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Religious Recognitions

Through Girl Scouting, each girl is encouraged to become a stronger member of her own religious group, and every Girl Scout group recognizes that religious instruction is the responsibility of the parents and religious leaders. Religious recognitions programs are always developed and administered by the religious groups themselves. If they wish to provide a pin, the recipient may wear it on her uniform, either on her badge sash below the membership stars, or on the right side of her uniform, level with her membership pin. Because the Girl Scout organization recognizes that it has no authority to decide whether or not a girl has reached a certain level of spiritual development, the Girl Scout organization does not grant permission to use the Girl Scout insignia and name on a religious recognition provided by a religious group.

Catholic Religious Recognitions Recipients

How to Get Started

1. Girl must obtain the specific booklet for her religion. Contact P.R.A.Y. for further information. If you are working on any Religious Recognition, please contact Charlene Domschot, ext. 244.

2. Parents should review the guidelines.

3. Families should talk to their religious leaders and if possible show them the booklet before starting the program.

4. Girls must complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the recognition or pin.

Benefits of Working with the Religious Community

The Girl Scout Promise and Law reflect that we are a spiritually based organization. We are non-denominational though the values we endorse are universal. In working with her faith group, a Girl Scout reinforces her commitment to it. At the same time, religious groups strengthen their connections to girls, their families, and youth in their communities. Some of the win-win benefits are as follows:

Girl Scouting: Helps to fulfill the Girl Scout goal of reaching "Every Girl Everywhere."

Girl Scouting: Girl Scouting enhances awareness of other faith groups, enabling Girl Scouts to work more effectively communities.

Girl Scouting:

  • Resources from faith groups will deepen our understanding of their personal and religious values and traditions.
  • Girl Scouts can share successful outreach practices and models with councils, drawn from both denominational and interfaith groups with councils.
  • Partnering with religious organizations provides opportunities for membership growth and retention in this age range. Also, retention for adult volunteers is greater since volunteers from faith based groups tend to make longer-term commitments.
  • Community cultivation is enhanced when Girl Scouts include representatives from faith groups and organizations in their national council sessions, conventions and other venues.
  • Being inclusive of different faith groups helps Girl Scouts to model for girls the many dimensions of diversity.

Religious Groups:

  • The international dimensions of the Girl Scout movement supports the efforts of faith-based groups to serve all people.
  • Supports efforts to better reach and serve youth in their communities.
  • Faith groups can use Girl Scout tools and resources to extend outreach efforts to girls and their families.
  • GSUSA's expertise in working with girls and young adults can reinforce and complement the work of faith groups with their children and young adults.
  • The leadership training and skills that members receive through Girl Scouting can easily be utilized on other communities and service organizations within the faith group.
  • Girl Scouts can provide speakers, expertise, and program support for national meetings and events sponsored by faith groups and organizations.

Learning more about Girl Scout initiatives that promote character education, tolerance, civics, and ethics, can broaden ways that faith groups teach values to their youth.

New Religious Recognitions Resources

P.R.A.Y. was pleased to be able to offer two new resources to Girl Scout councils. Both resources were made available at no charge to Girl Scout councils that were interested in promoting religious awards. Religious Awards Presentation Kit – This kit contained sample presentations for Service Units/Neighborhoods as well as for council-wide trainings and Troop presentations. It also came with a poster and a complete set of To Serve God puzzle patches.Religious Awards Kit for Girl Scout Stores – This kit was designed for store personnel to help understand the “who what where” of religious awards from the store’s perspective. The complete kit included a PowerPoint presentation, poster, several brochures, and a set of To Serve God puzzle patches. More information may be found at online at www.praypub.org. Sign up for PRAY's Girl Scout E-Mail List.

NEW BROCHURE AVAILABLE FROM PRAY
P.R.A.Y. has revised the “To Serve God” brochure to include information about the new puzzle patch. The new brochure now has four pages and includes the following features and information:

  • Full color photos of all the religious awards available to girls and adultsFull color photo of the To Serve God puzzle patchContact information on the national religious organizations and committees
  • Basic information about religious awards: what are they, how do you get started, why promote them, and how to make a presentation

    • Girl Scout councils are encouraged to order these brochures to distribute one per Troop plus extra for staff, training events, the resource center, etc. To order brochures or to find out if your council has already ordered a supply, please contact Jennifer at jenniferh@praypub.org.     Click here to view this brochure on the P.R.A.Y. web site.

