In the Protestant "God and Me" and "God and Family", there are materials available for a counselor. A counselor is usually one or both parents, but it may also be another adult. This can include Grandparents, aunts and uncles, family friends or an adult associated with the church. Mentor is a relatively new set of materials that is an optional approach available to adults. The objectives are to (1) enrich the experience of the youth enrolled in the God and Country program; (2) enrich the experience of the adults who are working with children in this program; and (3) enrich the relationship of the child and adult working together. The function of the mentor is therefore not merely to guide the student through his or her program (not to serve as the counselor, in the traditional sense), but to work with the child as they each grow in the understanding of their own faith and as they learn how to share their faith with each other and with others. it is not meant as materials for an adult working on their own. The adult will receive a pin and certificate to match the student's recognition items. Completing the program does not qualify the adult for the religious square knot. The mentor pin is for nonuniform clothing only.

Religious emblems: Who owns them?

How can I earn the religious emblem of my faith?" is a question often asked by adults. The answer is that you can't earn it. They are awarded to deserving adults whom the respective organizations consider worthy of such recognition. In other words the individual does not seek the award, but the award seeks the individual.

A question we sometimes hear from boys is "Although if am of ____ faith. I'd like to learn about other faiths and earn their awards. Where can I get the requirements?" The reply is specific. The religious emblems literally are the property of the different religious bodies and they have determined that only the youth of their faith group may earn the appropriate emblem.

Award Ceremonies: The emblems are often awarded twice. A Pack meeting is always used.. If the Blue and Gold banquet is near this is perfect. The ceremony should be made a big deal as it is a very tough award to have earned. This will often encourage other Cubs and parents to give it a try. The second award should be made the Cub Scout's church. Normally this would be during the worship service and include the parents, denominational leader and may include Cub leaders as appropriate.

Changes in the Lutheran religious growth program: The Lutheran church has reserved the Living Faith award to 9th to 12th graders and added the God and Church program in grades 6th through 8th. The God and Church Counselor manual now includes the Lutheran supplement. A new adult recognition program has been developed to recognize adults who have given leadership to Lutheran young people. The new award is called Servant of Youth and is not a replacement for the Lamb award.

There is a Lutheran Recognition of Excellence patch that is available to units sponsored by Lutheran bodies. There are several requirements to meet.

There are numerous resources available on the web. You can find:

BSA at http://www.bsa.scouting.org/

PRAY at

BSA.Net at

The MacScouter at

U.S. Scouting Service at

and many more resources can be found with a search engine

I am aware of 6 denominational Scouting Associations. They include Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, and Disciples of Christ. I have information about how to join the Lutheran and Methodist.

There are also some conferences at the Philmont Training Center that support the denominational Scouting Associations and the relationships between Scouting and church bodies.

Philmont Grace

For food, for rainment,

for life and opportunity,

for friendship and fellowship,

we thank thee O' Lord.

O' the Lord is good to me

and so I thank the Lord

for giving me the things I need,

the sun, the rain, the appleseed.

the Lord is good to me.

Amen, Amen, Amen-Amen-Amen, Aamenn