Awards Summary

Awards
1

This is the summary topic for our awards conversation. I’ll update this as we converge on a set of awards.

Goal

The PN&R Awards Program is dedicated to promoting on-foot exploration of public lands. We encourage operators to enjoy the trails, forests, and natural features of our parks while combining adventure and radio in the great outdoors.

General Rules

These rules apply to all of the PN&R awards.

  1. PN&R Awards are available to anyone in the world.
  2. All references / parks accepted by the Parks On the Air™ program, worldwide, are eligible for use in the program. For simplicity the PN&R awards call these parks.
  3. You may submit an activation from a park as many times as you like, though we do encourage you to explore other parks!
  4. If a park overlaps a different park or trail, only one may be submitted for a given activation. If you are in a five-fer, you’ll need to pick one.
  5. For activations involving more than one operator, each activator that submits a log for the activation must complete each QSO claimed on their own, and submit their own log or attestation.
  6. Only contacts made on or after January 1st, 2026 are eligible for PN&R awards.
  7. Each unique combination of callsign, mode, and band qualifies as a QSO.
  8. Awards are initially given when an individual submits proof of meeting the requirements. Example: It might take a hunter 18 months to earn their first Hunted All States certificate.
  9. The base award will be endorsed for mode, year, and other properties, explained in each individual award category.
  10. Awards may be earned from any location, i.e. if you move, you don’t have to start over.

Activator Awards

Most Activator awards require a complete park activation. For PN&R awards, an activation is complete when you have submitted a log showing a minimum of 10 contacts from the park. An activation is incomplete when you have submitted one or more logs that have an aggregate QSO count of less than 10, but you may return and complete the activation if you wish.

There is currently one Activator award:

  1. Pack Mule: Submit attestation that you have activated a minimum of 100 parks entirely by hiking, cycling, paddling, or other nature-oriented means. The operator, radio, antenna, and all power sources must be carried more than 1,000 meters (about half a mile) from any motorized vehicle. The vehicle cannot be used in any way to support the station other than getting you close.

Activator Challenges

A Challenge is a limited-duration award that requires activators to meet specific, limited requirements. For example, we might post a challenge to activators to use only a dipole antenna during the fall months.

Challenges will be announced on PN&R in advance of the start date.