9 Court of Honor Ideas for Scout Troops
How to conduct a Troop Court of Honor that Scouts and families remember, with a sample program, candle ceremony scripts, and tips from years of running them.
Sample Program 9 Ideas First Class Script Closing Script FAQ
What Is a Court of Honor?
Scouting America describes a Court of Honor as a formal recognition with families, friends, and the public in attendance. Scouts who have earned a rank (except Eagle Scout, which gets its own Eagle Court of Honor) or merit badges since the last Court of Honor are recognized.
In my travels, I have seen awesome ceremonies that inspire, motivate, and reward the Scout. I have also seen ceremonies where the main focus seemed to be getting to the buffet as soon as possible. Here are a few ideas to make your Court of Honor awesome.
How to Conduct a Troop Court of Honor: A Sample Program
Every Troop does it a little differently, but most Courts of Honor follow this order. The Senior Patrol Leader or a youth master of ceremonies runs it, and adults stay in the background.
- Gathering. Families arrive and find seats. Scouts greet guests at the door.
- Opening ceremony. Color guard, Pledge of Allegiance, and the Scout Oath and Law. See 7 opening ceremony ideas.
- Welcome. The SPL welcomes families and explains what the evening is for.
- Rank advancement. Each Scout is called up, one at a time, from Scout rank through Life.
- Merit badges. Recognized separately from rank.
- Other awards. Camp awards, service hours, Order of the Arrow, and leadership positions.
- Adult recognition. A quick thank-you to leaders and volunteers.
- Closing ceremony. Something solemn and short. See a closing script below.
- Refreshments. Cookies, cake, and time to celebrate.
9 Ideas to Make Your Court of Honor Awesome
1. Start Planning Early
Most Troops hold 3 or 4 Courts of Honor a year. Careful planning of the dates encourages attendance and makes each one memorable. We held a Court of Honor in December, followed by our holiday party; in July after we returned from summer camp; a few weeks after school started (Florida starts in mid-August), which was also a recruiting event; and in late March after our Spring Break trip.
Promotion is key. I suggest mailing an invitation home to each family, asking them to attend and bring other family members.
2. Recognize Each Scout Separately
This may seem obvious, but each Scout should be alone “on stage” when their awards are given out. If a Scout advanced in rank, earned merit badges, and received other awards, recognize each category separately. We also liked to bring up the parents and let them hand the awards to their Scout.
3. The Opening Ceremony Is Important
The opening ceremony sets the tone for the entire Court of Honor. Here are 7 opening ceremony ideas. If your facility has an outside location, consider a remote fire lighting ceremony as the focal point of your opening. They are dramatic and solemn and go a long way toward making the evening memorable. A candle ceremony or a multi-voice reading is also perfect for setting the tone.
4. Respect the Court of Honor for What It Is
The Court of Honor is a ceremony honoring each Scout’s achievements. It is not the place for long announcements, Troop business, or council and district fundraising. Adults up front running things is also a terrible way to show off a youth-led Troop. Adults should be in the background, doing the “grunt work” that makes the evening run.
5. Consider an Overall Theme
The Court of Honor after summer camp is a great example. Station a couple of Scouts at the door and have everyone tie a square knot to come in. These Scouts can teach anyone who doesn’t know how and congratulate everyone once they get it. Decorate the room like a campsite with a tent and some camp-made gadgets, and tie your opening and closing ceremonies to the theme.
Some other themes:
- Patriotism for a July Court of Honor
- Holidays for a December Court of Honor
- History of Scouting: use quotes from Baden-Powell and decorate with vintage items
- High adventure: great for a back-to-school Court of Honor, with photos from Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier, or Summit, and displays of climbing and paddling gear
6. Never Underestimate the Power of Fire
Candles, fires, even electric flickering candles set a mood that will make your Court of Honor. Candle ceremonies are terrific because they have flames and can be tied to rank, advancement, the Scout Oath and Law, and more.
7. Give Some Ranks Their Own Ceremony
Pick one rank (usually one with several Scouts receiving it) and hold a ceremony just for that rank. Here’s an example of a First Class ceremony using a 3-candle candelabra.
SPL: The First Class rank represents a significant step in Scouting. It represents the “complete Scout,” having demonstrated all the basic Scouting skills.
(Light the first candle.)
SPL: This candle represents that you have earned the opportunity to show the code to which a true and mature Scout is forever bound by the Scout Oath and Law. This code is one of service and leadership.
