Are you looking for good, effective, inexpensive and fun awards and recognitions to give to volunteers or others deserving something different? Are you as tired of giving out "Certificates of Merit" as the recipients are of getting them? Are you absolutely committed to the idea of rewarding volunteers as a key element of retaining them and growing the Pack?
This article is a listing of ideas and suggestions for adding pep to your recognition program. It is not a detailed "how-to", or anything- it is only meant to get your imagination started.
First, it is important to keep a basic rule in mind- "The Right Recognition for the Right Job". Your "phone captain" deserves recognition, but your successful fund-raising chairperson deserves more. A Scout earning a bead deserves recognition, a Scout earning a rank deserves more.
Second, the best recognitions are those that recall or are related to the task performed. They gain worthiness by being personalized, dated and unique. The recognition is further enhanced by an appropriate award ceremony- size, cost and ceremony to be determined by the importance of the recognition.
Third, I am going to assume you do not have a lot of time and/or money to use in recognitions. Of course, you need to spend an appropriate amount for the situation. Some recognitions demand a larger price tag than others- Eagle Scout Court of Honor, recognizing a fund-raiser that raised significant amounts for the unit, recognizing a long-term and beloved outgoing leader, etc. Most recognitions, however, can and should be handled with less overhead without compromising the event.
Finally, search everywhere for more ideas. Look in books on rewarding or motivating volunteers and employees. One good resource is "1001 Ways to Reward Employees" from Workman Publishing. Clip ideas from magazines, etc.
By the way, my background is Cub and Boy Scouting, so that is what is most often mentioned, but the ideas would apply to nearly any volunteer in nearly any organization.
To start, some basic ideas:
A. Lapel pins, parent's pins, and similar jewelry can be added to many things for a professional and "official' touch- the pin can be carefully cut and ground off, or a small hole drilled to hold the pin part. A touch of epoxy or other glue will hold it in place nicely. Stickers and patches can be used the same way.
B. Small plaques to attach to an award can be easily made by using a word processor and nice printer to print out a SMALL sign. Laminate the sign and attach to the item with double side tape, glue or even small brass nails. I like printing white letters on a black background and adding small touches like a thin white border or small icons/dingbats. Using thick 'self-adhesive laminating film' gives you a durable covering.
C. Engraving, trophy and silkscreening shops can often offer a lot of ideas that you might not have thought of, often at reasonable costs. Look especially for mis-done items at clearance prices- a bit of creativity and you have a winning trophy.
D. Personalization should obviously include the recipient's name and the key date, but should also include, when possible, a reminder of the event and the giver, and possibly a pertinent quote or saying (one of the recipient's own if available). For example, a chairperson of the popcorn sales might receive a plaque reading "Sue Doe. Pack 3's 1996 Popcorn Colonel. $1,234 raised. "You don't have to be crazy to do this job- but it helps!" "
E. Humorous or gag awards can be used so long as they are in good taste, and still rewarding. A funny line on a certificate (especially if it is a quote or a reminder of a funny event); an odd-looking gift; a well-displayed and presented recognition of something trivial (a plain whistle nicely mounted on a wood plaque in such a way as to allow it to be removed and used for example) make good gifts that bring back pleasant memories.
F. Smaller recognitions can be made more special by taking a photo of the occasion (and possibly of the activity that earned the recognition).
G. Know the recipient. If you have a good sense of who the recipient is, you can tailor the award to their tastes- if they collect thimbles, make thimble awards. If they have a patch collection, add to that.
H. Try to involve as many people as possible- get the victim/recipient's family involved, as well as others in the unit the recipient interacts with. You will get better ideas, more people will be aware of the person's contributions, and the recognition will last longer in people's minds.
Now- the 101 Recognition Ideas!:
1. Fill a baby food jar with munchies. Decorate the lid as desired- cover with a fabric cap, plastic clay sculpture, etc.
2. Use a nicer glass or plastic jar for the munchies. Have the information etched onto the side with sandblasting, or paint it on with glass frosting paints (make your own by mixing water and epson salts, or by them in a craft store).
3. Use a normal certificate, glue an appropriate patch on it to reinforce the honor.
4. Use a normal certificate, but laminate it, frame it, or put it in a presentation folder.
5. Enhance the occasion with photos of the recipient at work.
6. Find an inexpensive gavel (mini-gavels are often given out at court houses). "Nail" on a lapel pin appropriate to the occasion.
