This is a brief history of the Woods Services Award and includes a complete list of its recipients.
The Woods Services Award
Rich Gambrill Receives the 2020 Woods Services Award
Richard W. Gambrill, Jr., of White Marsh, Maryland is the 2020 recipient of the Woods Services Award for 2020. The Woods Services Award is given annually by the Woods Services and Residential Treatment Center, to one BSA volunteer for exceptional service and leadership in the field of Special Needs Scouting. Scouting Magazine has also reported... Continue Reading →
Presenting the Torch of Gold Award
The Torch of Gold Award is a council award recognizing adult volunteers for service to Scouting with special needs and abilities. Each council may present one Torch of Gold Award every year. Nomination: Publicize the award in council newsletters and online venues. Volunteers in the council’s special needs and disabilities programs should also nominate people... Continue Reading →
Earning the Special Needs Scouting Service Award
District and council volunteers who look over nominations for the Torch of Gold or Woods Services Award may learn of Scouters who don’t receive these awards, but deserve recognition for their service. These Scouters may qualify for the Special Needs Scouting Service Award (SNSSA), an earned recognition. It may be presented to adults, volunteer or... Continue Reading →
Be sure your council presents the annual Torch of Gold Award
The Torch of Gold is a council award given annually to an adult Scouter for dedicated work for youth, particularly Scouts, with disabilities. It is not an award that is earned by simply fulfilling specific requirements. It is given in recognition for service in multiple areas for many years. The nominee should show a level... Continue Reading →
Woods Services Nominations: 10 Days Left!
The Woods Services Award is given to one Scouter per year nationally for exceptional service and leadership. The nominee should have served Scouts with disabilities in several capacities at the unit, district, council, or national levels of the Boy Scouts of America. The nominee for this prestigious award must have served Scouts with disabilities for at least... Continue Reading →
Mary Lynne Capen receives the 2018 Woods Services Award
Reprinted from the Summer 2018 edition of Abilities Digest Mary Lynne Capen of Patriots Path Council, Northeast Region, is 2018 Woods Services Award recipient. The award was presented at the BSA National Annual Meeting in May. One award is granted nationally each year to the nominated BSA volunteer who best exemplifies exceptional service and leadership... Continue Reading →
Stephen Marriott, Advocate for Scouting with Disabilities
Excerpted from Scouting Magazine, March-April 2018 On Action Point, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, there stands a bronze statue of young Stephen G. Marriott (1957-2013) in his Scout uniform. Stephen was a business leader, Distinguished Eagle Scout, and advocate for people with disabilities. His statue overlooks the site of the Disabilities Awareness Challenge during the 2013... Continue Reading →
There is now a medal available for the Special Needs Scouting Service Award: Item #641463, available from Scout Shops. The design features an international logo for Scouting with disabilities. A device with the same logo is available to wear on the Scouting Service Award square knot: Item #641462. Previous recipients are eligible to wear this... Continue Reading →
Include the Torch of Gold in Spring Council Recognitions
The Torch of Gold is a council-level distinguished award of the Boy Scouts of America to recognize adults for exceptional service and leadership in working with Scouts who have disabilities. Each council may recognize one Scouter per year with the award. Details are listed on the nomination form, available online. The nominee must be a... Continue Reading →
