Basic Training
2. Visit each assigned unit eight or more times throughout the year
3. Fill in and follow up on unit commissioner work sheets or self-assessment forms for each assigned unit
4. Conduct membership and leadership inventories in each assigned unit
5. Attend six district commissioner staff meetings and provide the training topic for one meeting
6. Participate in a charter renewal meeting that results in on-time unit reregistration
7. Participate in a charter presentation
8. Attend a council commissioner conference or planning conference, or actively participate in a major council event
9. Help a unit resolve a specific problem or improve some aspect of their unit operation

Roundtable Commissioner Key

• Complete basic training for Cub Scout, Boy Scout,Venturing roundtable commissioners.
• Complete the three session training program outlined in Commissioner Basic Training Manual.
• Attend a council commissioner conference or planning conference with a majority of your staff.
• Complete personal coaching assignments.
• Complete three years as a registered commissioner within a five year period
• Earn the Arrowhead Honor Award.

1. Review all material in the current Venturing Roundtable Guide, current Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide, current Cub Scout Roundtable Planning Guide, or the current Varsity Scout Roundtable Guide.
2. Review all material in the Troop Program Features, Cub Scout Program Helps, Varsity Scout Game Plan or Venturing Leader Manual
3. Recruit a roundtable staff
4. Lead staff in preparing a one year roundtable outline
5. Supervise the staff in conducting these roundtables
6. With the district commissioner and district executive, develop and use an attendance promotion plan
7. Attend a council commissioner conference, roundtable, or planning conference

District Commissioner Key

• Complete Commissioner Basic Training
• Complete three years as a registered commissioner within a five year period
• Earn the Arrowhead Honor Award

1. Work with the district executive to evaluate all district commissioners
2. Achieve a ratio of one unit commissioner for every three units in the district or service area
3. Develop and put into action a suitable recruiting plan
4. Chair or take part actively in six district commissioner staff meetings
5. Attend six district committee meetings
6. Attend a council commissioner conference or planning conference with a majority of the commissioner staff
7. Provide personal coaching for the district commissioners
8. Develop and implement a plan to track and hold unit commissioners accountable for monthly unit visits

Council Commissioner Key

• Complete the three session training program outlined in Commissioner Basic Training Manual
• Complete personal coaching orientation including the orientation projects
• Complete three years as a registered commissioner within a five year period
• Earn the Arrowhead Honor Award

1. Work with the Scout executive or other staff adviser and evaluate all district commissioners in the council
2. Have an active, effective district commissioner in every district of the council
3. Develop and put into action a suitable recruiting plan throughout the council
4. Achieve a ratio in the council of one unit commissioner for every three units
5. Chair or actively take part in six council commissioner meetings
6. Give leadership to a council commissioner conference
7. In consultation with the Scout executive, select and carry out a major project in the council

District Committee Key

• The district must earn the Quality District Award at least once within a three year period.
• Take part actively in six district committee meetings.
• Help give leadership to eight projects of the operating committee or other projects as approved by the district executive
• Review the district manual and the highlight book for the committee position held; discuss the role of the district and the position with the committee chairman or district executive
• Complete the District Committee Training Workshop
• Complete three years as a district committee member within a five year period

See also

• Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America
  Advancement 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...
  
  
• Scouter's Training Award
  Scouter's Training Award
  The Scouter's Training Award is an adult recognition of the Boy Scouts of America. This award is available across several different program areas and can be earned more than once.-History:...