Charter Partner of the Year
The Charter Partner of the Year Award has been presented annually to a community-based organization that charters a BSA unit(s) and demonstrates outstanding or distinctive relationships with its chartered unit(s), district, and community beyond normal expectation. Candidates for the Charter Partner of the Year Award must charter a unit(s) within the Sam Houston Area Council boundaries. Nominees from religious bodies, educational groups, civic/service/fraternal associations, business/industry/labor, and military/veterans’ organizations may be selected for recognition.
Conductor's Award
The Conductor's Award is for unit Scouters who are always called upon for service when the situation arises. These Scouters are never afraid to take on the task at hand and do not ask for recognition. Candidates for the Conductor's Award may be nominated by anyone in their pack crew, troop, post, or ship. All registered adult Scouter's in the Iron Horse district are eligible.
Cub Scout of the Year
The Iron Horse District Cub Scout of the Year Award is for that Cub Scout who has displayed unrivaled Scout spirit in their unit, community, family, church, school, and in the Iron Horse District through their support and promotion of the Scouting program. This will be shown through personal conduct (abiding by the Scout Law and Oath, appropriate to the type of unit), meeting attendance, participation in unit/district/council activities and events, acts of service, performance as a leader, and overall interaction with others.
Cubmaster of the Year
The Cubmaster of the Year is presented to the Cubmaster who has displayed unrivaled Scout spirit in their unit, community, family, church, school, and Iron Horse District by their support and promotion of the Scouting program. This will be shown through personal conduct (abiding by the Scout Law and Oath, appropriate to the type of unit), meeting attendance, participation in unit/district/council activities and events, acts of service, performance as a leader, and overall interaction with others.
District Award of Merit
The District Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is a national award presented by councils. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level. It is not appropriate to nominate a Scouter who has already received this award. A professional Scouter or other council employees may not receive this award based on employment service. However, a professional Scouter or employee who also serves as a volunteer Scouter may be eligible, based on volunteer service.
Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award
The Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award is presented for the Eagle Scout project completed in the current year, that is deemed to be the most outstanding of those nominated, based on the need for the service, the leadership provided, the benefit to the recipient, the scope of the project, and lasting impact. Projects considered for the Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award will have met the criteria as specified by BSA and may be nominated for recognition by any unit-registered adult leader. All projects performed in the Iron Horse district by registered Scouts are eligible for consideration.
Engineer Awards
The Engineer Award is given to Scouters who show outstanding leadership and commitment to Scouting at the district level.
Family of the Year Award
The Family of the Year Award is presented to a family who has, as a group, provided outstanding support to the Scouting program in our district. Those families that make Scouting a family commitment deserve to be recognized. Family of the Year Award candidates must have one BSA registered adult member. All such families in the Iron Horse District are eligible and may be nominated by any registered Scouter.
Golden Spike Award
The Golden Spike Award is for registered Scouters within the district who continually provide initiative, enthusiasm, and exceptional service to the Scouting programs in which they serve. They provide the spark to deliver on the promise of quality Scouting to packs, troops, crews, and the district. The Golden Spike Award candidates may be nominated by anyone in the district, pack crew, troop, post, or ship. All registered adult Scouters in the Iron Horse district are eligible.
Gold Star Award
The Gold Star Award is for chartered units that have successfully completed the requirements for Journey to Excellence, participated in council fundraisers, and participated in Iron Horse district events, and projects. These units willingly serve their community and stand as a shining example of what the BSA program has to offer. Candidates for the Gold Star Award will have met the criteria as specified by BSA, and may be nominated for recognition by any unit-registered adult leader. All chartered units in the Iron Horse district are eligible.
Legacy Award
The Shep and Patty Barnum Legacy Award is given each year to a Scouter or Scouters who have given a sustained commitment of service to their units or district programs and whose impacts to others can be described as lasting. While words are often not enough to truly express our gratitude for the level of commitment and support these individuals have shown, this is our District’s small way of saying a BIG THANK YOU to the recipients! Anyone in the Iron Horse District may nominate candidates for the Legacy Award. All registered adult Scouters in the Iron Horse district are eligible.
Recruiter of the Year
The Recruiter of the Year is awarded to the Scout or Scouter who signed up the most Scouts in the calendar year.
Scout BSA of the Year
The Iron Horse District Scouts BSA of the Year Award is for that Scout who has displayed unrivaled Scout spirit in their unit, community, family, church, school, and in Iron Horse District by their support and promotion of the Scouting program. This will be shown through personal conduct (abiding by the Scout Law and Oath or Promise, appropriate to the type of unit), meeting attendance, participation in unit/district/council activities and events, acts of service, performance as a leader, and overall interaction with others.
Scoutmaster of the Year
The Scoutmaster of the Year is presented to the Scoutmaster who has displayed unrivaled Scout spirit in their unit, community, family, church, school, and in Iron Horse District by their support and promotion of the Scouting program. This will be shown through personal conduct (abiding by the Scout Law and Oath or Promise, appropriate to the type of unit), meeting attendance, participation in unit/district/council activities and events, acts of service, performance as a leader, and overall interaction with others.
Spark Plug Award
The Spark Plug Award is given to Scouters who show remarkable enthusiasm and initiative in their units or district programs. They show their “inner spark” to everyone they meet and in everything they do in Scouting. These are the folks who get everyone fired up and excited about what is to come. They are our next generation of leaders within the Iron Horse District. All registered adult Scouters in the District are eligible, but we encourage nominations, especially for those who are newer to the Scouting program. The Spark Plug Award winners are traditionally chosen and awarded by the district commissioner.
Summit Project of the Year
The Summit Project of the Year Award is presented for the Venture Scout project, completed in the current year, that is deemed to be the most outstanding of those nominated, based on the need for the service, the leadership provided, the benefit to the recipient, the scope of the project, and lasting impact. Projects considered for the Summit Project of the Year Award will have met the criteria as specified by BSA and may be nominated for recognition by any unit-registered adult leader. All projects performed in the Iron Horse district by registered Scouts are eligible for consideration.
Top Unit Membership
Awarded to the Unit with the highest growth AND membership retention. (Year/Year unit growth is measured as a %percentage of new members joining the unit in the calendar year. Year/Year membership retention is measured as the smallest percentage of loss in a calendar year, excluding Arrow of Light Scouts.)
Venture Scout of the Year
The Iron Horse District Venture Scout of the Year Award is for that Scout who has displayed unrivaled Scout spirit in their unit, community, family, church, school, and in Iron Horse District by their support and promotion of the Scouting program. This will be shown through personal conduct (abiding by the Scout Law and Oath or Promise, appropriate to the type of unit), meeting attendance, participation in unit/district/council activities and events, acts of service, performance as a leader, and overall interaction with others.
Whitney Award
The late Doug Whitney exemplified the qualities of BSA leadership by continuously serving the youth in his charge while battling a serious illness. This award has been created in his honor to recognize exceptional leaders who work with youth at the unit level and exhibit the spirit of Scouting. Candidates for the Whitney Award may be nominated by anyone in their pack, crew, troop, post, or ship. All registered adult Scouters in the Iron Horse district are eligible.