The Scouter's Key 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
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.[1] 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, white and green ribbon. The current pendant is a Tenderfoot emblem on a keystone, all in a gold colored metal. Earlier versions had the keystone and emblem created in 10 or 14 karat gold; and with the First Class emblem as opposed to the Tenderfoot emblem. There is a matching certificate, signed by the Chief Scout Executive with spaces for it to be countersigned by the local Council's president and Scout Executive. The cloth 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.
Complete at least three years of registered tenure as a Cubmaster within a five-year period
Complete basic training for Cubmasters
Complete This is Scouting training
Attend a pow wow or University of Scouting (or equivalent), or attend at least four roundtables (or equivalent) during each year of the tenure used for the award
Achieve at least the Silver level of Journey to Excellence for at least two years (Quality Unit Award is acceptable if the tenure used is prior to 2011)
Earn the National Summertime Pack Award at least once
Conduct an annual Pack planning session and have a published Pack meeting/activity schedule of the Pack's parents in each year.
Participate in one supplemental or advanced training course either at a council, area, region, or national level
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
Complete at least three years of registered tenure as a Skipper within a five-year period
Complete Sea Scout Adult Leader Basic Training
Complete a NASBLA approved boater safety course
Attend a university of Scouting (or equivalent), or attend at least four roundtables (or equivalent) during each year of the tenure used for this award
Achieve at least the Silver level of Journey to Excellence for at least two years
Conduct annual quarterdeck training and have a published meeting/activity schedule for the ship in each year
Participate in at least one additional supplemental or advanced training event at the council, area, region, or national level
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
Complete Basic Training
Visit each assigned unit eight or more times throughout the year
Fill in and follow up on unit commissioner work sheets or self-assessment forms for each assigned unit
Conduct membership and leadership inventories in each assigned unit
Attend six district commissioner staff meetings and provide the training topic for one meeting
Participate in a charter renewal meeting that results in on-time unit reregistration
Participate in a charter presentation
Attend a council commissioner conference or planning conference, or actively participate in a major council event
Help a unit resolve a specific problem or improve some aspect of their unit operation
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.
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.
Review all material in the Troop Program Features, Cub Scout Program Helps, Varsity Scout Game Plan or Venturing Leader Manual
Recruit a roundtable staff
Lead staff in preparing a one-year roundtable outline
Supervise the staff in conducting these roundtables
With the district commissioner and district executive, develop and use an attendance promotion plan
Attend a council commissioner conference, roundtable, or planning conference
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
Work with the Scout executive or other staff adviser and evaluate all district commissioners in the council
Have an active, effective district commissioner in every district of the council
Develop and put into action a suitable recruiting plan throughout the council
Achieve a ratio in the council of one unit commissioner for every three units
Chair or actively take part in six council commissioner meetings
Give leadership to a council commissioner conference
In consultation with the Scout executive, select and carry out a major project in the council
District Committee Key may still be earned under the old requirements if the Scouter has already started working on it and will have requirements completed by December 31, 2014[11] These requirements are:[12]
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
