Troop Awards

Hard Back Award

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This award was designed to mimick the same award by the California Inland Empire Council (CIEC) High Adventure Team (HAT).

Requirements:

  • Pitch, or help partner pitch, the tent you will sleep in.
  • Prepare and use the Comfortable Ground Bed as shown in the Scout Handbook. The use of a cot, mattress, etc., borrowed from camp or use of wooden platform disqualifies a Scout.
  • A Scout is encouraged to carry his own air mattress, ground cloth, etc. and use them on this campout and others.
  • Sleep in your own gear for at least five nights, they do not need to be consecutive.

Nights of Camping

Scouts and Scouters can earn Nights of Camping strips in increments of 20 nights (20, 40, 60, 80 nights) by camping that number of nights with the Scout unit. The main patch is given with the first (20 nights) strip.

Troop Hiker

In order to stimulate an interest in hiking/backpacking, the troop has created the Troop Hiker award set. They are earned, one per hike, in the following order:

  • Brown: 1st hike
  • Yellow: 2nd hike
  • Blue: 3rd hike
  • Green/white: 4th hike

Murray Hiker Award

Mr. was the Scoutmaster of Troop 777 beginning in 1989 and ending in 2000. His love of hiking opened a new and challenging world for many scouts. Of course, Mr. Murray occasionally would overstate the ease of a hike and occasionally, but rarely, take the wrong fork. Whenever this happened, the scouts had a great time kidding about their adventure on another Murray Hike, often exclaiming "Going on a Murray Hike!"

For these reasons, the troop has created a set of awards called the Murray Hiker Awards. They recognize the progress of scouts as they develop their skills in hiking.

White Diamond Award

Requirements

  • Complete 3 weekend backpacking hikes.
  • Complete 1 hour of conservation.
  • Complete the following hike related advancement requirements:
    • Tenderfoot 1, 5
    • Second Class 1a, 1b
    • First Class 1, 2

Green Diamond Award

Requirements

  • Complete a total of 7 weekend backpacking hikes. At least one must be a hike of 7 hours or more.
  • Complete 6 more hours of conservation work in a National Forest or State Park (total of 7 hours).
  • Fully explain the meaning of the Outdoor Code.

 

 

 

Black Diamond Award

Requirements

  • Complete 107 miles of backpacking.
  • Complete 6 more hours of conservation work in a National Forest or State Park (total of 13 hours).
  • Earn the Backpacking merit badge.

Magnificent Swimmer


The troop has always had Scouts interested in the Mile Swim award at summer camp, we even had one scout complete five mile swims overall during his time in Scouting.

In 2021, during our summer camp at Cherry Valley on Santa Catalina Island, we had an unprecedented five Scouts that participated in the Mile Swim during the week. On e scout jumped in the water, intent on completing the Mile Swim, and decided to continue on to complete a second mile swim.

In recognition of their extreme commitment, the troop decided to create a new award called the Magnificent Swimmer. The gold border is for those that completed the mile swim. The silver border is for those that have gone above and beyond.

Troop 777 Knot Master


The purpose of the Knot Master Program is to encourage participants to learn to tie a full range of useful and practical knots. When this program is completed, Scouts will have mastered and have at their disposal at least 25 new knots!

 

Goals Of The Knot Master Program

  • Learn knot skills for rank advancement, merit badges, and practical situations.
  • Provide opportunities for one-on-one teaching using the E.D.G.E. method.
  • Provide opportunities for mastery and advancement with increasingly challenging levels.
  • Recognize self-directed effort and achievement.

Program Overview

This program holds to BSA's longstanding tradition where Silver outranks Gold (and is a higher achievement). Accordingly, Gold is the first level, followed by Silver.

Everyone is encouraged to work with their fellow Scouts to learn to tie their knots. A useful resource is included in the handout. In addition, other resources may be used, such as other books or online references.

In general, the program flow is as follows:

  • Scouts should work on each requirement and record their progress for each award level using the Knot Master Progress Sheet in the handout.
  • Some other person must certify that the requirement(s) have been met. Self-certification is not allowed.
  • When the requirements for each award are completed, the Scout must turn in the completed progress sheet (for that award level) to the Scoutmaster.

Very important regarding requirement sign-off:

  • Sign-off should come from other Scouts. In isolated instances, adults may provide sign-off.
  • The person who signs must be qualified to certify completion. If they do not feel qualified, they should rightfully withhold their signature. Because "a Scout is trustworthy", the Troop presumes that this privilege will not be abused.