Leave No Trace | Hornaday Awards | High Knoll Trailmaster | Resource RambleHornaday Awards The William T. Hornaday Award Program was created to recognize those who have made significant contributions to conservation. The original award program began in 1917, while Dr. Hornaday was director of the New Your zoological Park and founder of the National Zoo in Washington DC. Today the Hornaday Award is the foremost award in the area of Natural Reservation and Conservation in the Boy Scouting Program. |
These awards represent a substantial commitment to time and energy. Scouts or Venturers considering working on earning this award at one of the 3 levels must be willing to devote time and energy to a serious scientific effort. They must understand and be committed to the work that is necessary:
- Each project must be a substantial project, being based on sound scientific principles and guided by a conservation professional.
- Each project must be well documented, providing clear written evidence of the research prior to and during the projects, the project plan, the leadership, and evidence of how the plan was carried out, and the evidence of how the project was carried out and how it influenced other people.
- All completed work is turned into the Council Special Awards and Recognition Chair who assembles a committee to screen each application and project work.
- Award Project work will not be sent to the National Hornaday Committee for consideration if it does not meet the requirements and expectations of the award.
If a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or Venturer is interested in earning any of the Hornaday Awards, the following 2 steps should be taken PRIOR to commencing with any work, outside of the Merit Badge requirements:
- Read all information regarding the requirements and expectations on the national Hornaday Website. (links listed below)
- Obtain an Advisor by contacting the Conservation Chairman, Dr. Bill Shiner or Council Program Director, Greg Harmon.
Links to the National site:
- Who was William T. Hornaday?
- The Awards - explanation of the 7 levels on which the award is given.
- Hornaday Projects - What Qualifies, Examples, additional ideas
- How are the Applications Judged - Expectations, Monitoring, requirements for Venturers, Screening.
- National Council Criteria for Judging
- Applications and Forms
- Guidelines for the William T. Hornaday Award Conservation Advisor
- Hornaday Advisor Application
- Hornaday Fact Sheet
If you are a Conservation Professional and are interested in being an Advisor for Scouts working to earn the William T. Hornaday Awards, please contact the Council Program Director, Greg Harmon.
