Religious Emblem Program by Ella Ozier The Next

Religious Emblem Program by Ella Ozier

The Next 15 Minutes… • Learn about the Religious Emblem Program • Learn how you can easily implement it • Call in the support

Duty to God “On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. ”

Duty to God “Duty to God” is at the heart of the Scouting movement. Religious emblems reinforce this spiritual component and promote many of the values found in the Scouting program. Patch Availability August 2012 -July 2013: Mountain August 2013 -July 2014: Fish August 2014 -July 2015: Eagle (Repeating three year cycle)

WHAT IS THE RELIGIOUS EMBLEM PROGRAM?

Religious Emblem Program Provides an opportunity for the scout to: • Learn more about his faith. • Practice “…duty to God” and being reverent. • Encourages diversity and acceptance of religious beliefs. When the scout completes the program, he earns the religious knot which can be worn over the left pocket of his uniform. Devices are used if he completes the program at more than one level of scouting.

LDS Duty to God Award Most other major religions’ awards Sponsors provide faith-based curriculum Catholic Awards

Why Are We Doing This? CRRC Mission: To Promote Duty and Reverence to God Within Scouting 1. Promote religious emblem program 2. Encourage each unit to have a Chaplain Aide and provide Chaplain Aide training opportunities 3. Foster cooperation among faiths 4. Strengthen ties with current religious-based partners 5. In cooperation with the council's Membership Committee, support growth of new units in religious organizations 6. Assist in finding clergy for services at Council-wide events 7. Provide advisory support and oversight to the "Duty to God" program at Camp Long Lake

EASY AS 1— 2— 3

Step 1: Recruit • Each unit should have a Unit Religious Coordinator (UREC volunteers 3 -10 hours per year) with key responsibility to advocate for the religious emblem program. • Each Boy Scout unit should also have a Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide training session offered in March and November

Step 2: Market the Program • Coordinate a time for your Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator (Cub Scouts) or Chaplain’s Aide (Boy Scouts) or other volunteer to present the Religious Emblem Program to your unit every year – Any meeting when many parents attend e. g. Recognition night or Court of Honor – Special parent/scout meeting prior to the pack meeting or troop meeting

Step 3: Recognize the Scout • The scout should be recognized within his religious institution, but be sure to also recognize him at a unit meeting—perhaps his religious leader would participate. • Please provide your District Religious Emblem Coordinator or the CRRC with religious emblems earned. The scout will be listed on the PAC website and we can track religious emblem achievement.

Pass the Baton to the Religious Leader • BSA approves this program but it is NOT a scouting program. You should encourage the scout and his parents to work with his religious leader. • All three sponsors—P. R. A. Y. , LDS and Catholic faiths—have structured curriculums. – P. R. A. Y. has an age-appropriate curriculum with Student, Counselor, and Mentor handbooks with great activities that religious leaders can use—it is easy for them to implement too.

CALL IN THE SUPPORT

Combined Religious Relations Committee • Council-level resource available for your unit or religious leaders to help implement the religious emblem program. • They are the BEST---be sure to connect with this very helpful group of people: – Jack Pollock-Chair CRRC – Denise De. Dominces- Northern Lights REC – Jim Buskel- Onatah REC – Elaine Garvey- River Trails REC – Sue Schultz -Scout Professional at Susan. schultz@scouting. org

Volunteers from Your Unit • Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator • Chaplain’s Aide

The Scout’s Religious Leader • Please contact the CRRC at susan. schultz@scouting. org for assistance if: – The scout’s religious leader is not aware of the religious emblem program. – If you know a religious leader who is willing to serve as a counselor for scoutside his/her institution.

Amazing Resources • Combined Religious Relations Committee P. R. A. Y. (http: //www. praypub. org) provides presentations, videos, and other materials for most major religions • The Catholic programs are administered by the Milwaukee Archdiocese for PAC units. • The LDS’ Duty to God program is administered by the Bishop of the Scout’s Ward.

So What Do You Need To Do? • Recruit—Market—Recognize – Recruit: By December 5 th recruit a Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator, Chaplain, or Chaplain’s Aide – Market: Confirm a date for your volunteer to present the religious emblem program – Recognize: Be prepared…to recognize the scouts who earn the religious emblem.

Thank You! Ella Ozier ellao@wi. rr. com