Outdoor Ethics Patch and Pictures

Frequently Asked Questions

* Training Courses

Q:   What are the Training Codes for Leave No Trace Training Courses?
A:

See the links for the teaching resources and Training Recognition cards for these classes.

Q:   What are the Training Codes for Tread Lightly! Courses?
A:
  • D80 - Tread Trainer
  • D81 - Master Tread Trainer
Q:   Are there Training Codes for other Outdoor Ethics training?
A: The Outdoor Ethics Orientation training codes:
  • Youth - S110
  • Adults - S111
(Instructor Guide) (Recognition Card)

The following classes are not recorded in a person's training record and do not have a BSA Training Code:

  • Leave No Trace Workshop *
  • Leave No Trace awareness course * (other than Leave No Trace Basics)
  • Tread Lightly! Awareness
  • Outdoor Ethics Guide Training

* Before it was replaced by Leave No Trace 101 (in about 2010), there was an earlier Leave No Trace Awareness course on the BSA website which used the D74 Training Code. Since 2010, D74 and the Leave No Trace Awareness training recognition should only be used for Leave No Trace 101 (now Basics).
See the Minimum Elements for BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum for more information.

* Council Outdoor Ethics Advocate

Q:   Should the COEA role be part of the Camping or the Training committee, and what do most councils do?
A: According to the Council Outdoor Programs Committee (COPC) Guide:

COPC Partner Committees

* Aquatics
* Shooting Sports
* COPE/Climbing
* Health and Safety
* Risk Management
* Outdoor Ethics Advocate
* High Adventure
* Fishing
  • The Outdoor Ethics Advocate is one of the "Partner Committees" of the Outdoor Programs Committee. (page 36)
  • "The council outdoor ethics advocate will work with the outdoor programs committee, the training committee, the conservation committee, and others ..." (page 43)

Councils often have the COEA reporting to some other committee such as Training or Conservation. Paula Boothe encourages COEAs to gravitate toward the committee where they will get the most support.

Many of the councils with active outdoor ethics programs have an Outdoor Ethics Committee, chaired by the COEA. Some councils also have designated District OE Advocates as part of their committee.

It is important for the COEA to be on, or to have other OE Committee members on, the other committees to effectively meet all of the elements of the COEA job description.

* Outdoor Ethics Awareness and Action Awards

Q:   Requirement No. 5 for the Outdoor Ethics Awareness Awards and requirement 4 for the Scouts BSA Outdoor Ethics Action Award refer to a person "who has completed the BSA outdoor ethics orientation course ... " What is considered an orientation course?
A:The person who can facilitate the outdoor ethics activity or check the Action Award requirement is any of the following:
  • a Leave No Trace Level 2 or Level 1 Instructor (formerly Master Educator or Trainer)
  • a Tread Lightly! Master Tread Trainer or Tread Trainer
  • a person who has completed the BSA Leave No Trace Basics (formerly 101) course or earned the BSA Leave No Trace Awareness Card (Basics course equivalent)
  • a person who has completed the BSA Outdoor Ethics Orientation course
  • any individual designated by a council outdoor ethics advocate or, in the absence of an advocate, the Scout executive or his or her designee, to facilitate the "outdoor ethics activity."
 
Q:Where can I get these awards?
A:
  • Many council scout shops stock the OE Awareness Award patches (SKU 618280), they can order them for you, or you can order them at www.scoutshop.org.
  • Because the OE Action Award name badges (SKU 618977) are restricted and must be customized, they must be ordered through your local council scout shop. Take your completed application form.
 
Q:The Action Award requires a service project. What kinds of things can I do.
A:
  • The award brochures give a few examples of projects.
  • More info can be found in this reference.
 
Q:Who "Signs Off" these awards
A:
  • The unit leader authorizes the Awareness and Action Awards. Ideally the requirements are checked by a leader who has taken the Leave No Trace Basics course, or by a Leave No Trace Level 1, 2, or 3 Instructor.
 
Q:What changed in 2016 and 2019?
A: Changes to the Scouts BSA Advancement requirements caused some minor changes to the requirements for the Outdoor Ethics Action Awards.
More Information
 
Q:Where are the awards worn on the scout uniform?
A:
  • The Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award is considered a temporary patch:
    • The patch is worn centered on the right pocket ...
    • Female leaders ... may wear one temporary insignia centered above the Boy Scouts of America or Venturing BSA strip (above the right pocket).
    • Scouts may wear temporary patches on the back of the merit badge sash.
  • The OE Action Award is a nameplate:
    • ... above right pocket, either above BSA strip or above interpreter strip.
    (For more details, please see: Guide to Awards and Insignia)
    (From OE Task Force meeting, Jan 18, 2015)
 
Q:Boy (or adult) earned the OE Action Award as Cub Scout (or Cub leader) before the award was retired, then joins Scouts BSA. Can the award (name tag) be worn on the Scouts BSA uniform?
A:
  • The OE Action Award with the small Cub Scout emblem can be worn on the Scouts BSA uniform.
  • The scout (adult) is encouraged to earn the Scouts BSA OE Action Award and add the small Scouts BSA emblem to the award.
    (From OE Task Force meeting, Jan 18, 2015)

* Scouts BSA Advancement

Outdoor Ethics Guide Position of Responsibility
Q:   Are there any specific requirements for a Scout to hold the Outdoor Ethics Guide position of responsibility?
A:There is no required training, but there are many resources available.
The Outdoor Ethics Guide Handbook, released in September 2017, identifies the responsibilities of the outdoor ethics guide, provides ideas on how to carry out this role, and lists resources.
Troop Outdoor Ethics Guide Position Description
 
Q:Is the outdoor ethics guide a leadership position in Venturing?
A:The outdoor ethics guide is not an official leadership position in the Venturing or Sea Scouting programs.
Venturing crews may elect to assign the responsibility of outdoor ethics guide to a member, but it is not a leadership position. (Reference: OE Guide Handbook)

BSA Logo Boy Scouts of America - Outdoor Ethics - All Rights Reserved