    CATCH THE SPIRIT, A GSUSA RESOURCE- A “Catch the Spirit: Pluralism in Practice” CD-ROM was released by GSUSA in January 2006. It is designed “to promote the innovative, pluralistic and recent program activities that Girl Scout councils and their faith and culture community partners are engaged in. Faith and culture communities are portals of diversity and many Girl Scout councils are successfully collaborating with their neighbors toward pluralism and inclusion.” The CD-ROM includes PSAs, sample letters and recruitment flyers, and badge and try-it activity curricula. Copies were sent directly to local councils. For more information, contact GSUSA.

    Return to topFrequently Asked Questions

    Religious Recognitions Poster1. What if my religious institution doesn't know about this program?

    Although the religious recognitions have been created by the religious bodies at the national level, the local institutions may not be aware of them. It may be helpful to obtain more information or even obtain a copy of the curriculum to give to your religious leader.

    2. If the program for my faith has more than one level (for the different grade levels), may a girl earn all of these recognitions?

    Yes. Girls and young women can earn all levels of their religious recognitions program. However, they must be in the appropriate age/grade level according to the program guidelines when they start, and complete each level before moving on. They may not go backwards or earn younger programs.

    3. Do the participants have to belong to a religious institution?

    It depends on the religion. Please check the eligibility requirements for that particular program.

    4. Do girls and boys participate in the same program?

    It depends on the religion. Some have created programs that are used by both. Others have created separate programs for members of separate youth agencies (i.e. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Boys and Girls). Please check the eligibility requirements for each program.

    5. Who may serve as a counselor?

    Once again, it depends on the program. Some require as member of the clergy serve as a counselor, others allow parents or family members.

    6. How long does it take to complete the program?

    Some may be completed in 3 to 4 months; others may take longer.

    7. How are the awards presented?

    They should be presented in a meaningful ceremony, preferably at the girl's religious institution. Some awards come with a sample ceremony.

    8. How do I order the recognition items?

    Each religious program has its own award. Follow the instructions in your guidelines; awards come from different places and require the submission of different information. The awards are NOT available at the council store.

    9. Where is the recognition worn on the uniform?

    On the badge sash below the membership stars, or on the right side of the uniform level with the membership pin.

    10. What are adult recognitions?

    They are earned by nomination only; they are honors given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth through both their religious institution and Girl Scouting. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to receive an award by submitting the required application, letters of recommendation, and resume. Please check eligibility requirements for specific awards.

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    Resources Available from the National Jewish Girl Scout Committee

    The National Jewish Girl Scout Committee has several updates to their web page including a ten-year calendar of Jewish Holidays and Festivals, Guidelines for camping with Observant Girl Scouts, and a section on Blessings, Graces and Prayers. Visit www.njgsc.org.

    Craft Ideas for Jewish Holidays, $3.00 Includes many craft projects for Jewish Holidays throughout the year. It also contains clear explanations of the various holidays.
    More Ideas for Jewish Holidays, $3.00 Has additional crafts, and includes songs, games and recipes.
    Kit: About Jewish Girls in Girl Scouts, $1.00 Contains: history of NJGSC and the awards; fact sheets on Jewish faith and beliefs, observing the Sabbath, Holy Days and Festivals; information and sample letters to Girl Scout councils and Jewish institutions; all items listed below with an *.
    Suggestions for Jewish Girl Scout Services and Award Ceremonies, $.50 spacerspacer
    Girl Scouting and the Jewish Girl, $3.00 for 50 brochures A recruitment brochure which summarizes the NJGSC Awards and talks of the value of Girl Scouting to the Jewish Girl.
    Program Cover, $5.00 for 100. Suitable for a Girl Scout Sabbath or Awards Ceremony or Heritage Day Program, these color printed covers come unfolded, 8.5" x 11". When folded, the artwork has the Girl Scout Promise surrounded by six Jewish symbols, done in tasteful pastels, on the front.
    Free Publications
    Note: Items listed with an * are included in the Kit About Jewish Girls in Girl Scouts.
    • Nomination form for Adult Ora Award
    • Jewish Holiday and Festival 10-Year Calendar *
      This calendar is now available here as a download in PDF format.
    • Brochure: Israel Scouts: Tsofim Friendship Caravan
    • Sample copy (one only) of Brochure: "Girl Scouting and the Jewish Girl." *
    • Sample copy (one only) of Program Cover *
    • Guidelines for Camping with the Observant Jewish Girl Scout *
    • Procedures for Organizing a Council Jewish Girl Scout Committee *
    • Order forms for Religious Award Books for Jewish Girl Scouts *
    • Order forms for all NJGSC materials *

