Hiking Awards

Hiking Activity

These awards were developed by the California Inland Empire Council (CIEC) High Adventure Team (HAT). They can be contacted for details on ordering and cost.

This is a set of four awards to promote hiking and environmental awareness. The hikes can be completed within a day or over a weekend. Hikes taken in the city do not qualify for these awards. These awards are designed for Scouts but can be earned by Scouters who meet the extra requirements. It is intended that each of the four awards is earned on a different hike. Each award can be planned so as to fulfill Second Class requirement 1b.

The tour leader must have planned the hike using an appropriate topographic map or maps. The topographic map(s) must be brought on the hike. A wilderness permit and fire permit must be secured from the appropriate U.S. Ranger Station when required.

  • Native Plants Award Requirements:
    • Complete a day or weekend hike of at least 5 miles round trip.
    • Each Scout will begin a plant and tree log book for identifying at least 10 local native plants or trees. When completed the log book must contain an identifying sketch or picture of each plant and tree and enough words that will help the Scout to identify the plants and trees to others. (Note: If a Scout only knows how to identify an oak tree by its acorns then they would have one of the items for their log book. On the other hand, if a Scout knew the difference between a Coast Live Oak and a Canyon Live Oak, they would have two items for their log book.)
    • Each Scout will identify at least 4 local native plants or trees on this hike and enter them into the log book.
    • The local native plant and tree log book must be completed within 3 months of the hike. Scouts who have previously passed First Class requirement 6 must also make their own log book.
    • Each Scout should know how to identify local poisonous or irritating plants such as Poison Oak and stinging nettles and how to treat for exposure to them. (Tenderfoot requirement 11).
  • Animal Tracks Award Requirements:
    • Complete a day or weekend hike of at least 5 miles round trip.
    • Each Scout will begin an animal log book for identifying at least 10 wild animals (mammals, birds, or reptiles).
    • Each Scout will identify at least 3 wild animals by sight or sign on this hike and enter their names and descriptions into the log book.
    • The animal log book must be completed within 3 months of the hike. Scouts who have previously passed Second Class requirement 5 must also make their own log book.
    • Each Scout will show first aid for:
      • Bites or stings of insects and ticks, and
      • Rattlesnake bites. (Both are partials for Tenderfoot 12b)
  • Map and Compass Award Requirements:
    • Complete a day or weekend hike of at least 5 miles round trip.
    • Before going on the hike, each Scout will explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night, and explain what to do if he is lost. (Tenderfoot requirement 5)
    • Each Scout will demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map, and explain what map symbols mean. (Second Class requirement 1a)
    • Each Scout will demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass. (First Class requirement 1)
    • Using a compass and a map, each Scout must take 2 compass readings of dominant terrain features, orient the map and find the features on the map. (A properly oriented map must take into account declination. Refer to using a map and compass together in the Scout Handbook.)
    • Each Scout will measure the height and/or width of at least two items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.). (This will help with First Class requirement 2)
  • Peak Bagger Award Requirements:
    • Complete a day or weekend hike of at least 5 miles round trip.
    • Hike to the top of any peak with a panoramic view.
    • Each Scout will take pictures on the hike. The Troop should plan some kind of picture taking competition. The photograph competition should take place at a meeting following the hike. Scouts without a camera should plan to share with an another Scout.
    • Each Scout should carry a compass and a topographic map with the trail identified. While on the hike, each Scout will show that he can identify his location on the map at least twice during the hike.
    • Each Scout will carry a personal first aid kit he has prepared on the hike. (Second Class requirement 6b)
  • Scouter Requirements for Each Award:
    • Complete the requirements for the respective award.
    • Be a registered and uniformed leader.
    • Complete Scoutmaster Fundamentals so that you know your role as a leader.
    • You must take enough initiative before each hike to learn the local native plants and trees, wild animals, and map and compass so that you can be a resource to others.

National Forest

This award was developed by the California Inland Empire Council (CIEC) High Adventure Team (HAT) for units who enjoy camping and exploring our national forests, but do not necessarily participate in backpacking. Units may also use this award for those Scouts who are working on their hiking merit badge.

  • Requirements:
    • Comply with general requirements.
    • Complete a day hike of at least 10 miles in any one of the four National Forests in the Southern California area.
    • Carry a daypack containing the ten essentials and sufficient water for the time of the year.
    • Keep a journal of any significant sights or wildlife seen during the hike. Make a presentation or verbal report to your troop upon completing the hike.
    • Upon completion of the first hike, the main patch and appropriate forest strip will be awarded. Thereafter, only the appropriate forest strip will be awarded. The ten and twenty mile strips can be awarded for subsequent hikes in these forests or any other national forest.
    • If a day hike of sufficient length is completed in a national forest other than those shown, the main patch and the ten or twenty mile strip can be awarded.
    • Units who wish to earn this award on a backpack outing must meet all of the general requirements. Complete an overnight backpack of at least 10 miles without an offset for elevation. For the twenty-mile strip, the backpack must be at least 20 miles with at least one overnight backcountry camp. Three days two nights are recommended.