Archive for Religious Programs

Emmaus for Scouters – Wood Badge for Christians

Are you ready to take the next steps on your journey in either Christian Discipleship or Servant Leadership?

If so, there are two remarkably similar volunteer/lay-led retreat programs that I hope that you will consider.

Wood Badge is advanced leadership training for adults in the Boy Scouts of America. It truly is “leadership” training that is simply delivered in a Scouting setting, because the foundational principles that help Scouts grow as leaders can help adults, as well (http://www.woodbadge.org).

The Walk to Emmaus is a non-denominational Christian experience, intended to truly fan the flames of the Holy Spirit in ways that many people describe as being almost as powerful a catalyst in their walk as their initial surrendering to Christ (http://emmaus.upperroom.org).

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To be clear, Wood Badge is not Christian-centric, nor are there any other direct connections between the programs. My hope is that by sharing some parallels, those that may have realized the blessings of one might consider the other. Download this flyer to see more about how the programs compare.

Both are a retreat, in order to help you truly focus on your own growth – you will come back changed!

  • Wood Badge is six days, or two 3-day weekends
  • Emmaus is one 3-day weekend

Both use small groups to help you build life-long bonds as you experience new ideas together.

  • Wood Badge uses Patrols — “I was in the Beaver Patrol of Circle Ten Wood Badge 94.”
  • Emmaus uses Table families — “I sat at the Table of Paul on Dallas Emmaus Walk 113.”

clip_image004Both are structured curriculums that are delivered in your local area by volunteers who have been where you are.

  • Wood Badge curriculum is from the Boy Scouts of America, but then taught by a volunteer staff.  Each lesson has key points that are consistent but then adapted by the personal experiences of the speaker.
  • Emmaus curriculum comes from the Upper Room and is then taught by a lay-led staff, with a handful of clergy. Each lesson has key scripture and core ideas that are then adapted by the personal experiences of the speaker.

Both have opportunities to re-experience and refine your learnings while serving in future events.

  • Recent Wood Badge graduates can serve as Troop Guides for new participants or behind the scenes as Scribes or Quartermasters; and in later courses as SPL, ASM’s or Scoutmaster in future courses.
  • Recent Emmaus pilgrims can serve as Table Leaders for new pilgrims or behind the scenes in the “Outside” or “4th day” teams; and in later weekends as ALD’s or Lay Director in future courses.

Both foster communities for fellowship, but are intended to better equip you to serve those in your normal world.

  • Wood Badge graduates are recognizable by the wooden beads on their uniform, but it is not a clique. The purpose of WB is to grow leaders that can then go serve their Scouts, their families, their churches and their workplaces.
  • Emmaus has reunion groups and other fellowship events, but the purpose of the Emmaus experience is to help you grow as a Disciple of Christ and leader in service to God, your family, church, and the world.

CALL TO ACTION: If you are a Christian Scouter who has experienced the blessings of either of these programs, then you know how powerful they can be. Please consider taking the other journey as well. Search the web for “Emmaus” and your local major city … or ask about Wood Badge from your BSA Council representative.

And if you want a truly remarkable Wood Badge experience – consider taking Wood Badge at Philmont!!  Each year, Circle Ten Council hosts a course that is available to all Scouters.  Check out www.WB110.org for details about the August 2014 course.

How to deliver God & Church in Three Lock-Ins

God & Church is the third phase of the PrayPub discipleship program that is recognized for Christian Protestant Scouts in the 6th thru 8th grade (including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.) and is the next phase of growth beyond God & Me (1st thru 3rd grades) and God & Family (4th & 5th grades).

Last year, I developed a guide for delivering God & Family as an overnight lock-in, instead of six meetings.

This year, we’d like to try delivering God & Church in three lock-ins.


The typical schedule for God & Church is eleven (11) meetings, including the introductory session, seven lesson meetings and three “Mile Marker” unit wrap-ups. Instead, OUR schedule will be three (3) single, overnight lock-ins and a closing party/event, spread over a three month period. Each lock-in will include multiple lessons from the program guide, small group time for discussion and project work, and free time.

Here is the first draft of the God & Church three lock-in format – God n Church Lock-In Guide 2014-01

“Feedback is a Gift” and “A Scout is Helpful” … so am hoping that you will take a look and let me know what you think, especially if you have experience with the God & Church curriculum.