    To order any of these, fill out and print the form at http://www.njgsc.org/order.html and send a check in the correct amount to the address given.

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    Catholic Awards

    For Young People
    Family of God Project Book, Medal, and Patch
    Family of God is the official religious recognition program of the Roman Catholic Church for children ages 7-9 who are enrolled in the Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and other Catholic youth organizations. Family of God is a bilingual activity series developed to complement the catechetical efforts of the parish and families with children in the second and third grades. The program helps children discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish.

    The six chapters are titled:

    • I Am Special to My Family
    • I Am Special to God’s Family
    • I Belong to My Family
    • I Belong to God’s Family
    • I Can Help My Family
    • I Can Help God’s Family

    I Live My Faith Project Book, Medal, and Patch
    The I Live My Faith program is designed to help Girl Scouts and Camp Fire members, ages 9-11, appreciate more deeply the place that God and religion occupy in their daily life. The action-oriented activities focus on developing awareness within the individual of his/her potential as a growing person, friend, family member, citizen, and a participant in the community of faith. The program is divided into three chapters, “Stretching,” “Seeking,” and “Finding,” each of which blends the dimensions of discovery, prayer, service, and sacrament into a unified whole. I Live My Faith complements and supports the more formal religious education provided in Catholic schools and parish programs.

    Mary, the First Disciple Project Book, Medal, and Patch
    “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior ... ” (Luke 1:46-47)
    The Marian Medal program is written for young Catholics, ages 12-15, to enable them to “proclaim the greatness of the Lord.” This is accomplished by actively involving the participants in an understanding of Mary as a model of openness and spirituality—a woman of the church. Through various projects, discussions, and liturgical celebrations over a period of months, the participants are provided with a unique opportunity to develop new insights into their personalities, friends, parents, and the world around them.

    The Spirit Alive Project Book, Medal, and Patch
    This program is designed for Catholic youth in high school who are in the senior level of Girl Scouts or Horizon Club members of Camp Fire Boys and Girls. It assists them in discovering how the Holy Spirit moves in their lives, calling them to greater participation in the church’s ministry.

    The four chapters cover:

    • The Holy Spirit Alive in Scripture
    • The Holy Spirit Alive in the Catholic Church
    • The Holy Spirit Alive in Prayer
    • The Holy Spirit Alive in Your Life

    Activities are an integral part of The Spirit Alive process. Because different people have different learning styles, there are four categories of activities to choose from for chapters 1-3: written, artistic, interactive, and digital. The activity in Chapter 4 is the service component of the process.

    Adult Recognitions
    Recognitions are not just for youth! Adults who work tirelessly and without pay to mentor young people deserve special acknowledgment as well. Two medals are specially designed with the adult religious recognition moderator in mind. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal recognizes any adult who serves Catholic youth through national organizations like Girl Scouts of the USA and Camp Fire USA, the St. Anne Medal, is the highest recognition for adults. These recognitions are not given based upon completion of a program, but are awarded by the diocese to adults who model the highest ideals for young people. Suggested guidelines for the awarding of the medals are available.

    The Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal
    The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton recognition was inaugurated in 1980 to recognize the meritorious contributions of adults who serve Catholic youth through Girl Scouts and Camp Fire. This medal affirms the work of those who help youth develop their spiritual lives within the context of these organizations. It will ordinarily be received before the St. Anne Medal is earned, but is not a requirement for receiving the St. Anne Medal.

