The William T. Hornaday Award Program was created to recognize Scouts who have made a significant contribution to conservation. The 
original award program began in 1917, while Dr. Hornaday was director of the New York Zoological Park and founder of the National Zoo in Washington DC.
Today the Hornaday Award is the foremost award in the area of Natural Conservation in the Boy Scouting Program.
These awards represent a substantial commitment of time and energy by individuals who have learned the meaning of a conservation/environmental ethic. The project(s) must be tied to one of the approved conservation categories. The award requirements can take from months to years to complete. Scouts and Venturers must plan activities well in advance and be willing to devote time and energy to a serious scientific effort.
• Each project must be a long term, substantial project, based on sound scientific principles and guided by a conservation professional/council conservation advisor.
• Each project must be well documented and provide clear written evidence of the research prior to and during the projects, a project plan, leadership, and evidence of how the plan was carried out, and how it influenced other people.
• All completed work is turned into the Council Special Awards and Recognition Chair of the Advancement Committee who convenes a committee to review each application and project work.
• Award project work will not be sent to the National Hornaday Committee for consideration if it does not meet the requirements and expectations of the award.
If a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or Venturer is interested in earning any of the Hornaday Awards, the following 2 steps should be taken PRIOR to commencing with any work, outside of the Merit Badge requirements:
1. Read all information regarding the requirements and expectations on the national Hornaday Website. Sub categories are listed below
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/HornadayAwards.aspx
• Earning a Hornaday Medal
• William T. Hornaday Profile
• Finding an Advisor
• Becoming an Advisor
• Awards
• Sample Projects
• Application and Nomination Forms
• Checklist for Applications
• National Council Judging Criteria
• How Applications are Judged
2. Contact the Council Special Award and Recognition Chair for the Council at
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for an advisor. Advisors are conservation professionals or individuals with background in the field of conservation who have a clear understanding of the requirements of the Award.
3. Deadline for the completion of the award requirements is a Scouts 18th birthday, for a Venturer it is his/her 21st birthday. Additional requirements are expected of the Venturer as their allowed time to competition is longer.
If you are a Conservation Professional and are interested in being an approved conservation advisor for Scouts desiring to earn one of the William T. Hornaday Awards, please complete the Hornaday Award Advisor Application and forward to
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.
