Award Pin Designs Are Changing

The company that we have ordered our award pins from for nearly 10 years has discontinued several of our pins.  As a result, we will gradually be changing pin designs over the next year.  If you like the current designs, they will be in limited stock.  All pins will eventually change as we will gradually be ordering custom pins from another company as we can afford carry them in stock. 

New Awards Added

By popular demand, Quest has added some new awards to our program beginning September 1.  The actual awards will be in stock and available for shipment by the end of September.  Keep in mind these pin designs are temporary as we will change pin designs for all award pins as we transition to a new company over the next year.

Pinnacle Award – Adult Level Only

Since adults never age out to a new age level we are now offering the Pinnacle Award which represents 500 badges earned.  The Pinnacle Award replaces five WOW! Awards on the vest.  As more badges continue to be earned, those WOW! Awards may be re-added to the vest until another 500 mark is reached and they can be replaced with another Pinnacle Award.

Career Exploration Award – Available only to Level 4 and 5 Only. 

This award may be earned multiple times as long as new Areas of Discovery, careers, etc. are chosen.  You may not use knowledge or an activity counted toward one Career Exploration Award as a requirement fulfilled for a second award, but must learn and explore something new.

1. Choose an Area of Discovery to concentrate on and earn the Major Award for that Area.
2. Choose a minimum of 6 different careers within your chosen Area and find out the following:  Education needed, average salary, locations where this job is plentiful, expected hours/seasons worked, what companies hire these jobs and what a typical day in this job looks like. 
3. Interview someone who holds each of the jobs you chose.  Ask the following questions as well as any others you may have:
   • What are the pros and cons of the job?
   • Would they recommend the company they work for?  Why or why not?
   • What advancement in this career is available?
   • What benefits are usually included?
   • What is the best education for this job?
   • Is continuing education in the field is required?
4. Learn the difference between various forms of continuing education after high school including community college, public universities, private colleges, trade school, the military, online learning, and certificate programs.  What are the costs, benefits and time commitments of each?  What are the pros and cons of each?
5. Visit at least 3 continuing education schools such as universities, colleges, or trade schools.
6. Understand the difference between blue collar jobs and white collar jobs.
7. Choose at least one company you may be interested in working for and find out what jobs are needed to keep that company in business.  Talk to the Human Resource manager to build a list.  For example a winery needs farm workers, farm equipment handlers, payroll and accounting personnel, sales people, wine makers, janitorial staff, bottling factory workers, shipping and receiving staff, and more.   Also find out what other types of companies your chosen company does business with.  In the winery example above they must work closely with various filtration and bottling supply companies, freight forwarders, and wholesalers among others.

S.T.E.A.M Award

The S.T.E.A.M Award is designed to help kids explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math. 

1. Earn the Math badge at your current level
2. Earn two different life science badge (biology, botany, human body, etc.) at your current level.
3. Earn two physical science badge (physics, electricity, magnetism, etc.) at your current level.
4. Earn two of the Man Made Wonders badge of your choice (tunnels, skyscrapers, bridges, etc.)
5. Earn one outdoor science badge (trees, wildlife, wildflowers, Natural Wonders, etc.)
6. Earn two different badges from the Art area and be able to explain how they could be used in technology designs.
7. An engineer is a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or public works.  Make a list of at least 5 different types of engineers and describe what types of technology they design, build or maintain.
8. A scientist a person who is studying or has expert knowledge of one or more of the natural or physical sciences.  Make a list of at least 5 different types of scientists and describe what types of things they study.
9. Earn the Biographies badge for a famous scientist, engineer, mathematician, or artist who designs technology such as bridges, cars, buildings, etc.
10. Choose a piece of technology to design using art.  Design your own car, building, boat, plane, bridge, etc.  This can be a 3D model or a drawing or painting.
11. Discuss how science, technology, engineering, art and math all work together to advance society.  Choose 3 examples of modern engineering and list how each area of S.T.E.A.M. is needed in order to complete the whole.  For example to create a bridge, you must understand physics and how gravity, weight, etc. will affect your bridge.  Without the proper math calculations, your bridge will collapse. An artist will make the bridge beautiful and an engineer takes all the information from the scientists, mathematicians, and artists to design a bridge that is both beautiful and sturdy while modern technology and machines are needed to build it.  The older the participant, the more in depth the analysis of each man made creation should be.

