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Keep America Beautiful Inc. Hometown USA Award
The Hometown U.S.A. Award is a joint program between Keep America Beautiful Inc. (KAB) and the Boy Scouts of America. It is designed to give recognition to the outstanding efforts of Scouts in their communities in regard to citizenship and environmental improvement.
Purpose: To educate Boy Scouts about citizenship in relation to conservation and to involve them in community activities relating to environmental issues. To offer a mechanism by which Scouts can develop positive attitudes toward their environment and community while being exposed to interesting career opportunities . To provide the opportunity to honor Boy Scouts for their significant contributions toward keeping America beautiful
Background
KAB was founded in 1953 as a private organization with the purpose of building and sustaining a national cleanliness ethic. The Boy Scouts of America has been affiliated with KAB for more than thirty years as a member of KAB's national advisory council, a program advisory body composed of more than eighty public service organizations and federal agencies.
Keep America Beautiful Day, which began in 1971 as "Scouting Keep America Beautiful Day," was originally cosponsored by KAB and Boy Scouts of America as a massive national cleanup and recycling program. Millions of Scouts still turn out annually to participate in similar activities during what is now called Keep America Beautiful Week.
Requirements
Merit badges. Earn three merit badges from the following list of twelve: Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Forestry, Gardening, Geology, Landscape Architecture, Nature, Plant Science, Public Speaking, Soil and Water Conservation.
Community service project. In addition to earning the merit badges, a Boy Scout is required to perform a community service project. The project should involve a minimum of eight hours of time, two of which must involve management planning, with the other six consisting of carrying out the project. It should help keep America beautiful and benefit the community either physically or financially. One way to do this is to plan the community service project as part of Keep America Beautiful Week or Public Lands Day.
KAB Week - KAB Week developed from eleven consecutive years' observances of KAB Day. It originated in 1971 as "Scouting Keep America Beautiful Day." KAB Day has evolved into a weeklong observance (usually the fourth week of April). Millions participate each year.
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