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Resources Training Awards Literature
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The History of the Silver Award Almost from the start of the Scouting program in the United States, there has been a need for a program specifically designed for older scouts. Even Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the World Scouting movement, recognized this need. The very first older boy program ever created was Sea Scouts, with a manual written by Baden-Powell’s older brother. This program was adopted early on by the Boy Scouts of America in 1912. In 1935, the Boy Scouts of America established a new program for older boys which they called Senior Scouts. Research conducted as early as 1927 had shown that the needs and interests of older boys were not being met by the traditional Scouting program. Under the Senior Scout program, once a boy turned 15, he was automatically considered a Senior Scout and could participate in a variety of different programs including Sea Scouting, Explorer Scouting, Air Scouting, Rover Scouting, and Senior Scouting in the troop. In September 1949, after again researching the needs of older boys, the Senior Scout program was changed into the Explorer program. Whereas the old Senior Scout program has an explicit outdoor emphasis, the Explorer program expanded its purpose to attract more older boys. Explorer posts were supposed to have a well rounded program that included outdoor, indoor (vocation), social, and service activities. Explorer posts were also more likely to specialize in some area of interest which might be hobby-based or vocational based. The entry age of this new program was changed from 15 to 14. Boy Scouts of America also changed the policy so that when a boy turned 14, he automatically became an Explorer. He could continue in his troop, join an Explorer Crew in his troop or join a separate Explorer unit. The new Explorer program also revamped its advancement program and offered for the first time the ranks of Apprentice, Bronze, Gold, and Silver. Advancement was done by earning rating strips. To earn a strip, the Explorer had to participate in an outdoor event, social event, and a service event, as well as completing the requirements for the rating. Ratings strips could be earned in Aviation, Communication, Craft Skills, Emergency Skills, Navigation, Outdoor Skills, Physical Fitness, Seamanship and Vocational Exploration. During the period of 1950 to 1964, 18,047 Silver Awards were earned by Explorers and Air Explorers. Silver has always been traditionally associated with the highest awards offered by the Boy Scouts of America. The Eagle medal, first awarded in 1912, consists of a silver eagle suspended from a red, white and blue ribbon. The Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and the Silver Buffalo are presented each year to those adult scouters who have contributed significantly to Scouting at the Council, Regional and National level. It is therefore appropriate that the Boy Scouts of America reinstated the Silver Award as Venturing’s highest award to recognize its most outstanding young men and women. |
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Last updated: Sunday, 26 February 2006 04:19 PM |
Mecklenburg
County Council
