P.R.A.Y. Awards
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Charles Flowers |
Sedrick Robinson |
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Jon Yates |
Jason Noland |
Scout Anniversary Month
The weekend that falls closest to February 8th is generally designated as the celebration for Scouting’s anniversary month. However, many congregations and units elect to celebrate at different times throughout the month. There are several great resources to help units plan for their Scouting Anniversary celebration within the walls of faith-based chartered partners. Please share the links and information below to help them prepare for the events in 2025.
Helpful hints for Scout Anniversary
Scouting Anniversary Month Presentation
Are you starting new units this fall or looking for meeting places?
Consider reaching out to your local Protestant Churches. Faith-based institutions comprise a significant percentage of chartered organizations across the country. The programs of the Boy Scouts of America connect the community that is the church with the community that is outside the church. Of course, houses of worship may have their own stipulations, but do not overlook the opportunity to build a relationship.
While secular in their approach to faith, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Venturing encourage and recognize one’s faith journey through the Oath and Law, advancement, and religious emblem programs. It is important to let faith leaders know about the emblems that exist and to identify theirs with the Duty to God brochure. For more information about relationships with faith traditions, visit the Marketing and Membership Hub for Religious CO’s. Additionally, P.R.A.Y. has links to most faiths for online reference through its search by faith tool.
P.R.A.Y. and its denominational partners have developed resources to help cultivate potential partners by connecting their faith to youth through Boy Scouting. When programs of the Boy Scouts of America are viewed as youth ministry, congregations experience outreach, leadership development, and growth. Use the specific or general Protestant flyers below to help clergy expand their facilities or programs by highlighting “duty to God."
- General Protestant
- African Methodist Episcopal
- Baptist
- Disciples of Christ (Christian Church)
- Lutheran
- Presbyterian Church, USA
- Presbyterian Church of America
- United Methodist Church
What are the targets?
- Review the list of current and past congregations that serve(d) as meeting places, are there other small groups meeting there? Do they have the full complement of BSA programs and ages?
- Has the congregation hosted units before? Would they consider it again?
- Are there volunteers or leaders who might be able to open the doors of their church for small group meetings?
- Don’t overlook connecting with your local Ministerial Alliance or Council of Churches where faith leaders across many traditions meet collectively to serve the community.
- Request an historical P.R.A.Y. report to identify congregations that may have helped a member complete their religious emblem.
For more resources and updates, visit our website: https://https://www.praypub.org/bsa
Duty to God Brochure
Did you know that the B.S.A. recognizes forty-two different faith-based organizations that have developed Religious Emblems programs? These are programs owned by faith organizations that are eligible to be worn on B.S.A. Uniforms.
The National Religious Relationships Committee of the B.S.A. is pleased to provide the Duty to God Religious Emblems Brochure. Highlights include:
- A better four-page format (8.5″ x 11″) that can be printed from home printers AND a two-sided (11″x17″) format for larger printers.
- Hyperlinks throughout the document to websites for each faith group takes you directly to the Religious Emblems information. (Some links even directly download the PDF Nomination Forms.)
- More specific age group explanations for each emblem. They now list either B.S.A. program levels, age levels, or grade levels, specific for each emblem. “Senior Scouts” means Venturers, Sea Scouts, and Explorers between 14-20.
- All the Protestant Faiths that utilize P.R.A.Y. Emblems are grouped together for their common emblem information. If the specific faith has an extra emblem for unit-level youth or adults, those are listed in the Alphabetical Section.
- The Venturing TRUST Award is included.
Council Duty to God Award
The Council Duty to God Award was created to recognize those registered Scouters who have demonstrated an exemplary history of transformational leadership in supporting and promoting the spiritual foundation of Scouting at the local Council level. It acknowledges the unswerving dedication to faith, fellowship, and service of those whose character embodies the moral principles and shared ideals of the Boy Scouts of America.
There are no restrictions on the number of nominations submitted to a local council. Even so, a maximum of two Council Duty to God Awards per year may be awarded by 100 and 200-level councils, and a maximum of one Council Duty to God Award per year may be awarded by 300, 400, and 500-level councils.
The Council Duty to God Award presentation should be conducted with the highest level of honor at a council event (such as the Council’s Silver Beaver recognition) or a religious emblem ceremony for the recipient’s faith. Each recipient should receive recognition worthy of the service rendered on Scouting’s behalf.
The award medal will be the same as the National Duty to God Award medal but will be suspended from a blue and white ribbon. Certificates are also available through National Supply. The nomination form, including additional details about the nomination and submission requirements, is available by clicking here. It will be available on scouting.org and through other BSA channels as updates are made.
Scouts Read Sacred Texts Worldwide
This past May, 3,673 scouts from 177 councils read from their sacred texts for 855 hours. Nearly 3900 patches were ordered. Most Scouts read at home with their families. In addition to the United States, Scouts from Kenya, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Bangladesh, Chile, Singapore, Okinawa, and the Philippines participated as well.
Next May, we're expanding this event to all youth, not just Scouting – all faith groups and all youth organizations. We are asking all councils to place this on their calendar for May 1, 2025, to promote Duty to God. Please visit our website to volunteer, see pictures and a list of all councils that participated in 2024. https://stlbsa.org/Scouts-read-sacred-texts-worldwide/
Calendar of Religious Observances
The Boy Scouts of America and the National Religious Relationships Committee have developed these religious holiday calendars for the use of local units, councils, and others in scheduling Scout-related activities. It provides a brief description of each holiday, following each month, and an indication of the significance of each as well. The calendar will be continuously updated to provide planners with a two-year holiday schedule.
There are certain holidays that individual Scouts and Scouters of different faiths celebrate each year. These holidays are not always on the same date on the calendar and may not be familiar to everyone.
2024 Religious Observances Calendar