THE SILVER BEAVER AWARD

The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award for Scouting America. It is the highest honor a local council can bestow upon a registered adult leader. The award is intended to acknowledge noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing leaders within the territory under the jurisdiction of the local Council.

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It is considered the highest award a Boy Scout Council can bestow upon a volunteer Scouter.

 

The Silver Beaver Award is given to individuals who, through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service, have evidenced exceptional service to Scouting America, service of exceptional character to non-Scouting youth, and service or standing within the community.

 

The Indian Nations Council presents Silver Beaver Awards annually at the Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver Award Recognition Banquet.

 

Councils may present one Silver Beaver Award for every sixty units.

 

The Silver Beaver Award consists of a certificate and a silver beaver pendant suspended from a blue and white ribbon worn around the neck. Recipients may wear the corresponding square knot, with a white strand over a blue strand, on the BSA uniform.

 

The 2025 Silver Beaver Awards will be presented at the Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver Award Recognition Banquet to be held Spring 2026.

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More about Scouting Honors and Special Recognitions

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History

The Silver Beaver was introduced in 1931 as a pin-on medal, but due to the heavyweight of the medallion, it was switched over to a neck ribbon in mid-1932. A blue-white-blue ribbon bar was introduced in 1934 for informal uniform wear. In 1946, ribbon bars were replaced by the current knot insignia.

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The Silver Beaver was initially awarded only to men. The Silver Fawn Award, an equivalent for women was awarded starting in 1971. It used the same knot insignia but on a blue background. The Silver Fawn was discontinued, and the Silver Beaver began to be awarded to women in 1974. A total of 2,455 Silver Fawns were awarded nationally to outstanding women for support of Cub Scouting before the award was discontinued in 1974.

 

Of the thousands of volunteers who have served Indian Nations Council and its predecessor councils, since 1931, 829 Scouters have received the Silver Beaver Award. The Indian Nations Council is proud to recognize their contributions to Scouting.