Thank you for your time.

A Guide for Chaplains Aides

In an effort to provide more structure and guidance for the Chaplains Aides (CA) in my district’s troops, I drafted a small guide that was intended for the Troops to consider, adapt and utilize if they chose to.  The guide draws out that CA is a leadership function, not just a service function, so the CA(s) should be leading, including:

– Preparing before campouts to deliver their Scouts’ Own Services

– Delivering the SOS itself, with the enlistment of supporting team members

– Debriefs after each SOS, as an opportunity to improve and grow

– If a CA is unable to attend a campout, they are still responsible for ensuring that an SOS still occurs during the campout, including the preparation and the debrief.

It also includes two signature sheets:  one signed at the beginning of the term of service (acknowledging expectations) and the second signed at the end of service for completion.

CLICK HERE to download the first draft of the Guide to Chaplains Aides

 

The Guide is a work-in-progress, with this being the first draft for considered use this Fall & Winter.   I will update the guide after lessons learned, as well as after suggestions offered by Scouters on the Internet.

As always, thanks for reading and your feedback.

Wood Badge Ticket Ideas

If you are signed up for Wood Badge, you probably have heard of the ticket:  Five tasks/projects/things that you will do that will benefit Scouting and enable you to grow your impact on the boys, while leveraging your new found leadership skills.

WB Ticket items are very personal and will vary greatly between a second-year Cub parent and a ten-year Asst. Scoutmaster.  If you are from the Five Trails District, here are are few ideas of ticket items that the district could really use help with:

1) COMMISSIONER SERVICE — We are in the process of rebuilding the Commissioner Service in Five Trails. Unit Commissioners are the mentors/friends of the Pack/Troop unit leaders, and also serve as the bridge between our District resources and the units. Consider becoming a UC for even one unit (perhaps the unit that your son is currently in). UC’s can be co-registered as Den Leaders, Committee Members, or ASMs (or just be other parents). If you have a passion for “helping” but haven’t found that “next step” role yet, consider being the Commissioner for your unit or a nearby Pack.

2) DEN CHIEFS – Den Chiefs are Boy Scouts who are learning leadership by serving within Cub Packs. We have lots of Boy Scouts who are looking for that opportunity – and Packs, whose Dens would benefit from an extra set of experienced hands. Five Trails District is looking for one or more folks who could take the Den Chief programs that some of our Troops already offer and consolidate it, so that we manage the placement of Boy Scouts within Packs at a district or city (Coppell, N.Irving and S.Irving) level. This would be a huge enabler for our Scouts and a way to bring your organizational and team coordinating WB skills together in an impactful way.

3) RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS COORDINATOR – Many Scouts miss the opportunity to pursue their Youth Religious Awards (purple knots), especially as they grow through Scouting – only because they are unaware of when the programs are being offered. Our district could use one or two folks whose only job would be to periodically solicit the other Pack/Troop-minded religious coordinators – and then communicate when new classes are being offered. Imagine if a boy wanted to earn his “God & Family” knot as a Webelos, and could just go to the district’s website to find out when and where the next classes are being held. Consider being that coordinator for at least a year and help us launch the webpages and communication streams between the various adult coordinators.

4) RELIGIOUS COURSE EVENT-LEADER – Five Trails recently ran “God & Family” (4th and 5th grade) as an overnight lock-in, instead of a typical eight-week meeting schedule. It was a WB ticket item, including leading the weekend (including recruiting the other leaders and then managing the on-site experience) and then developing a guide for other districts to use for similar lock-ins. The district would like to do the same offering for “God & Church” (6th thru 8th grades), including coordinating the leaders, the on-site experiences, and helping develop a guide for others to use in the future. If you are good at leading short-term teams for a big-impact goal or event, this may be a great ticket item for you. Or if you enjoy developing guides to enable others and can imagine yourself dissecting the curriculum to lay out the agenda – and then building it back up for others to use, you could have a big impact on the boys’ and future participants; consider co-leading with another WB participant. Alternatively, consider using the God & Family guide and delivering your own weekend for Webelos.

