Conservation Weekend Fequently Asked Questions

Q1: When does the Conservation Awards Weekend take place?
A: The Conservation Awards Weekends take place twice a year. Once in the Spring and once in the Fall. They are scheduled for the 3rd full weekend in April and 3rd full weekend in October. On-line registration opens on Feb 1 and Aug 1 each year.

Q2: Can you attend as a Troop?
A: Yes, Troops are encouraged to attend and camp together.   

Q3: Do the Scouts have to all take the same merit badges or can they choose their own schedule and take whatever they want?
A: Scouts can choose any merit badges they want provided there are openings in the class.

Q4: Will Scouts actually do a Distinguished Conservation Service project, or just work on merit badges?
A: During the weekend merit badges classes and a intro class to completing various conservation awards will be taught.  There will also be conservation projects that can apply to conservation awards like the Take Care of Texas Award or Conservation Good Turn Award. 

Please note - typical qualifying Distinguished Conservation Service Award projects (you must complete 2 such projects to earn the award) will take several months of planning, organization, and activity to complete.

Q5: What type of facilities are there, or is it considered primitive? Do we bring our own tents and other Troop supplies?
A: The Conservation Awards Weekend is held at Lost Pines Scout Reservation, and we camp outdoors at campsites. Scouts / Scouters will need to provide their own tents and sleeping gear. Cars must be parked at the parking lot next to the front gate. Lost Pines Scout Reservation is a “pack-in” camp. As such, cars, trailers or other vehicles will not be permitted beyond the main parking lot. Scouts are expected to pack their gear from the parking lot to the campsite (0.19-0.5 miles). If you need assistance, please contact Jessica Snider (jessica.snider@scouting.org) in advance.  There are water, toilets, and shower facilities near each campsite. All meals are provided as part of the weekend and it is recommended that Scouts bring their own cups.

Q6: Are there shower facilities? If we have co-ed leadership, are there facilities to accommodate the females?
A: Yes, all restroom and shower facilities are single occupancy and can be used by any Scout or Scouter.

Q7: Can Troops that are registered with another council participate in the Capitol Area Council Conservation Awards Weekend?
A: Yes. We are focused and strongly committed to creating a dramatic and permanent impact on our natural resources through the collective results of thousands of Scouts performing Hornaday conservation projects.

Q8: Do adults Scouters need to pay the registration fee to attend the Conservation Awards Weekend?
A: Yes.  Not only are all of the meals provided during the weekend, but adult training is provided as well.

Q9: Do Troops need two-deep leadership?
A: Yes.  This is a fundamental of youth protection within the policies of the Boy Scouts of America!  All Troops must have at least two registered adults with current Youth Protection Training certificates with them when checking in. When a single Scout or small number of Scouts from a Troop want to attend, they need to arrange in advance to camp with another Troop that has two-deep leadership. In the event that a single Scout is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, two-deep leadership does not apply.

Q10: Does a Scout have to be First Class to attend?
A: No. It is imperative that all attendees be attentive and engaged in the interactive environment that is created by the Hornaday merit badge counselors. The feedback and recommendations that attendees have provided the best insight that have caused the Conservation Awards Weekends to be so popular!!!

Q11: Can Scouts who are almost 1st Class rank attend?
A: Yes, any Troop that selects one of the bi-yearly Conservation Awards Weekends as a monthly campout may have any registered Scout attend regardless of their advancement rank. Any individual Scout who wants to participate in the Conservation Awards Weekend will need to camp with their parent or adult guardian.

Q12: How do I get to the LCRA/Lost Pines Scout Reservation?  
A: Please see the Camp Maps page.

Q13: Can I find out which requirements of a specific merit badge will not be completed during the Hornaday Award Weekend?  
A: Yes. Click the link below and select any merit badge to find out the current requirements and which ones will not be completed during the Conservation Awards Weekend. View Merit Badges.

Q14: Are meals provided?  
A: Yes. All participants have their meals prepared and served in the Lost Pines dining hall by the OA Tonkawa Lodge 99 All Vigil Kitchen (AVK) or Council Quartermaster Team in recognition that having fun is the most important ingredient for all participants. There will be no cracker barrel or  no dinner provided Friday night, so please eat before arriving. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday in the dining hall. (See sample menu under Food Allergies)

Q15: Is there any information available what constitutes a qualified Distinguished Conservation Service Award project? 
A: Yes. Scouters have the opportunity to register to attend a Conservation Awards Orientation session. Scouts will learn about all of the key elements necessary to understand and begin a qualified conservation project for the Distinguished Conservation Service Award and other conservation awards.

