The Blue Nose Award is a special recognition presented by the Laurel Hills District, Westmoreland-Fayette Council, Scouting America, to Scouts and Scouters who demonstrate their endurance and preparedness by participating in cold-weather camping.
Requirements to Earn the Award
To qualify for the Blue Nose Award, participants must accumulate 25 frost points through outdoor camping experiences in freezing temperatures within a single camping season.
Frost Points System:
- Frost points are calculated based on how far the overnight temperature falls below freezing (32°F).
- Example Calculation: If the temperature drops to 20°F, that equals 12 frost points (32 – 20 = 12).
- Multiple camping trips can be combined to reach the required 25 frost points, but all points must be earned within one camping season.
Who Can Earn the Award?
- Scouts BSA members
- Venturers and Sea Scouts
- Adult leaders
Guidelines for Earning Frost Points
- Camping must be done overnight in an outdoor setting.
- The temperature used for frost point calculations should be the lowest recorded temperature during the camping period.
- Scouts and leaders must practice proper cold-weather camping safety, including layering, staying dry, and following winter camping best practices.
- Participants should maintain a record of their frost points, including dates, locations, and temperatures.
