Boy Scouts of America

Paul Bunyan Award

Overview

To encourage proper use of woods tools, training others in Totin’ Chip skills, and creating a simple outdoor project using acquired woods tool skills.

Who Can Earn This Award?

Earned by Scouts BSA members.

How To Get the Award

Purchase the award at the Scout shop.

Supply Item Description & Uniform Placement

Ax shaped cloth patch; black ax with red border; used to decorate equipment.

Supply/BIN Item Number

Paul Bunyan Award emblem, No. 98.

Paul Bunyan Award Requirements

Study the Scouts BSA Handbook and the Camping merit badge pamphlet, and demonstrate to your Scoutmaster or other qualified person the following:

  1. Explain the most likely hazards you may encounter while using woods tools listed in requirement 5 and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, manage, and respond to these hazards.
  2. Show that you know first aid for injuries that could occur while using woods tools.
  3. Earn the Totin’ Chip.
  4. Help a Scout or patrol earn the Totin’ Chip, and demonstrate to them the value of proper woods-tools use.
  5. Be familiar with the proper and safe use, maintenance and storage of woods tools including:
    • Axe
    • Hatchet
    • Loppers
    • McLeod
    • Pulaski
    • Saw
    • Shovel
    • Pick Axe
    • PryBar
  6. Demonstrate proper use of four of the tools listed in requirement 5.
  7. With unit leader approval and supervision, using woods tools, spend at least two hours doing one of the following conservation oriented projects:
    • Clear trails or fire lanes for two hours.
    • Trim a downed tree, cut into four-foot lengths, and stack; make a brush with branches.
    • Build a natural retaining wall or irrigation way to aid in a planned conservation effort.