
To complete the requirements for the National Outdoor Award Adventure Segment, a Scout or Venturer must learn to be prepared during outdoor adventures. He or she must also complete a challenging backpacking, paddling, sailing, climbing, or other high-adventure activity.
The National Outdoor Awards recognize young men and women in Scouts BSA and Venturing who go beyond in their quest to enjoy the outdoors. There is a center emblem which is presented with the first award and then a segment for each discipline which is completed. The segments are displayed around the center emblem. Additional devices can be worn if the the Scout or Venturer completes even more adventures.
See the specifics below, along with some related helps and awards at the bottom of this post.
National Outdoor Award Adventure Segment Requirements
A Scout, Sea Scout, or Venturer may earn the National Outdoor Badge for Adventure upon successfully completing the following requirements:
- Earn the First Class rank, Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or complete Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1-6.
- Complete the requirements for one of the following: Wilderness Survival, Search and Rescue, or Emergency Preparedness merit badges or Ranger Wilderness Survival core, Ranger Emergency Preparedness core, or Ranger First Aid elective.
- Complete 10 of any combination or repetition of the following adventure activities under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America:
- A backpacking trip lasting three or more days and covering more than 20 miles without food resupply
- A canoeing, rowing, or sailing trip lasting three or more days and covering more than 50 miles without food resupply
- A whitewater trip lasting two or more days and covering more than 20 miles without food resupply
- A climbing activity on open rock, following Climb On Safely principles, that includes camping overnight
- Earn the National Historic Trails Award.
- Earn the 50-Miler Award.
- Attend any national high-adventure base or any nationally recognized local high-adventure or specialty-adventure program.
Items 3a–g may be repeated as desired. A single activity that satisfies multiple items in 3a–g may be counted as separate activities at the discretion of the unit leader. Similarly, a single activity that doubles an item in 3a–d may be counted as two activities at the discretion of the unit leader. A gold device may be earned for each additional five activities. A silver device is earned for each additional 20 activities. The Scout may wear any combination of devices totaling his current number of activities.