    The Saint Anne Medal
    The St. Anne Medal is the highest national recognition for adults who serve Catholic youth through Girl Scouts and Camp Fire. The recognition was inaugurated in 1957 and redesigned in 1980. The purposes of the St. Anne recognition are:

    • to honor the outstanding services of adults who contribute to the spiritual development of Catholic young people in these organizations
    • to further Catholic adult leadership in youth ministry through these national youth-serving organizations.

    The religious recognition program books and adult guides may be purchased by any individual via the NFCYM publications guide or online store http://www.nfcym.org. However, the religious recognition medals and patches may only be purchased and conferred by the diocesan authorized administrators upon verification of program completion and award application.

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    The National Buddhist Committee on Scouting

    The National Buddhist Committee on Scouting has a new email address viwamura@sbcglobal.net. Their website www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org is being redesigned but you can access information at this address: http://geocities.com/bcascout/.

    Padma Award- This program offers an opportunity for all interested Girl Scouts to learn and better understand the Buddhist Way.

    The Award and What it Means

    The Padma Award is a four part program for Girl Scouts.

    • The Brownie will receive a certificate on completion.
    • The Junior will receive a Padma pendant in bronze.
    • The Cadette will receive a Padma pendant in silver.
    • The Senior will receive a certificate on completion.

    The Padma Award is a medal consisting of a pendant, ribbon, and a bar. The pendant is the Lotus Blossom. It is a symbol which represents equality and purity of all things. The ribbon is wisteria color and is attached to a crossbar in which is inscribed the Sanskrit word "Padma".

    The Girl Scouts of the United States of America has authorized the Padma Award to be worn on the official Girl Scout uniform. The Award is presented by the temple to a Buddhist Girl Scout in recognition of her spiritual growth as shown by her fulfilling the Award Requirements.

    The Purpose

    The purpose of the Padma Award is to give Girl Scouts of the Buddhist Faith practical guidance in achieving the spiritual aspiration made in the Girl Scout Promise and Law, thereby developing a girl whose views and actions in life will stem from the highest of the Buddhist thoughts.

    The Padma Award program aims to do this by leading the girls to 1) attain understanding and faith in the Buddha, 2) learn the Teachings, and 3) practice the harmonious Buddhist way of life, in the spirit of universal brotherhood of all living things. These are the dynamic aspects of the girls who are of the complete acceptance of the Three Treasures--Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

    The Award program recognizes the Girl Scout Promise and Law and gives the Girl Scout a solid basis for fuller understanding and greater appreciation of all phases of the Girl Scout program.

    Who is Eligible?

    Although the Padma Award program is primarily meant for Girl Scout members of the Buddhist faith, a non-Buddhist may participate in the program provided permission is granted by their parents.

    Request information at http://www.eagnet.com/edipage/areaserv/nbcs/feedback.htm

    The Meaning of Padma
    Padma, a lotus-flower, is a central symbol of Buddha-truth, used by all schools of Buddhism since its birth.

    The nature of Buddha-truth is symbolized by the emergence of a pure and beautiful lotus-flower from the depth of a muddy swamp. Although deep-rooted in mud, the lotus-flower rises above the water to receive light and air.

    It is hoped that the applicants of the Padma Award rise above the muddy waters of worldly passions to blossom into the purity signified by the lotus-flower.

    Another meaning of a louts-flower is that it is a symbol of equality of all beings. the heart of a lotus-flower is made up of many equal-sized compartment; and in each and every compartment, a seed is found.

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    Good Samaritan Award for Youth

    http://www.naums.org/INFO/Awards.htm#GoodSamaritan

    The purpose of the award is to provide United Methodist Churches a means to recognize an individual youth who demonstrates the attributes of the Good Samaritan described in Luke 10:25-37.

    This award recognizes ministry to others through outreach, humanitarian assistance, or advocacy.

    The Good Samaritan Award recognizes girls and boys (ages 12 through 20) for outstanding outreach service. The award is administered by the United Methodist Church, but the recipients do not need to be members of a UMC congregation.

    Other Religious Awards

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