Volunteer Awards

Silver Beaver

The highest award that a local council can give to a volunteer Scout Leader for service to youth.

Of the hundreds of awards that are presented each year, the Silver Beaver is the highest and most prestigious honor awarded to a volunteer by a local council. As a movement whose leadership is overwhelmingly volunteer, the Boy Scouts of America recognizes the need to acknowledge those individuals who truly go above and beyond to guarantee the availability of a quality Scouting program. Please consider nominating a dedicated Scouter that has influenced the program of Scouting in your area for this award.

When nominating a Scouter for this honor in the Atlanta Area Council, please consider the following:

  • This award is made for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered BSA adult volunteers within the Atlanta Area Council
  • Service of a non-Scouting nature is also considered during the evaluation process
  • Nominations must be submitted only on the Atlanta Area Council Nomination Form.
  • The Atlanta Area Council recognizes and truly appreciates the dedication of over 10,000 Scouters in the Atlanta Area, however, we are limited by National BSA protocol as to the number of Silver Beaver Awards that can be presented. 
  • All nominations will be reviewed by a volunteer committee

Nominate via online submission by November 20th of each year.

District Award of Merit 

The District Award of Merit is available to registered Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level. You can earn this award by being presented to registered adult volunteers by districts in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is, as a national award presented by councils; it is not appropriate to nominate a Scouter who has already received this award. The award is presented by the council at appropriate gatherings such as district annual dinners.

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award

The purpose of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award is to recognize outstanding services by an adult individual or an organization for demonstrated involvement in the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low-income urban backgrounds—this is in fulfillment of Dr. Young’s dream of justice and equality for all.  

To qualify for the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award, a nominee must have had a significant contribution to the metro-Atlanta community, helping youth in hard-to-serve neighborhoods.

To nominate an honoree for this award, download and complete the nomination form and submit it via email to mjackson@atlantabsa.org.

The Whitney M. Young Awards are presented at a recognition banquet in the fall.