(Light the second candle.)
SPL: This candle represents that you have advanced from being a Scout “hiker” to being a Scout “camper.” You have learned skills to live in the outdoors for weeks rather than hours. You have the skills to survive in the wild and, more importantly, the knowledge to avoid needing them by planning well and making sound choices.
(Light the third candle.)
SPL: The next phase of Scouting lies before you. Some Scouts pick up all the Scouting skills and get very good at tying knots, building fires, and that sort of thing. But unless you grow past being a Scout hiker and Scout camper to being a Scout leader, you have not experienced the true Scouting life. As you watch other leaders and learn leadership skills, you will understand that a leader is a servant. Serving and leading go hand in hand. As a First Class Scout, you are expected to lead other Scouts up the trail with you. Make their path safe, fun, and memorable, so one day they can stand where you are while you move on to greater things.
SPL: Wear this badge with pride in your accomplishments. The time it took you to reach this point is not important. The time that lies ahead of you, and what you do with it, is all that matters.
Call each new First Class Scout and their parents forward. Give the card and badge to the parents with a safety pin so they can attach it. Give the parent pins to the Scout, and have the Scout pin them on the parents. Repeat until every Scout has been recognized.
SPL: Troop, please stand and join me in congratulating our new First Class Scouts!
8. A Great Closing Makes the Event Memorable
The closing ceremony marks the end of the Court of Honor. It should be solemn and memorable. Here is one example.
(Four Scouts are assigned to this ceremony. The room is dark except for a white, a blue, and a red candle.)
Scout 1: As I put out this white candle, representing purity, may we be ever mindful that a Scout is clean: clean in body and thought, standing for clean speech, clean sport, and clean habits.
Scout 2: As I put out this blue candle, representing loyalty, may we be ever mindful that a Scout is loyal: loyal to family, to friends, to Scout leaders, and to country.
Scout 3: As I put out this red candle, representing courage and sacrifice, may we be ever mindful that a Scout is brave: facing danger despite fear, standing up for what is right against the coaxing of friends or the jeers of others, and never letting defeat drown them.
Scout 4: May we close this Court of Honor by reminding ourselves of our duty according to the Scout Oath and Law.
(Scout 4 leads the Troop in the Scout Oath and Law.)
9. After the Ceremony
Some “typical” after-ceremony activities, and how I feel about them:
- Food: I’m a fan of drinks and cookies or cake. It makes it a party and is easy to do. I’m not a fan of a big spread or a potluck. The food should never overshadow why the Troop has gathered.
- Fundraising: Not the time or place, in my opinion. Make it a separate event, maybe with the potluck dinner.
- Troop business: Resist the urge to discuss the budget or the need for new tents. Let your Scouts enjoy the night and their achievements.
- Camp promotion: Sure! But keep it focused on the Scouts and how camp helps them advance.
Is It Worth the Work?
This might seem like a lot of work. I still have Scouts, now grown with Scouts of their own, who visit and talk about the coolest parts of Scouting. There is always one Court of Honor (or more) in their story. For what it’s worth, remote fire lighting usually comes in first, and a failed remote fire lighting is a close second!
Court of Honor Recognition Ideas
Small extras that make a Scout’s big night feel special, from an Official Scouting America Licensee.
Court of Honor FAQ
What happens at a Scout Court of Honor?
It’s a formal ceremony where Scouts are recognized in front of family and friends for the ranks, merit badges, and awards they’ve earned since the last one. Most include an opening ceremony, the recognitions, and a closing ceremony, followed by refreshments. See the sample program above.
How often should a Troop hold a Court of Honor?
Most Troops hold 3 or 4 a year. Scheduling them after summer camp, around the holidays, after spring break, and early in the school year works well.
Who runs the Court of Honor?
The Scouts. The Senior Patrol Leader or another youth master of ceremonies leads, while adults handle setup and stay in the background.
Is Eagle Scout recognized at a regular Court of Honor?
Usually not. Eagle Scout gets its own Eagle Court of Honor, planned around that Scout.
What food should we serve?
Keep it simple: drinks and cookies or cake. The food should never overshadow the Scouts being honored.
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Court of Honor opening ceremonies Remote fire lighting Board of Review questions Scoutmaster conferences All free Scouting resources
References
Troop Courts of Honor (Scouting America)
Scout Ceremonies
First Class Ceremony
Woods of Wisdom: Ceremonies
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