7. Tool a certificate on leather, woodburn it on wood or embroider it on fabric.
8. Give a live plant in a distinctive planter, or paint the info on a clay pot.
9. Take a candy bar and carefully remove the outer wrapper, leaving the foil alone. Replace the wrapper with your own creation, suitable for framing after use.
10. Write the important information on an iron-on tag. Attach to an interesting hat or shirt (preferably a Scout item, such as a commemorative hat).
11. Have a T-Shirt made up to commemorate the event. Find a nice iron-on transfer and add iron-on lettering, or paint the whole thing with fabric paints.
12. Have each Cub in a Den or Pack write on a T-Shirt or bandanna as a gift to the recipient (usually a Den or Pack leader)
13. Buy a small Superman toy in a heroic pose. Glue onto a pedestal or plaque for a "Super Man" award. (or, obviously, substitute a Supergirl if needed).
14. Toy cars mounted on bases, pedestals or plaques make great Pinewood Derby race trophies.
15. Toy sports figures can be repainted in Cub Scout colors and used as sports trophies.
16. Glue the pages of an old scout book together (or remove the cover and wrap around a proper size piece of wood). Drill a wide, shallow hole to hold a small clock face (available at hobby or woodworking shops).
17. Use a body-part casting kit (hobby shops) to cast a hand in the Scout Sign. Paint to look like stone, mount.
18. Use the body-part casting kit to form a hand that could hold a tool. Glue a tool in place and award to a person who helped build a Scout or the unit.
19. Make a collage. As an example, a nice Eagle recognition can be fabricated by taking an oversize postcard of an eagle in flight. Using a photocopier or laser printer, make a transparent overlay with the name and other information on it, positioned so it appears in the sky area. Attach an Eagle patch, medallion, knot, and or pin to another sky area. Frame the whole shebang in a shadow box. If possible, add depth by using spacers between elements so they appear to float.
20. Make a "magic wand" certificate. On the back of a white paper certificate, glue a piece of black paper (contact paper works great) so it touches the two long edges, but comes about 1 1/2" short of the two short edges. Roll the paper up the long way so the black shows, seal with a bit of tape. When rolled, it will look like a magic wand.
21. Have a nametag engraved for the recipient. A generic plate can be used nearly everywhere, or jazzed up by gluing on an appropriate lapel pin (cut and grind off the pin). (If using a pin, be sure the engraver leaves room for it!) Additional information can be permanently inscribed or written on the back.
22. Handmade or weird beads can be used to add pizzazz to a bead recognition program. There are many books on making beads out of rose petals, paper, clay, and more.
23. Small plastic figures can be remodeled with paint and such to become Scouts. A bit of soft paper can be cut and glued to become a neckerchief, a small piece of stiff plastic or cardboard becomes a hat brim, etc. Using this technique, a super hero figure (i.e. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle like thingie) can become a "Super Scout" trophy. Paint the whole thing bright brass (using a primer coat first), or hand paint it realistically.
24, Marbles can be glued to a plaque to represent the solar system. A half of a clear plastic egg makes the sun, and a touch of paint on a blue marble becomes the Earth. The award is for being the 'Best in the Whole Universe'. With a little more effort, a small light bulb could be placed inside the 'sun'.
25. Small stuffed animals can become nice gifts with pins or jewelry added, patches sewn on, etc. I found a cute beanbag eagle, sewed the recipient's name on the breast, added a miniature pin to the wing's shoulder and gave it to our non-Eagle Cubmaster for Christmas- he finally got his eagle!
26. Use small, off-the-shelf cast figurines, such as: a small cast wolf cub figurine for a Wolf leader or teacher; clown figurines are a natural for any sort of Scout fair or circus event; or Native American figures can be used for OA, Pow-Wows, and other themes.
27. Build a small fire with modeling compound flames and real twigs, possibly adding red glitter for embers, or building it around a real, working flashlight bulb. this mini-campfire can commemorate an exceptional camping event, such as the Final Campfire for an outgoing leader, etc.
28. A miniature totem pole can be made hundreds of different ways and used for Indian theme awards.
29. A miniature rocking chair can be a nice humorous gift for a retiring Scouter (handled nicely, of course)
30. Build a wooden wagon kit, fill the bed with paper. Drill a hole to hold a pencil. Wood-burn a nice message in the side to make a nice memo pad gift award.
