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.

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 bestTo 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 AvailabilityAugust 2012-July 2013: MountainAugust 2013-July 2014: FishAugust 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.

Most other major religions’ awards LDS Duty to God Award

Catholic Awards

Sponsors provide faith-based curriculum

Why Are We Doing This?

CRRC Mission: To Promote Duty and Reverence to God Within Scouting

1. Promote religious emblem program2. Encourage each unit to have a Chaplain Aide and provide Chaplain

Aide training opportunities3. Foster cooperation among faiths4. Strengthen ties with current religious-based partners5. In cooperation with the council's Membership Committee, support

growth of new units in religious organizations6. Assist in finding clergy for services at Council-wide events7. 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

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 DeDominces- Northern Lights REC– Jim Buskel- Onatah REC– Elaine Garvey- River Trails REC– Sue Schultz -Scout Professional at

[email protected]

Volunteers from Your Unit

• Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator• Chaplain• Chaplain’s Aide

The Scout’s Religious Leader

• Please contact the CRRC at [email protected] 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 scouts outside 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 5th 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 [email protected]