Nor’easter Frost Point Award
Camp out when it’s below freezing, earn a point for every degree under 32°F, and reach 100 points to earn the Council’s Nor’easter patch.
- Who can earn it
- Scouts BSA, Venturers & adult leaders
- Season
- October 1 – May 30
- Goal
- 100 frost points
New to frost points? Here’s how it works
This is a Narragansett Council award for cold-weather camping. Your unit keeps track of it, there’s no application, and points never expire.
Camp out in the cold
Spend at least 6 straight hours overnight in a tent, lean-to, snow shelter or under the open sky, with no heater inside.
Count your frost points
Subtract the night’s lowest temperature from 32°F. A low of 22°F earns 10 points. Log each night in Scoutbook.
Reach 100 and get the patch
Once you hit 100 points, buy the patch at the Yawgoog Trading Post. Keep going to earn rockers up to 500.
Frost point calculator
Add each campout night to see your total and how close you are to the next patch. Nothing is saved here, so keep your official record in Scoutbook.
Add your first night to get started.
What counts as a frost point night
Every night has to meet all six of these rules. Leaders, please review them with your Scouts before the trip.
Six hours, sunset to sunrise
Spend six or more continuous hours between sunset and sunrise in a lean-to, snow shelter, tent or in the open.
No stoves or heaters inside
No stoves or heaters are allowed in tents or shelters.
Open fires, only if safe and allowed
Fires are fine when they don’t endanger the shelter or surrounding area, and the camp permits them.
Supervised troop activities
Earn points at organized troop outings with leader supervision, following two-deep leadership and the Guide to Safe Scouting.
Backyard camping counts too
Missed an outing because you were sick? Camp at home with parent supervision, following the Guide to Safe Scouting.
An adult checks your gear
An adult must review and approve your tent, pads, sleep system and clothing layers for the expected temperature.
The patch and rockers
Start with the center patch at 100 points, then add a rocker for every additional 100, up to 500.
- 100 pointsCenter patch
- 200 points200 rocker
- 300 points300 rocker
- 400 points400 rocker
- 500 points500 rocker
How to get yours
Both are sold at the Yawgoog Trading Post online store.
Common questions
Who can earn the Nor’easter Frost Point Award?
Scouts BSA members, Venturers and registered adult leaders in the Narragansett Council.
Do my points reset every year?
No. Frost points carry over from year to year, so every cold night keeps counting toward your next level.
What if the low temperature was above freezing?
Points only come from degrees below 32°F. A night with a low of 32°F or warmer earns 0 frost points, but it still counts as a great campout.
How do we record frost points?
Use Scoutbook. When you add a new camping activity log, you can enter frost points for everyone on the trip or for individual participants.
Whose temperature reading counts?
The official weather station nearest the campsite is the standard. A leader’s thermometer reading is also accepted.
What are two-deep leadership and the Guide to Safe Scouting?
Two-deep leadership is Scouting America’s youth-protection rule that at least two registered adult leaders are present for activities. The Guide to Safe Scouting is the national safety handbook every unit follows. Both apply to frost point campouts.