If any of these align with your passions, please email me for ideas on how you can have an impact on our Scouts through these roles.

Thanks for all you do (and will do) for our Scouts.  Best wishes to you as you enjoy Wood Badge.

How to Deliver God & Family as a Weekend Lock-in

Many Cub Scouts initially earn their purple knot (youth religious award) through God & Me for 1st-3rd grade – but don’t continue through the progressive program for higher ages.

By the time that they are Webelos or Boy Scouts, they often have so many other activities that they (or their parents) don’t want to sign up for 6 to 8 weekend meetings.  So, in our district, we tried delivering the God & Family (4th & 5th grade Protestant) program as a weekend lock-in.

The boys checked in at 6PM Friday and walked out 4PM Saturday, with the next part of their discipleship journey complete … along with some new purple knots or gold pins.

Click here to download a Guide to How to Deliver a God & Family Lock-in.

 

My hope is that you’ll consider delivering this in your own Councils and Districts – and provide feedback for how we can improve the guide.

Good Scouting and Many Blessings!

Awards & Programs for Bear Cubs

All religious courseware and programs are prescribed by the various religious institutions that have chosen to develop them. The programs are not created or maintained by the Boy Scouts. BSA simply approves the program structure and provides a method of recognition via the Uniform Knots for Scouts and Adults.

Religious study programs that are designed for 3rd grade youth can be used to satisfy the rank requirements for Bear.

A Cub Scout-specific metal ‘device’ (pin # 926) is available for the Purple Scout Religous Knot, BSA part number 05007

Depending on the scout’s faith, they have options such as:

Roman Catholic Parvuli Dei 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
Christian Protestent God & Me 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
Islamic In the Name of God 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
Jewish Aleph 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th

To complete the BEAR RANK,
the scout must do one of either Activities 1 (Ways we Worship) or 2 (Emblems of Faith).

1.  WAYS WE WORSHIP  (complete both requirements 1a and 1b)

  1. Complete the Character Connection for Faith
  • Know.  Name some people in history who have shown great faith. Discuss with an adult how faith has been important at a particular point in his or her life.
  • Commit. Discuss with an adult how having faith and hope will help you in your life, and also discuss some ways that you can strengthen your faith.
  • Practice. Practice your faith as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or religious fellowship.
  1. Make a list of things you can do this week to practice your religion as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious community. Check them off your list as you complete them.

OR

2.  EMBLEMS OF FAITH  (earn the purple knot above)

Guidance based on the BSA Bear Handbook (2006 edition) – pages 24-33.

If you know of other resources related Religious Programs, Awards or Rank Advancements, please let us know !

 

Awards & Programs for Tiger Cubs

All religious courseware and programs are prescribed by the various religious institutions that have chosen to develop them.  The programs are not created or maintained by the Boy Scouts.  BSA simply approves the program structure and provides a method of recognition via the Uniform Knots for Scouts and Adults.

The Tiger Rank does not have a religious participation activity, however religious study programs that are designed for 1st grade youth can be recognized by the used to satisfy the rank requirements for Tiger.

A Cub Scout-specific metal ‘device’ (pin # 926) is available for the Purple Scout Religous Knot, BSA part number 05007

Depending on the scout’s faith, they have options such as:

Roman Catholic Light of Chirst 1st & 2nd grade
Christian Protestent God & Me 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
Islamic Bismillah 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
Jewish Maccabee 1st grade

 

If you know of other resources related Religious Programs, Awards or Rank Advancements, please let us know !

 

Awards & Programs for Wolf Cubs

All religious courseware and programs are prescribed by the various religious institutions that have chosen to develop them. The programs are not created or maintained by the Boy Scouts. BSA simply approves the program structure and provides a method of recognition via the Uniform Knots for Scouts and Adults.

Religious study programs that are designed for 2nd grade youth can be used to satisfy the rank requirements for Wolf.

