Boy Scouts of America Bead Program

I was recently called to serve as the Young Men's President of my ward, and as such had the opportunity to get involved in the Boy Scouts of America. I grew up in Missouri, and one of my favorite awards programs as a youth was the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) bead program, that the Heart of America Council had. There is some debate about how much the bead program helps get young men to attend activities, but many troops have seen increased attendance at activities. If it helps one or more additional young men to attend, it is worth it.

In an effort to initiate the program here in Utah, I created a modified version of the (BSA) Heart of America Council Bead Program. You can't purchase all of the beads and things from ScoutStuff.org, but you can get all the other needed beads from
OzarkCampfire.com.

To get started each boy and leader needs two things:

• A Belt Totem (which you can get at ScoutStuff.org or OzarkCampfire.com)
• And Suede Leather Lacing (ScoutStuff.org or OzarkCampfire.com)
• You will need two strips of suede leather lacing about XX" long.

The boys and leaders earn beads as follows:

Bead Program: (These go on a leather belt totem, with lace)

Flat Rounds: (Camping Beads – ScoutStuff.org or OzarkCampfire.com)

• Green – Fair Weather
• Black – Rain
• White – Snow
• Blue –  Below Freezing
• Clear – Below Zero (Only available at OzarkCampfire.com)
• Brown – High Adventure Trip
• Red – Full Week Camp
• Orange – One Campout Every Month For 12 Consecutive Months
• Yellow – District/Council Camp
• Purple – service

Boots: (Hiking Beads – OzarkCampfire.com)

• Blue – 2.5 mile
• Green – 5 mile
• Brown – 10 mile
• Black – 20 mile
• Purple – 50 mile
• Red – Backpacking Trip
• Orange – one hike every month for 12 consecutive months (at least 2.5 miles)

Canoe: (Canoeing Beads – OzarkCampfire.com)

• Yellow – Canoeing Trip
• Or
• Blue - one day trip
• Green – two day trip
• Brown – three day trip
• Black – four day trip
• Purple – five day trip

Star: (Special Event Beads – OzarkCampfire.com)

• Red – Order of the Arrow
• Blue – Pow Wow
• Yellow – Camporee
• Black – Jamboree

Square: (OzarkCampfire.com)

• Purple – Religious Award

If you have any suggestions or ideas for other awards or questions about the BSA bead program, please let me know!