Outdoors Award

by Makayla Russell

The Outdoor Award is presented to participants who not only explore the outdoors, but have gained the skills necessary to fully enjoy it and work within it.  Like the Life Skills Achievement Award, the Outdoors Award builds on knowledge and skills as the participants age.  All lower level requirements must be completed before you can earn the award at a higher level.

Preschool Level

1.  Learn to recognize and name at least 5 different trees in your area.
2.  Learn to recognize and name at least 5 different wild animals in your area.  Know which animals can be dangerous and why.
3.  Learn to recognize and name at least 5 different flowers or plants in your area.  Know which plants can be dangerous and why.
4.  Understand safety precautions to take to avoid dangerous plants.
5.  Know how to protect yourself from wildlife in your area while hiking or camping.
6.  Take a hike of at least a half mile. (Preschool only)
7.  Go camping for at least one night on two different occasions.   (Preschool and level 1 only)
8.  Earn the Water Safety badge at your current level
9.  Earn the Outdoor Safety badge at your current level
10.  Earn the Camping badge at your current level
11.  Earn the Weather badge at your current level.
12.  Earn the Fire Safety badge at your current level
13. Earn the Leave No Trace badge at your current level.
14. Earn the First Aid badge at your current level

Level 1

1.  Complete all requirements from the Preschool level unless a requirement specifically states it is for that level only and then add the requirements below.  If you have earned the Outdoor Award at a lower level, all knowledge must still be maintained and all activities must be redone with  level 1 ability and experience.
2.  Learn about the different kinds of cloud formation and what they can tell you about the weather.
3. Take a hike of at least one mile (Level 1 only)
4. Earn the Pocketknife Safety badge at your current level
5. Learn the importance of having a whistle with you anytime you are hiking or backpacking and learn what to do if you are ever lost in the woods in order to have the best chance of being found.  Learn to blow S.O.S. on your whistle.

Level 2

1. Complete all requirements from Level 1 unless a requirement specifically states it is for that level only and then add the requirements below.  If you have earned the Outdoor Award at a lower level, all knowledge must still be maintained and all activities must be redone with Level 2 level ability and experience.
2. Take a hike of at least 2 miles (Level 2only)
3. Earn the Fire Building badge at your current level.
4. Earn the Outdoor Cooking badge at your current level.
5. Earn the Pocketknife badge at your current level.
6. Learn 4 different knots used for outdoors and why they are important.
7. Learn about different types of tents such as 2-man, family, dome, quick pitch. Understand what each is used for. 
8. Create your own survival bag including first aid kit, compass, knife, rope, whistle, lighter, bandana, notebook, pen, playing cards, heat blanket, snacks etc.  If you cannot actual create the bag, make a comprehensive list of what should be in it and why.
9. Know food safety while camping, what temperature meats, mayonnaise etc need to be kept at to avoid illness, and how to maintain temperature control.  Understand how to store food to keep it safe from wild animals.
10. Learn how to make your shoes waterproof and why it is important

 Level 3

1. Complete all requirements from Level 2 unless a requirement specifically states it is for that level only and then add the requirements below.  If you have earned the Outdoor Award at a lower level, all knowledge must still be maintained and all activities must be redone with Level 3 level ability and experience.
2. Start a fire without a match, other options include flint and steel, friction, bow rubbing or magnifying glass
3. Know how to sharpen a knife, ax, hatchet
4. Pack a backpack meal and eat from your backpack for a full day while hiking
5. Be able to identify plants, berries and trees in your area and which ones are safe to eat
6. Take a hike of at least 5 miles
7. Go camping for at least 2 nights on at least 3 separate occasions.
8. Be able to navigate a compass and use it on a hike or backpack trip
9. Learn about different hiking equipment, such as proper backpack fitting, hiking boots, camping equipment, etc.
10. Know at least 3 different ways to signal for help while outdoors without a phone or Wi-Fi.

Level 4

1. Complete all requirements from the Level 3 level unless a requirement specifically states it is for that level only and then add the requirements below.  If you have earned the Outdoor Award at a lower level, all knowledge must still be maintained and all activities must be redone with Level 4 ability and experience.
2. Know how to find and sanitize water in your area
3. Know how to get an injured hiker out of the woods safely

Level 5

1. Complete all requirements from the Level 4unless a requirement specifically states it is for that level only and then add the requirements below.  If you have earned the Outdoor Award at a lower level, all knowledge must still be maintained and all activities must be redone with Level 5ability and experience.
2. Teach at least 6 outdoors skills to others.  Ideas may include first aid, knots, compass work, shelter building, fire building, outdoor cooking, water safety, knife safety etc.