Knot of the Week: Scouter’s Key

Week-22-Knot

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.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.