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Square knot insignia areembroidered cloth patches that represent awards of theScout associations throughout the world.
TheScout Association of the United Kingdom uses a "figure-eight" knot and many Scouting organizations of the Commonwealth countries follow suit. TheWorld Organization of the Scout Movement uses military-style ribbons.Scouting America uses asquare knot made of colored ropes is depicted; the colors are generally dictated by the award the insignia is associated with.[1][2]
In the earliest days of the Scouting Movement military veterans were urged into service as Scoutmasters. The first Scout uniforms therefore resembledmilitary uniforms. It was common for these veterans to wear theirmilitary decorations on their modified Boy Scout uniform — a national uniform was not to be developed until the early 1920s.[2]
Military tradition dictated that the actual medal from a military award was only worn on ceremonial occasions — at other times, it was replaced with a thinribbon bar with the same ribbon style as found attached to the medal. This carried over to Scouting, whose awards were medals, similar to the military, but were most often worn as ribbons.
The first country to switch over from military ribbons to a unique parallel was the United Kingdom, which introduced its knot emblems in 1922.[3]
The Boy Scouts of America likewise moved away from allowing Scouters to wear military ribbons, but kept the style, introducing their own ribbons in place of medals in 1934. The BSA introduced its own square knot insignia in lieu of the military-style ribbons in1947. The choice of the square knot as the common emblem was made byJames E. West, who is said to have chosen it for its use as the knot associated withfirst aid, thereby reminding Scouts to continue to be of service to others.[2]
The first eight awards with square knot insignia in the BSA were theEagle Scout Award,Quartermaster Award,Scouter's Training Award,Scouter's Key,Silver Beaver Award,Silver Antelope Award,Silver Buffalo Award, andHonor Medal.
Since the introduction of square knot insignia, over forty new awards have been added, then combined, and some retired. Currently, there are 32 nationally authorized square knot insignia representing various medals, medallions, certificates, plaques, and other awards.
There are a few cases of local Council-approved square knots and various popular unofficial or spoof knots.
In Scouting America, square knot insignia are worn in rows of three across the top of the wearer's left pocket. Though there is no rule limiting the number of such insignia that may be worn, some suggest limiting to three rows of three. When fewer than three knots are worn in a particular row, knots are generally centered to the pocket, or the row below.[4]
Dates indicated in the chart below indicate the use of the square knot insignia for the particular award, and may not correspond to the history of the award itself. For example, the first Eagle Scout Award was presented in 1912, and there was a ribbon bar for it from 1934. It was among the first eight awards given square knot insignia in 1947, so that later date is indicated.
These awards are generally earned by the Scouts themselves.
These represent the highest youth rank or achievement in each respective program of Scouting America.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Arrow of Light (Cub Scouts) | 1979 | Highest rank of the Cub Scouting program (ages 5-11) |
 | Eagle Scout (Scouts BSA) | 1947 | Highest rank of the Scouting program (ages 11-18) |
 | Eagle Scout with Life Membership inNESA | 2008 | Indicates lifetime membership in the National Eagle Scout Association |
 | Quartermaster Award (Sea Scouts) | 1947 | Highest rank in the Sea Scouting program (ages 14-20) |
 | Silver Award /Summit Award (Venturing) | 1999 | Highest rank in the Venturing program (ages 14-20) |
These awards are generally granted via nomination and review; they cannot be earned or applied for by Scouts or Scouters directly.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Unit Leader Award of Merit | 2010 | Unit-level quality leader recognition award |
 | District Award of Merit | 1971 | District-level distinguished service award |
 | Silver Beaver Award | 1947 | Council-level distinguished service award |
 | Silver Antelope Award | 1947 | Territory-level distinguished service award |
 | Silver Buffalo Award | 1947 | National-level distinguished service award |
 | Silver World Award | 1976 | International-level distinguished service award |
These awards are generally granted via nomination and review; they cannot be earned or applied for by Scouts or Scouters directly.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Medal of Merit | 1952 | Performed an act of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others. |
 | Heroism Award | 1983 | Demonstrated heroism and skill in averting serious injury or saving or attempting to save life at minimum risk to self. Discontinued late 2012; reinstated February 2018 |
 | Honor Medal | 1947 | Demonstrated unusual heroism and skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save life at considerable risk to self. Awarded with crossed palms for situations with extreme risk to self. |
These awards are generally earned by the Scouters themselves.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Den Leader Training Award | 1989 | |
 | Scouter's Training Award | 1947 | |
 | Scouter's Key | 1947 | |
 | Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service | 2011 | |
 | Doctorate of Commissioner Science | 2008 | |
 | Philmont Training Center Masters Track Award | 2008 | |
 | Professional Training Award | 1980 |
These awards are generally earned by the Scouts and Scouters themselves.
