Since 1910, conservation and environmental studies have been an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts have rendered distinguished public service by helping to conserve wildlife, energy, forests, soil, and water. Past generations of Scouts have been widely recognized for undertaking conservation Good Turn action projects in their local communities. Through environmental explorations, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts visit the outdoors and discover the natural world around them. Many natural resource careers are born in Scouting.

Since its first appearance in the 1955 printing of the Boy Scout Handbook, the Outdoor Code has reminded Scouts to be conservation-minded.

The Outdoor Code
As an American, I will do my best to—
Be clean in my outdoor manners.
Be careful with fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors.
Be conservation-minded.

Conservation and Outdoor Ethics

The Occoneechee Council Conservation Committee as a component of its primary mission the responsibility to promote conservation and outdoor ethics principles among the council’s Cub Scouts, Scouts USA, Venturers and Scouters. All Scouting participants should have the opportunity to receive the Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award and be versed in the BSA Outdoor Code. All council programs and activities should adhere to Leave No Trace guidelines, the BSA Wilderness Use Policy, and the Outdoor Code. Conservation and outdoor ethics should be emphasized at all council training. Primary functions of this committee include promotion of the Outdoor Ethics program and the William T. Hornaday award.

The BSA has several conservation awards and recognition programs. For more information, click on the award.

Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award More

Attend Cub Scout day camp or Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camp and complete various requirements for each Cub Scout rank, including completing a certain number of outdoor activities. Among the options for a Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award activity is this one: Complete a nature/conservation project in your area. This project should involve improving, beautifying, or supporting natural habitats. Discuss how this project helped you to respect nature.

	World Conservation Award More
	Provides an opportunity for individual Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment. This program is designed to help youth members gain awareness that all nations are closely related through natural resources and that we are interdependent with our world environment.

Conservation Good Turn Award More
An opportunity for Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local, or private) to carry out a Conservation Good Turn in their home communities.

	Keep America Beautiful Hometown USA Award More
	This is a joint program between Keep America Beautiful Inc. and the Boy Scouts of America. It is designed to give recognition to the outstanding efforts of Scouts in their communities in regards to citizenship and environmental improvement.

National Outdoor Badge – Conservation More
When a Scout excels in outdoor participation, there are awards to show for it! This program, conceived by the BSA’s National Camping Task Force, includes a series of six badges designed to recognize a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer who has exemplary knowledge and experience in performing high-level outdoor activities.

William T. Hornaday More

The Hornaday Awards program recognizes truly outstanding efforts undertaken by Scouting units, Scouts, Venturers, Sea Scouts, adult Scouters, and other individuals, corporations, and institutions contributing significantly to natural resource conservation and environmental protection.