31. Make a wet-erase memo board. Decorate a piece of paper, leaving a big message area. Laminate the paper with the heaviest film possible. Stick either self-adhesive magnetic tape to the back (so it can be mounted on a fridge), or some self-adhesive Velcro so it can stuck anywhere. Include a wet-erase or overhead projection pen, tied on or in a holder.
32. Neckerchief slides or bolo ties make great awards for Scouts and Scouters. Bought or made and appropriately labeled. Many Scouts collect these.
33. Engrave a small metal flashlight or pocketknife as a handy and useful recognition.
34. "Stress balls" that you can hit make a good gift when mounted and labeled. They can be given to new committee members, or volunteers with especially frustrating tasks.
35. Ask a Girl Scout Leader about 'swaps', small hand-made gifts that are swapped at Scouting events. Many of them make nice recognitions that recall the event. One example- a tiny campfire out of matchsticks/toothpicks and an old Christmas tree miniature bulb. A dash of hot glue, and a safety pin on the back, and instant campfire award.
36. Make a nice wood plaque- nothing too fancy. Embellish by gluing or nailing stuff on it, such as a computer diskette for the Pack's record keeper.
37. Or a hammer for someone who helped 'build' the pack.
38. Have Cub Scouts draw a recognition. Provide them with some samples and a heap of crayons. Leave the "To" and "signature" blocks blank. Choose a few winners, write in the names, laminate and award. You will probably get some GREAT designs!
39. Well thought-out gift certificates make great small gifts. For Scouts, they might be passes to an arcade, cash at the local Scout supplier, or to a fast-food restaurant. For adults, it becomes a bit trickier, since you probably do not have much to spend. Try bookstores, smaller nice restaurants, and personal services (you can often find certificates for things like hand massages cheaply!)
40. Build an attractive kite- from scratch or a kit. Paint the info directly on the kite- either boldly, as part of the main design, or discretely. Kites make colorful hangings!
41. Using markers or fabric paints, write on a pennant (school, Scouts, team, etc.) Attach a pin or patch for more embellishment.
42. A presentation of an American flag makes a great gift. It should be awarded in the original container, or in another dignified fashion. Military bases and veterans groups often have inexpensive flags.
43. Have the unit's seamstress sew up a flag that the recipient can display on their home. Scout theme is optional and the wording can be iron-on. Make it bright and fun! A simple camping illustration, a sky and rainbow, etc. Add a simple Scout emblem (outline of the fleur-de-lis, for example).
44. Decorated cakes and cookies make nice, but temporary awards!
45. What is YOUR favorite hobby? Can you make a unique gift item? Knit goods, small hand-made rugs, woodburnt signs, a nicely mounted hand-tied dry fly, a meaningful stamp nicely mounted, etc. can all be good recognitions.
46. For the electronics wizard- make a small scrolling display with Radio Shack parts. Have it show a message and the time.
47. Another idea is to add a voice chip to a trophy that recites a good quote (preferably spoken by the recipient and recorded secretly!)
48. Many stores offer speaking greeting cards and photo frames that can be used for a great recognition that talks to you! Note: some of the cards take some tinkering to make it so they will record the message.
49. Adopt a Unit Charity- something like helping save wildlife, etc. Donate money in the recipient's name and award them a nice certificate explaining the charity.
50. Embroider the award on the appropriate neckerchief. Attach the 'chief to a nice board for mounting (folded or flat).
51. Computer wiz's can create a screen saver or computer recognition. Include scans, video clips, hyper-text, etc. as desired and able.
52. A person with a good technique with fine brushes can paint on ceramic mugs or bowls. Many dollar stores offer nice ceramic mugs for under a dollar.
53. Small figures can be easily crafted from many materials- plastic clays (like FIMO or Sculpty), pom-poms, etc. Cruise your craft shop for ideas!
54. Find a supply of nice rocks, like river rocks. Hot glue them into animal shapes, add details like goggly eyes, and glue onto a plaque. Bigger rock sculptures for bigger recognitions.
55. Using a hand-held grinder (like a Dremel tool), you can etch a message into a rock. Find a nice pebble and etch a short message. Carve it nice, crisp and deep. A great message is simply 'Thanks'.
