Denali Medal

Denali Award


These requirements were effective until May 31, 2014.
To see the changes that were made, Click here.
To see the current requirements, Click here.


The Denali Award is available only to Varsity Scout team youth members who have already earned the Varsity Scout letter, and who complete the requirements for this award.

Two different, but similar, sets of requirements for earning the Denali Award appear in the Varsity Scout Guidebook (34827A), in the text, on page 140, and in the Appendix, on the Denali Award Scorecard on Page A-19.

We asked BSA which were the correct requirements.  Here's their response:

The Denali Award lists the requirements on page 140 of the Varsity Guidebook and in the appendix. Both are consistent.

The only real difference between the two sets of requirements is in requirement 4, where the "Scorecard" is not as specific as the text.  Therefore, it appears that Scouts should use the more specific requirements when working on the award, and just use the scorecard to keep track of which requirements have been completed.

The requirements on page 140 are:

  1. Be registered as a Varsity Scout Team member.
  2. Advance one rank toward Eagle. If you are already an Eagle Scout, earn a Palm.
  3. Hold leadership positions in a Varsity Scout Team for at least six months.
    1. While serving as Team Captain or a Program Manager, act as primary leader on at least two activities. Program Managers should choose activities in their field of emphasis. Team Captains may be primary leaders of activities in any of the five fields of emphasis.
    2. While serving as a Program Manager or Team Captain, demonstrate shared leadership skills by participating in supportive roles in each of the three remaining three fields of emphasis.
  4. Satisfy the Team Captain that you know and live by the Varsity Scout Pledge.
  5. Complete a progress review.

The requirements on the Denali Award Scorecard on page A-19 are:

  1. Be registered as a Varsity Scout.
  2. While a Varsity Scout advance one rank toward Eagle, or if already an Eagle Scout, earn an Eagle Palm.
  3. Hold a Varsity Scout leadership position or positions for at least six months.
    1. While a Varsity Scout team captain or program manager, serve as a leader of an activity in any two of the five fields of emphasis.
    2. While a Varsity Scout participate in an activity in the remaining three fields of emphasis.
  4. Satisfy to the team captain that you know and live by the Varsity Scout Pledge.
  5. Complete a board of review with a district/council representative.

A Denali certificate is also available.  However, Varsity Coaches should request the certificate through their District Executive, as it is NOT available on the internet or through Supply, but only through the BSA intranet.


Page updated on: December 20, 2017



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