STATE COLLEGE — Joshua A. Kirby of Centre County was honored with one of Scouting America’s highest recognitions for volunteer service to youth during the organization’s National Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 14.
The Silver Antelope Award is Scouting America’s second-highest honor for service at the regional or territorial level. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the Scouting movement. Fewer than 32 individuals across the country receive the award each year. Kirby is one of just 31 recipients in 2025 who were selected from among more than 1 million registered volunteers.
Kirby becomes only the sixth person from the Juniata Valley Council to receive the award since its inception in 1942. His selection marks a rare back-to-back for the council, following the 2024 recognition of Joseph P. Strigle. The previous council recipients include prominent community figures such as John and Solveig Horn (1967 and 1976), Robert Flipse (1982) and Penn State coaching legend Joe Paterno (1983).
Kirby has been continuously involved in Scouting for 39 years. He joined Pack 837 in Albion, New York in 1986 and went on to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout in 1994. His early service project foreshadowed his lifelong commitment to youth development. He later earned six Eagle Palms and served five summers on staff at Camp Dittmer.
His involvement expanded internationally when he joined the Scout Association of Japan during a high school exchange year, and nationally when he began serving on Scouting America’s committees and task forces in 2007.
Among his most notable roles was serving as Chief of Staff for the Program Pillar at the 24th World Scout Jamboree from 2017 to 2019, managing a team of 5,000 volunteers from over 100 countries in delivering activities for 40,000 Scouts. He also serves as Vice Chair for Training on the National Scouts BSA Committee, helping to shape adult volunteer training nationwide.
Locally, Kirby continues to be an active volunteer with the Juniata Valley Council. He currently serves on the Council Executive Board and as Council Training Chair. In his own community, he is the Pack Trainer and Camping Coordinator for Spring Creek Pack 67, where both his daughter and son are Cub Scouts. He previously served as a den leader and Pack Committee member.
In March 2025, Kirby was named a Silver Antelope Award honoree by Scouting America’s Council Service Territory 12. The recognition follows his receipt of the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award a local council can bestow, from the Juniata Valley Council in September 2023.