56. "Good Egg" award- fill an egg carton with inexpensive fake eggs, possibly plastic Easter eggs (painted white or light brown if desired). Post the certificate on the carton's lid. If Easter eggs are used, fill each with a small trinket- a pin, munchies, handwritten thank you notes, etc.
57. "Star" award- cut a star out of sheet metal, plastic sheet, foam board or wood. It is more dramatic if it is not symmetrical. Make one 'arm' quite long, and mount it in the base.
58. Make simple designs out of Play Dough or home-made modeling dough. Decorate as desired and attach to a plaque or base. Sample ideas- hearts, stars, Pinewood cars, suns, etc.
59. Make a reverse plaque- cut a simple hole out of the plaque, treat the wording as usual. Sample hole ideas: star, heart, comet, etc. Mount a mirror behind the hole if desired.
60. "Person of the Year" award- cut out or fabricate a magazine cover for the "Person of the Year". Insert the recipient's picture or a small mirror.
61. Purchase a notepad holder. Decorate the holder appropriately, such as sticking on an embroidered sticker, sew/glue on a patch, have the recipient's name imprinted on it, etc.
62. Nice pop bottles can be interesting trophy bases. Paint or decorate them as desired. Glue onto a wooden base or weight with a bit of sand for stability. Glue the topper on.
63. Engrave a whistle, make a nice lanyard to hang it on.
64. A stained glass award panel can be made on a plastic panel, using paints available at craft shops made for this purpose.
65. Any plaque designed to be hung can be easily made to stand up, either by making a small stand to hold the bottom edge, or by adding a simple easel.
66. A simple bank will make a nice gift for several purposes, especially younger kids starting to save money or helping with fundraisers.
67. Speaking of banks, an interesting bank can be made by taking a large jar lid and punching holes about 1/2 inch apart around the rim, and cutting a slot in top for the coins. Sew the mouth of an old sock to the holes in the rim. The award info can be sewn, embroidered, painted or drawn on the sock itself. Remove the money by unsewing the lid or cutting the sock.
68. Use scraps of tooling leather, fabric, metal scraps, etc. to make large neck-hung medals or badges. Especially appropriate for contests with younger kids or as a gag gift for adults.
69. Old copies of Boy's Life, Scouting, or Scout handbooks can provide a lot of art to decoupage onto plaques or wooden boxes. The old art can also be mounted or framed.
70. Unique awards can be made by taking a shaped candle and carving the info into the side of it. Soap can be carved this way as well.
71. Odd trinkets, such as keychain toys or Christmas tree ornaments can make great additions to a trophy or plaque.
72. "Silver Bullet Award" for doing great turns- get a hold of some larger, empty bullets or cartridges and paint them silver. Glue onto a plaque.
73. "Good Turn" plaque- find a nice picture of a tern, such as an Arctic tern. Mount it and label it (so the recipient gets the joke).
74. "(Your Unit Here) Weather Forecaster"- you've seen this old gag- a piece of rope or a rock mounted on a sign saying stuff like "If the rock is wet, it is raining. If it is white, it is snowing. if it is missing, HIDE! Tornado!". The "Official Pack 12 Weather Forecaster" can be a toy horse mounted with the sign referring to a rope tail, or a small tripod with a rope hanging down, etc.
75. Tandys and other places offer a small tepee bank that you can write the award on.
76. Tandy's and other craft shops offer small Native American craft kits that make nice gifts- dream catchers, talking feathers, coup sticks, etc. might be considered.
77. Glue an old 78 rpm record to a plaque for "Setting a Unit Record". You can make a new label for the record quite easily.
78. Stuff a glove to make a "Helping Hand" award.
79. Use a two-phase recognition system. At your Blue & Gold, or mid-way through the year, give out a standard award to adult volunteers. At the last big Unit meeting of the school year, give out better awards, more crafted to the tasks.
80. Write your message on balloons- balloon animals, mylar balloons, a multi-color balloon bouquet, etc.
81. Make award buttons by painting over older buttons and paint/glue/write on your new message. Decorate with stickers, etc.
82. Another way to make buttons is to buy a button-making kit that allows you to insert a paper disk in a plastic holder.
83. Make a cross between a button and a badge by making a business card-sized recognition- nice, big and bold, and either laminating it or placing it in a name-tag holder. if you laminate it, you can attach a clip or safety pin on the back.
