Pipestone Honor Requirements

Pipestone Camp Honor Requirements

The Advancement, Ecology, and Swimming requirements must be completed during our week of camp. If the Good Turn is missed at the May campout, it must be completed at another time – on the Scout’s own initiative. All requirements must be finished by noon on Friday of our week in camp. A Scout is only eligible to attempt for his Pipestone Honor once per summer.

Attendance Requirements: Youth campers must be in camp from Sunday campfire through Saturday check-out to qualify for camp honors. Serious personal reasons are justified excuses for qualification. Vacations, athletics, and other such activities are not excusable. The Reservation Director shall be the final authority in determining the acceptability of a Scout’s reason for leaving camp in regards to earning camp honors.

First Year

  • Rank: Scout
  • Advancement: 10 parts of any rank or one merit badge.
  • Ecology: Identify in the field: any combination of 15 trees, plants, or shrubs. Identify 4 constellations and 8 insects.
  • Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop using any stroke a distance of 25 yards.
  • Good Turn: Unit project participation (May Campout).
  • Scout Spirit: This is the daily practice of the living Code of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Camp Spirit is very important. A Scout could complete all the other requirements and not be eligible for the award because he did not live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. This applies just not during the week the Scout is in camp, but for the prior year as well.
  • Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12″ by 12″ by 12″) bundled with natural twine or string.

Second Year

  • Rank: Second Class
  • Advancement: One merit badge.
  • Ecology: Identify in the field: any combination of 25 trees, plants, or shrubs. Identify 6 constellations and 10 animals, mammals, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, or amphibians.)
  • Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your Head, swim non-stop using any two Different strokes a distance of 50 Yards.
  • Good Turn: Unit project participation (May Campout).
  • Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. See first year requirements.
  • Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12″ by 12″ by 12″) bundled with natural twine or string.

Third Year

  • Rank: First Class
  • Advancement: One merit badge.
  • Ecology: Identify in the field: any combination of 35 trees, plants, or shrubs. Identify 8 constellations and 10 birds.
  • Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop using any three strokes a distance of 100 yards.
  • Good Turn: Unit project participation (May Campout).
  • Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. See first year requirements.
  • Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12″ by 12″ by 12″) bundled with natural twine or string.

Fourth Year

  • Rank: Star
  • Advancement: One merit badge.
  • Ecology: Serve as or assist the Unit Naturalist or Astronomer or serve in a designated leadership capacity.
  • Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop 125 yards of which 25 yards must be a resting backstroke.
  • Good Turn: Serve in a designated leadership capacity during summer camp and on the unit’s project (May Campout).
  • Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. However, particular emphasis is placed upon Scout Spirit for the 4th year candidates. They should set an example at all times for the younger Scouts.
  • Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12″ by 12″ by 12″) bundled with natural twine or string. Approve bundles of younger Scouts.

Fifth Year

  • Rank: Life
  • Advancement: Serve in a designated leadership capacity, and one merit badge.
  • Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop for 150 yards of which 25 yards must be a resting back stroke AND pass or hold swimming merit badge.
  • Good Turn: Serve in a designated leadership capacity during summer camp and on the unit’s project (May Campout).
  • Scout Spirit: Same as for all years, specifically the 4th.
  • Pipestone Wood: Approve bundles of younger Scouts.

Adult Campers

Adult leaders who attend Summer Camp are encouraged to earn their Pipestone as well.

The camp honor requirements for adults are as follows:

  • Attend Summer Camp as a registered leader or committee member in our Troop.
  • Complete a Camp Good Turn with the youth candidates of our Troop.
  • Spend four full days and three full nights with our Troop during our week at camp. One of the nights may not be Friday night.
  • Function fully in an adult leadership capacity under the guise of the Scoutmaster for our Troop at camp. Attendance without leadership service does not qualify an adult for camp honors.
  • Adults should not bring Pipestone wood to camp but should support Troop junior leadership by closely supervising the quality and quantity of Pipestone wood collected by Scout candidates.