When walking along a trail at your favorite national park, brown trail signs mark your progress every few miles. These signs serve as a helpful reminder that you’re on the right track as you move toward your goal.
As a Scouting volunteer, the Scouter’s Key serves a similar purpose. Volunteers who earn the Key have made great progress toward becoming effective and trained leaders.
The green-and-white Key represents awards given to a variety of positions. Scouters who volunteer as a Scoutmaster, commissioner, district committee member, skipper, or Venturing advisor are eligible to receive the award after three years of service.
In addition to the tenure requirement, award applicants must complete:
- Fast Start Training
- This Is Scouting
- Specific training for their position
- Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
Leaders also must conduct unit leader training at least three times and participate in a supplemental training course at the council or national level.
For details, here’s the link for the Scoutmaster’s Key progress record (link opens PDF). Requirements for other Keys are similar.
Best of luck as you continue down your leadership trail.