Scouting-Youth Ministry


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Scouting is Youth Ministry
If you are interested in starting a Catholic Boy Scout or Girl Scout Unit, please contact Mark Pluff, 125 Kurken, Waterloo, IL 62298 or by e-mail.
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The values taught in Boy and Girl Scouting are the same found in the Gospels. Boy and Girl Scouting is an effective way to help Catholic youth to do their duty to God and to their country. Scouting builds character and teaches devotion to God in an environment that provides wholesome fun under the guidance of strong adult role models. The Boy and Girl Scouting Programs provide a wonderful channel to involve youth in the life of Catholic parishes. Young people experience Boy and Girl Scouting as a growth into personal maturity and social responsibility. They learn to assume their role in life with a high degree of commitment, and to care for others who are less fortunate. They develop a strong desire to build a culture of goodwill, respect for the environment and acceptance of duties. This includes the most fundamental of all duties - love of God and obedience to His will.
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The Vision of Youth Ministry and Renewing the Vision Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry.” Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1997.) “Youth ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community. ... three essential goals: (1) empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today; (2) drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community; and (3) fostering the personal and spiritual growth of each young person.” From the earliest days of Boy and Girl Scouting in the United States, the Catholic Church has found it a useful tool for youth ministry. Since its formation in 1934, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting has worked to ensure that Catholic-chartered Scout units and Catholic Scouts would have appropriate resources to integrate their faith experience with their Scouting experience – A Scout is reverent. A Scout promises to do his duty to God. While the “Renewing the Vision” document is concerned with adolescent youth, Boy and Girl Scouting for youth begins in the first grade Boy and Girl Scouting in the Catholic Church is a treasure -- a pearl of great price.
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GOALS OF CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY The goals of Catholic youth ministry match Boy and Girl Scouting’s three aims: Character development, preparation for responsible citizenship and physical and mental fitness.
*Goal 1:* To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.	*Character:* Boy and Girl Scouting’s values combine with the Gospel values taught by the Catholic Church are the basis for developing youth whose good character is based on the Gospel. The religious emblems programs offer a form of catechesis that is age- and grade-specific for each of the program phases of Boy and Girl Scouting. Youth leadership positions in the Boy and Girl Scout troop and Venturing crew provide opportunities for youth to put good Christian leadership into practice.
*Goal 2:* To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community.	*Citizenship:* The Boy and Girl Scout unit is one type of community. The home, parish, and civic communities are others to which a Boy and Girl Scout belongs. In Boy and Girl Scouting programs and activities they learn how to responsible members of their various communities.
*Goal 3:* To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.	*Physical and mental fitness:* Boy and Girl Scouting promotes holistic fitness. Some activities and programs are designed to develop healthful habits of diet and exercise. The challenges of learning new skills and exploring careers and hobbies through the merit badge program or high adventure activities stimulate the intellectual capabilities of the Boy or Girl Scout or Venturer. The spiritual values imparted through the religious emblems programs, Boy and Girl Scout retreats and the ideals of Boy and Girl Scouting contribute to sound spiritual growth.

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THEMES OF SCOUTING
*RENEWING THE VISION*
*comprehensive developmentally appropriate family friendly–intergenerational multicultural *community-wide leadership *flexible, adaptable programming	*uses resources of local communities programs are grade- and age-specific family involvement appropriate for age adults of all ages and youth work together teaches respect for different ethnic and religious views churches and civic community work together adults and youth trained for and exercise leadership *a variety of programs for different needs
Meets these characteristics: variety of approaches small-group home-based one-on-one mentoring independent or self-directed programs variety of schedule options, program settings current technology
EIGHT COMPONENTS OF YOUTH MINISTRY(essence of ministry with adolescents)	catechesis prayer and worship community life pastoral care justice and service leadership development advocacy evangelization
RESPONSE OF CATHOLIC SCOUTING (includes all eight components)
religious emblems programs, developmentally and grade appropriate Boy and Girl Scout Sundays, Mass when camping, mealtime prayers, prayers at meetings dens, patrols, crews, involvement in parish life, service projects Scout law, service projects, Eagle service project, “Do a good turn daily”, wearing of uniforms reduces class distinctions, religious emblems activities teach Gospel values of justice and service adults work with Boy and Girl Scouts, speak on their behalf in parish, Boy and Girl Scout districts, councils and national level, developmentally appropriate youth protection training	caring adult leaders, youth protection training, training to reflect on experiences, learning conflict resolution, merit badge program, public recognition for accomplishments training for and experience of leadership, youth work with youth earning religious emblems, troop conducts junior leader training, Scout councils conduct junior leader training conference to teach leadership skills, Venturers receive leadership skill training religious emblems programs, Boy and Girl Scout retreats, pilgrimages, days of reflection, Boy and Girl Scout Sundays, Mass attendance while on weekend trips, values in Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack, Boy and Girl Scout Oath and Scout Law, Venturing Oath and Venturing Code, adults witness faith to youth, youth witness to one another, outreach to un-churched members of the unit
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ADULT LEADERSHIP IN CATHOLIC SCOUTING role models and witnesses to the faith in their daily interactions with Boy and Girl Scouts apostles to youth receive extensive training in leadership National Committee on Catholic Scouting Scouter Development program trains adults for the lay apostolate of Boy and Girl Scouting receive training in youth protection norms the unit committee supervises the program a Boy and Girl Scouting coordinator acts as liaison between a parish’s Scout programs and the pastor and parish council adults serve as religious emblems counselors or moderators. They are trained for this service. Boy and Girl Scouters stay connected with their parishes that charter the Boy and Girl Scouting units and are active in the parish’s youth ministry