50-Miler Award

The 50-Miler Award is an award of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) designed to promote the ideals of Scouting and in Scoutcraft, conservation, self-reliance, and physical fitness. The award may be earned by Scouts, Venturers, and Scout leaders.

50-Miler Award
Award Patch (Older Version)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Country	United States
Created	April 1956
Awarded for	Performing a 50-mile (80 km) trek and a conservation service project.
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Award

The 50-Miler Award is presented as a cloth or leather patch and as a decal. The award may not be worn on the uniform but is affixed to equipment such as backpacks or vehicles, or sewn onto items such as patch vests or blankets. The 50-Miler Award was established in April 1956, along with the Historic Trails Award.^[1]

Requirements

Boy Scouts earning their 50-Miler Award in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota

Although the 50-Miler is an individual award, the requirements are performed as a group. Groups may be the troop, team, crew, or an ad hoc group made of members of various units. The trip must be properly planned and may include other opportunities for advancement and recognition. The group must travel a minimum of 50 miles (80 km) on land and/or water in a minimum of five consecutive days. Travel may be by foot, bicycle, canoe, or boat; pack animals may be used where appropriate. No travel may involve any motorized vehicle. The group must also complete ten hours of conservation work. If ten hours of work cannot be completed on the trail, similar work may be done in the group's home area.^[2] Even if the award's requirements are completed at a National Jamboree or High Adventure base, the unit's leader must file an application at their local council's service center.^[3]