Q16: Is there any adult training if I choose to become a Distinguished Conservation Service Award adviser?
A: At this time, there is no official training.  If you are interested in becoming an advisor, please contact Heather Ball at hball4@gmail.com for more information.

Q17: Who is my Distinguished Conservation Service Award advisor?
A: If you are registered in the Capitol Area Council, your Distinguished Conservation Service Award adviser will be assigned to you upon written request to the Conservation Committee. If you are a Scout registered in any other council you should contact your council office for guidance and advice.

Q18: What is an Electronic Completion Report?
A: The reports are a record of a Scout's progress in the pursuit of completing a specific merit badge. We are trying out the DoubleKnot online blue cards. The instructor will call roll at the beginning of class. After the class, the instructor will turn in the class list and requirements completed. The information will be entered and stored in the Council's Doubleknot database. A copy of the report information will be sent to the email associated with each Scout's registration. Please note that since Scouts register individually, a comprehensive report is not sent to Troops.

Q19: What do I do with my merit badge electronic completion reports? 
A: The electronic completion report should be turned into the merit badge coordinator or Scoutmaster of your Troop for proper recording of your achievements during the Hornaday Award Weekend.

Q20: What if my son missed the instructor's role call and did not get his Electronic Completion Report entered into DoubleKnot? Is there any way I can get it signed off by the counselor?
A: No. As a policy, we do not give out the counselors' contact information as they are all volunteers. Most are professionals in their respective fields, and we have promised them that they would not be asked to "follow up" after their weekend stint as most have jobs and careers to attend to and doing so would put an undue burden upon them.

In addition, part of being a Scout is learning the take responsibility for their own advancement and records. As an alternative, you can contact your Troop's Merit Badge counselor and go over the materials and notes and perhaps they can sign the card.

Q21: Is there wireless high speed internet service available for internet and email access during the Hornaday Award Weekend?
A: Sadly, Winter Storm Uri broke part of our internet system and we currently have no wifi.

Q22: Are BSA medical forms required?
A: Yes. BSA medical forms were revised in 2019 and can be found here. Forms A, B1, and B2 are required for all Scouting activities less than 72 hours in duration. All attendees must bring copies of their forms for review by medical staff at check-in. As each attendee is reviewed individually, please do not have all medical forms in a binder as this slows down the check-in process. Have each attendee in possession of his or her own forms. Attendees without the required forms will have the opportunity to fill out a form at camp but will not be allowed to check in or participate until the forms have been submitted. All medical forms will be collected my medical staff at check-in and will be available for pick up at the end of the weekend. All medical forms not picked up will be destroyed by medical staff.

Q23: Is Youth Protection Training (YPT) required for all adults at camp?
A: Yes, all adults regardless of their role must have their current YPT certificate with them at check-in. Adults without proof of current YPT will not be allowed to remain at camp.

Q24: What if it rains? Do we get a refund?
A: Conservation Awards Weekend is an all-weather event. We do not cancel the event for rain. As Scouts, we embrace our Motto “Be Prepared.”

Q25:  What about food allergies?
Due to the use of a single facility for the preparation of all meals, we cannot guarantee that any meal is 100% free of any potential allergen. Scouts and adults can note during registration if they need food that is gluten-free, lactose-free or vegetarian.  

For all other food allergies, participants are welcome to bring substitute food items with them. There is a refrigerator and a microwave in the back room of the dining hall for Scouts and adults who need to bring their own food. Please check in with the event staff if you need to use these.  Sadly at this time we can not offer a reduction in the participation fee for those who choose to bring their own meals. 

Our cooking crew is an all-volunteer group of Scouters, and we are truly grateful for their contribution over the years.   We will have a menu available closer to the event date.

We want your experience at Conservation Awards Weekend to be a great one. We hope this information is helpful, but call or e-mail Jessica Snider, jessica.snider@scouting.org if you have questions.