In one case (James E. West Fellowships) nomination by others is also possible.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Youth Religious Emblems[5] | 1971 | |
 | Distinguished Conservation Service Award | 2020 | Replaced William T. Hornaday Awards |
 | James E. West Fellowship | 1993 | |
 | International Scouter Award | 2002 | |
 | William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award | 2005 | |
 | Alumni Award | 2011 |
These awards are generally granted via nomination and review; they cannot be earned or applied for by Scouts or Scouters directly.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Adult Religious Awards[6] | 1973 | |
 | Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award | 1976 | Distinguished service to OA |
 | Distinguished Commissioner Service Award | 1987 | Unit/district/council distinguished commissioner service |
 | Community Organization Awards[7] | 2002 | |
 | Venturing Leadership Award | 2004 | |
 | Scouting Service Award[8] | 2017 | Incorporates -Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award,Scouting ... Vale la pena! Service Award,Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award, American Indian Scouting Association Grey Wolf Award, Special Needs Scouting Service Award |
These awards have been completely discontinued or combined and represented by current award knots.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Ended | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William T. Hornaday Medals | 1991 | 2020 | Superseded by Distinguished Conservation Service Award |
 | Skipper's Key | 1947 | 1949 | Superseded by Scouter's Key |
 | Exploring Ranger Award | 1933 | 1951 | Superseded by "Ranger" bar |
 | Air Scout Ace Award | 1950 | 1954 | |
 | Exploring Silver Award | 1954 | 1958 | |
 | Exploring Awards Knot[9] | 1954 | 1998 | |
 | William H. Spurgeon III Award[10] | 1989 | 2007 | Recognition for individuals and organizations contributing significant leadership to the Exploring program[10] |
 | Scoutmaster Award of Merit | 1987 | 2010 | Superseded by Unit Leader Award of Merit |
| Venturing Advisor / Varsity Coach Award of Merit | 1999 | 2010 | Superseded by Unit Leader Award of Merit |
 | Pack Trainer Award | 2006 | 2011 | Superseded by Scouter's Training Award[11] |
 | Cubmaster Award | 1989 | 2012 | Superseded by Scouter's Key |
 | Cub Scouter Award | 1989 | 2012 | Superseded by Scouter's Training Award |
 | Den Leader Coach Award | 1989 | 2012 | Superseded by Den Leader Training Award |
 | Webelos Den Leader Award | 1989 | 2012 | Superseded by Den Leader Training Award |
 | Tiger Cub Den Leader Award | 1992 | 2012 | Superseded by Den Leader Training Award |
 | George Meany Award | 1987 | 2011 | Incorporated in Community Organization Award |
 | Sea Badge | 1989 | 2012 | Superseded by Seabadge Trident pin |
 | Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award | 2003 | 2016 | Incorporated in Scouting Service Award |
 | ¡Scouting...Vale la Pena! Service Award | 2003 | 2016 | Incorporated in Scouting Service Award |
 | Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award | 1989 | 2016 | Incorporated in Scouting Service Award |
 | Speakers Bank Award | 2007 | 2011 | Discontinued |
The British Scout Association introduced the idea of a cloth 'knot' insignia in 1922, modeled after the military use of ribbons to represent medals and other citations. Many of the Scouting organizations of theCommonwealth of Nations either copy the British system or simply use the British awards and insignia.
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bronze Cross | Year | Desc |
 | Silver Cross | Year | Desc |
 | Gilt Cross | Year | Desc |
 | Cornwell Scout Badge | Year | Desc |
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Medal for Meritorious Conduct | Year | Desc |
 | Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct | Year | Desc |
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Silver Wolf | Year | Desc |
 | Silver Acorn | Year | Desc |
 | Award for Merit | Year | Desc |
 | Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service | Year | Desc |
 | Chief Scout's Personal Award | Year | Desc |
 | Commissioner's Commendation Award | Year | Desc |
 | Length of Service Decoration | Year | Desc |
| Insignia | Title | Started | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bronze Wolf Award | 1935 | The World Organization of the Scout Movement offers only one award to scouters, theBronze Wolf Award and it is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed on an adult scout leader throughout the world. There is approximately one award given for every 2,000,000 scouts. |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)As of March 2018, there were 34 religions and churches or denominations which sponsored awards for adult service to scouting in that faith. This knot represents any of those 34 distinct awards, which are not offered by scouting, but by the church or religion itself.
As of March 2018, there were 20 secular community organizations which sponsored awards for adult service to scouting in that organization. This knot represents any of those 20 distinct awards, which are not offered by Scouting, but by the community organization itself.
As of March 2018, there were 5 distinct awards represented by this knot, each focused on service to a particular, traditionally under-served demographic: African-American, Asian-American, Latino-American, Native American, and Special Needs youth.