84. You can make inexpensive 'growing heads' by cutting an old stocking into about 30-36" tubes. Turn the tube half-way inside out (so it is a tube of two thicknesses). Tie one end off nice and tight. Drop in a small handful of seeds (such as ryegrass or so forth), then a big fist size chunk of peat moss/potting soil. Tie off the bottom. On each side, pinch out and tie off an ear, then a nose on the front. Glue on a pair of goggly eyes and decorate by painting, gluing, etc. Add a mouth, neckerchief, etc. as desired. Set in/on a small plastic tub or lid. Water to grow grassy hair.
85. Colorful certificates can be made by taking a bright wrapping paper that is both appropriate and light enough to read black writing on, and using this as a background. Print or copy your certificate on a transparency and frame it/laminate it on top of the wrapping paper.
86. Some people are greatly honored by having items dedicated in their name- a book in the unit's library, a tent, etc. You can already own the item, but it is nicer if it is new. Attach an appropriate label or tag.
87. One way to get award ideas is to talk to the spouse, family or friends of the recipient. What would they consider an honor?
88. Create a Unit Award, like your own version of the Grammys. Find or make several trophies that can be hauled out and used as needed. A distinguished science fiction writer's award is the hood ornament of an older car attached to a simple base. The keys here are volume buying and the ability to make several up in advance and hold them in ready till needed.
89. Your Unit Award (see above) can be something as simple as, for example, a tall, narrow triangle with a message like "Pack 12 honors <name> for Service to the Pack. <date>, <signature line>. The edges of the triangle could be painted to reflect the relative honor of the award- blue for highest honors, red for the next level, etc. The names, etc. can be woodburned in or written on with a paint marker, etc.
90. A recognition can be quite simple- a Grand Howl, Living Circle, big round of applause (turned into a standing ovation), etc. can be quite enough for many people.
91. To go step past the above, give everyone in the audience a smiley face or similar sticker. After the ceremony, each person sticks their sticker on the honoree as they greet them and thank them personally.
92. A recognition as simple as a large cut-out felt shape- star, heart, hand, etc. can be refreshingly sincere and touching. Decorate it any way you want, and add a chunk of double-stick tape to the back of it, or attach it with a straight pin.
93. Make a memory book for the recipient- either a scrapbook of thoughts, photos, etc. that everyone contributes to, or take a tape/video recorder and ask several people to share something positive about the recipient. Aim for something they can replay or review to refresh their spirits.
94. Allow the recipient to perform a ceremonial task, reserved for "The Most Worthy", such as beating the ceremonial drum or adding a feather to the unit's 'coup stick'.
95. Home-made stress balls/grip exercisers can be made by taking a balloon, filling it about 3/4 with sand and tying it off. Tuck the tied-off portion inside the balloon. Take another balloon and work it over the first one, starting where the first was tied off. Cut off the mouth of the second balloon. You should end up with a fairly smooth squishy ball. If it is too tight or too limp, disassemble and change the amount of sand. Decorate the outer balloon with markers or paints.
96. Publicize your stars! Put their names (and pictures if you can) in your newsletter, or on flyer handed out during the recognition ceremony.
97. Put their names on a banner as well! Rolls of gift wrap can be spray painted with the recipient's name pretty easily. Other paper or fabric can of course be used, but gift wrap is so pretty! Jazz it up further with balloons, streamers, etc.
98. Have all assembled sing "For He's (or She's) a Jolly Good Fellow" or other appropriate song. Throwing rice, birdseed, streamers, or caned Silly String at the recipients heightens the party mood.
99. Have an award presented by a celebrity (politician, Scout official, radio person, etc.) You'd be surprised how easy this can be to arrange sometimes! If a celebrity is not available, have it delivered by a person in costume appropriate to the occasion. Examples: Indian dancer, a person in a suitable animal costume, Santa, historical figure, etc.
100. Let the recipient do something wild, like deliver a pie in the Cubmaster's face, squirt the audience with Silly String or confetti, or use an odd musical instrument.
101. Add the recipient's name to an 'accumulative plaque' for receiving a specific award, such as "Den of the Month", "Volunteer of the Year", etc. Make sure they still get something to take home.
With this list as a springboard, come up with your own unit's unique recognition program. Play around with ideas, watch people's reactions and work on a system that works for you. Once you get a good program together, it will literally run itself.
Your recognition program will pay for itself many times over with happier volunteers, great word-of-mouth advertising, and leave you with the happy problem of too much help!
