William T. Hornaday Awards
First established in 1915 by Dr. William Temple Hornaday, founder of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and credited for saving the American Bison from extinction, the Hornaday Awards (originally called the Permanent Wild Life Protection Fund Medal) are the oldest continuously run and most prestigious conservation awards in the United States. Between 1917 and 1974, a total of 897 medals were granted. In 1975, the program was revamped into a three-tier award structure, with the distinction based on the number of quality projects completed and their impact on the community. A scout may qualify for the badge with one project, the bronze medal with three projects, and the silver medal with four projects. As of 2019, only 148 bronze medals and 154 silver medals have been conferred by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, making them Scouting’s rarest awards.
My Hornaday Journey
When I was twelve, a leader in my Troop suggested I look into the Hornaday program. He said, “No one in the council has ever earned a Hornaday medal.” This ignited the spark from within. Starting on a Hornaday Medal is not for the faint at heart. These medals represent a substantial commitment of time and energy while providing real-world experience to project management. In total, 9 service projects were completed, 387 volunteers contributed 1,682 service hours during 28 workdays. 17 organizations were involved with 36 meetings held. A total of 1,689 hours was consumed on planning, documenting, and organizing a total of 22 inches of paperwork for submission.
Silver Medal
97th recipient
Over the course of 2 years and 240 days, a total of 2,124 hours was spent on five substantial projects with 13 inches of paperwork submitted to the national Hornaday Award selection committee for review. Six weeks later, I was approved as the 97th recipient to be awarded a Silver Medal since 1975 and the 1,111th recipient to earn a Hornaday Medal since 1917. The 11th Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Bob Mazzuca, presented the silver medal at the National Scout Jamboree in 2010.
Project 1: Creek Restoration
Involved the restoration of a vital 200-foot section at the heart of the Arroyo Creek at Arroyo Park in Oakland, California. With the partnership of The Watershed Project, plants, tools, and mulch was provided. A total of 18 volunteers contributed 69 volunteer hours over 3 workdays to remove 103 cubic feet of invasive plants, plant 41 native species, and cover the landscape with mulch to prevent the reoccurrence of weeds. This area of the creek can now be enjoyed by the public for years to come.
Project 2: Battery Recycling
Involved a battery recycling educational campaign for 265 homes in the Georgian Manor Mobile Home Park in Hayward, California. With the partnership of Tri-Ced Community Recycling, a campaign was established to educate homeowners about a new curb side pickup program, pioneered by Tri-Ced, and provided at no cost. It’s simple and free – just place your used household batteries in a Ziploc bag next to your recycling bin, and Tri-Ced will properly recycle them. This reduces unwanted hazardous material from polluting local landfills. A total of 647 people was educated. The campaign was a massive success, with an increase in the 1,000’s of annual batteries being recycled.
Project 3: Puppet Show
Involved writing and presenting a 15-minute puppet show at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont, California. The storyline involved a trip through time to see how population growth in the Bay Area has devastated the habitat of the California Clapper Rail and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, both endangered species, and explain why people should stop destroying and start restoring our environment. The show was performed 6 times and educated 57 members of the public. Ultimately, this puppet show will be performed for future school groups to further their education about these endangered species.
Project 4: Erosion Control Wall
Involved building a 189-foot erosion control wall at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park, in Castro Valley California. This was needed to prevent further erosion that a section of bleachers was built on. This had been a growing problem for the rodeo since the early 1990’s. The project involved constructing a 54-foot, 88-foot, and 47-foot wall that were two railroad ties high and secured with rebar drilled into them. The Niles Canyon Railroad donated 394 feet of railroad ties for the project, which were transported to the site by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. To reinforce the wall, 24 landscaping ties were donated by Hulbert Lumber in Newark, California, and placed in front. Each of these were secured with 1.5 square feet of concreate donated by Dryco Concreate – who sent a concrete truck to the site. Over $3,000 of lumber and rebar was donated with 51 volunteers contributing 180 hours of volunteer work over 4 workdays. The erosion control wall is rated to last 100-years.
Project 5: Storm Drain Marker
Involved surveying 3,464 storm drains for existing ‘No Dumping Drains to Bay’ markers, replacing 383 broken markers, and adding 248 new markers in the city of Hayward, California. The result was a complete coverage of all storm drains in the city having a marking. A total of 168 volunteers over 7 workdays contributed 697 hours of volunteer work, ultimately saving the city $39,000. Planning for this project involved 174 hours with 12 meetings held with the city of Hayward Public Works Department. The city becomes the first in the state to have every storm drain marked, and these markings are rated to last 30-years.
Badge
Project 6: Vegetation Landscape
Involved landscaping the hill above the previously built erosion control wall with 198 Ceanothus Griseus Horizontals one-gallon native plants and a truck load of mulch at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park in Castro Valley, California. The roots from the plants provide the added benefit of further reducing hillside erosion. A total of 25 volunteers over 2 workdays contributed 111 hours of volunteer work. The watering of the plants and further maintenance of the area will be handled by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.
Bronze Medal
129th recipient
Over the course of 4 years and 84 days, a total of 1,247 hours was spent on three substantial projects with 9 inches of paperwork submitted to the national Hornaday Award selection committee for review. Eleven weeks later, I was approved as the 129th recipient to be awarded a Bronze Medal since 1975 and the 1,147th recipient to earn a Hornaday Medal since 1917.
Project 7: Nature Trail
Involved planting 534 native plants and building a 380-foot-long and 6-foot-wide nature trail for students to use at West Valley College in Saratoga, California. The 2,280 square foot path was built in five phases. The first phase involved surveying where the path would be. The second phase involved removing weeds and debris from the area. The third phase involved excavating 1,080 cubic feet of dirt – six inches down, 6 feet across, and 380 feet in length. The fourth stage involved grading and leveling the trail to a five percent maximum grade. The fifth phase was adding four
inches of gravel and two inches of compressed decomposed finishing granite to complete the trail. A total of 94 volunteers over 6 workdays contributed 458 hours of volunteer work. The benefit of this trail will provide the student body with the only on campus area to escape from the classroom and enjoy the local beauty of their campus.
Project 8: Native planting
Involved planting 534 native plants and building a 380-foot-long and 6-foot-wide nature trail for students to use at West Valley College in Saratoga, California. The 2,280 square foot path was built in five phases. The first phase involved surveying where the path would be. The second phase involved removing weeds and debris from the area. The third phase involved excavating 1,080 cubic feet of dirt – six inches down, 6 feet across, and 380 feet in length. The fourth stage involved grading and leveling the trail to a five percent maximum grade. The fifth phase was adding four
inches of gravel and two inches of compressed decomposed finishing granite to complete the trail. A total of 94 volunteers over 6 workdays contributed 458 hours of volunteer work. The benefit of this trail will provide the student body with the only on campus area to escape from the classroom and enjoy the local beauty of their campus.
Project 9: LED Retrofit
Involved retrofitting a 12,000 square foot fraternity house with LED technology in Berkeley, California. To increase lighting brightness, quality, and efficiency, 162 lights were switched to LEDs, reducing an electricity need of 61,077 kWh and resulting in 108,864 pounds of Co2 offset. This equates to 2,268 trees planted. The Delta Upsilon Fraternity is the first building affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley to fully retrofit to LEDs.