A Cub Scout-specific metal ‘device’ (pin # 926) is available for the Purple Scout Religous Knot, BSA part number 05007

Depending on the scout’s faith, they have options such as:

Roman Catholic Light of Chirst 1st & 2nd grade
Christian Protestent God & Me 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
Islamic Bismillah 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
Jewish Aleph 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th


To complete the WOLF RANK,
Activity 11 is “Duty to God”, which includes the following requirements:

11.  DUTY TO GOD

  1. Complete the Character Connection for Faith
  • Know. What is “faith”? With your family, discuss some people who have shown their faith – who have shown an inner strength based on their trust in a higher power or cause.
    Discuss the good qualities of these people.
  • Commit. Discuss these questions with your family: What problems did these faithful people overcome to follow or practice their beliefs? What challenges might you face in doing your duty to God? Who can help you with these challenges?
  • Practice. Practice your faith while doing the requirements for “Duty to God.”
  1. Talk with your family about what they believe is their duty to God.
  2. Give two ideas on how you can practice or demonstrate your religious beliefs.
  3. Choose one and do it. Find out how you can help your church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or religious fellowship.

Guidance based on the BSA Wolf Handbook (2006 edition) – pages 94-99.

If you know of other resources related Religious Programs, Awards or Rank Advancements, please let us know !

 

Awards & Programs for Webelos Cubs

All religious courseware and programs are prescribed by the various religious institutions that have chosen to develop them. The programs are not created or maintained by the Boy Scouts. BSA simply approves the program structure and provides a method of recognition via the Uniform Knots for Scouts and Adults.

Religious study programs that are designed for 4th and 5th grade youth can be used to satisfy the rank requirements for Webelos.

A Cub Scout-specific metal ‘device’ (pin # 932) is available for the Purple Scout Religous Knot, BSA part number 05007

Depending on the scout’s faith, they have options such as:

Roman Catholic Parvuli Dei 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
Christian Protestent God & Family 4th and 5th grade
Islamic Bismillah 4th and 5th grade
Jewish Aleph 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th

To complete the WEBELOS RANK, the scout must do requirement 8 (Faith).

Faith After completing the rest of requirement 8, do these (a, b, and c):

  1. Know: Tell what you have learned about faith.
  2. Commit: Tell how these faith experiences help you live your duty to God. Name one faith practice that you will continue to do in the future.
  3. Practice: After doing these requirements, tell what you have learned about your beliefs.

And do one of these (d OR e):

  1. Earn the religious emblem of your faith*  (earn the purple knot above)
  2. Do two of these:
  • Attend the mosque, church, synagogue, temple, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs. Tell your family and your Webelos den leader what you learned.
  • Discuss with your family and Webelos den leader how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and what character-building traits your religious beliefs have in common with the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
  • With your religious leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things for a month.
  • For at least a month, pray or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, temple, mosque, synagogue, or religious group.
  • Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos den leader. Tell them how it made you feel.
  • List at least two ways you believe you have lived according to your religious beliefs.

Guidance based on the BSA Webelos Handbook (2010 edition) – pages 49-51, 68-69.

*  Of notable mention in the BSA guidelines, if the scout earned their religious emblem (purple knot) as a Cub Scout, they must either earn the Webelos award or the activities of 8e.  Also, completing the activities of 8e does not qualify the scout to wear the religious emblem of their faith or a purple knot.

If you know of other resources related Religious Programs, Awards or Rank Advancements, please let us know !

 

Awards & Programs for Boy Scouts

All religious courseware and programs are prescribed by the various religious institutions that have chosen to develop them. The programs are not created or maintained by the Boy Scouts. BSA simply approves the program structure and provides a method of recognition via the Uniform Knots for Scouts and Adults.

Religious study programs that are designed for 6th thru 12th grade youth can be recognized with the Boy Scout-specific metal ‘device’ (pin) is available for the Purple Scout Religous Knot, BSA part number 05007, and the respective Boy Scout, Varsity, Venture or Sea Scout pins.

Depending on the scout’s faith, they have options such as:

Roman Catholic Parvuli Dei 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
Christian Protestent God & Family 4th and 5th grade
Islamic Bismillah 4th and 5th grade
Jewish Aleph 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th

While a formal religious activity is not required for rank advancement, having a healthy faith is a mandate for each scout that can be examined during the Board of Review or Scoutmaster Conferences, based on how the scout is “Living the Scout Oath and Law” (which is expressly defined).

See also the Boy Scout Oath and Law.

If you know of other resources related Religious Programs, Awards or Rank Advancements, please let us know !

 

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