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Theme: Winter Wonderland
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LDS Scouting Handbook: https://www.lds.org/bc/
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Upcoming Events
Basic Training
Old Juniper District: Friday, Nov. 20, 6:30 pm - 10 pm. LDS Smithfield Church Building, 451 S. 250 E., Smithfield.
Elkhorn District: Saturday, January 9, 8 am - 12 pm. 110 S Main, Millville.
Den
Chief Conference: Saturday, December 12, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. 300 S
345 E, Smithfield. For all Den Chiefs. For more information, call Dale
Bright at 258-2908.
Baden-Powell
University: Saturday, Nov. 14, Weber State University. Cost is $15
early registration, or $20 at the door. Register at trappertrails.org. BPU is supplemental training for all adult leaders.
Day Camp: You can begin registering for 2016 Day Camp on December 1, 2015, at trappertrails.org
District Award of Merit: The District Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts to nominated Scouters. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level. Find the online nomination form at https://www.trappertrails.org/districtawardofmerit. Nominations are due by the end of January.
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Training Highlight: Scout's Own or Interfaith Worship Service
The Scout Law teaches, "A Scout is reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." It is important that Scouts be taught to recognize the beliefs of other Scouts and to respect those beliefs.
Scouts' Own is an inspirational, informal ceremony held as part of Scouting activities.
A Scouts' Own service is usually short, often lasting no longer than 15 minutes. They are made up of a mixture of readings, prayers, reflections and music. Many Scouts' Owns are based on a particular theme, such as friendship, using resources wisely, or fairness. This might be connected to a certain event or occasion.
The BSA no longer officially uses the term Scouts' Own, preferring "outdoor worship service" or "interfaith worship service."
Writing in 1928, Baden-Powell described his views on the subject:
"For an open Troop, or for Troops in camp, I think the Scouts' Own should be open to all denominations, and carried on in such a manner as to offend none. There should not be any special form, but it should abound in the right spirit, and should be conducted not from any ecclesiastical point of view, but from that of the boy. Everything likely to make an artificial atmosphere should be avoided. We do not want a kind of imposed Church parade, but a voluntary uplifting of their hearts by the boys in thanksgiving for the joys of life, and a desire on their part to seek inspiration and strength for greater love and service for others.
A Scouts' Own should have as big an effect on the boys as any service in church, if in conducting the Scouts' Own we remember that boys are not grown men, and if we go by the pace of the youngest and most uneducated of those present. Boredom is not reverence, nor will it breed religion.
To interest the boys, the Scout's Own must be a cheery and varied function. Short hymns (three verses are as a rule quite enough-never four); understandable prayers; a good address from a man who really understands boys (a homily "talk" rather than an address), which grips the boys, and in which they may laugh or applaud as the spirit moves them, so that they take a real interest in what is said. If a man cannot make his point to keen boys in ten minutes he ought to be shot! If he has not got them keen, it would be better not to hold a Scouts' Own at all."
The Scout Law teaches, "A Scout is reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." It is important that Scouts be taught to recognize the beliefs of other Scouts and to respect those beliefs.
Scouts' Own is an inspirational, informal ceremony held as part of Scouting activities.
A Scouts' Own service is usually short, often lasting no longer than 15 minutes. They are made up of a mixture of readings, prayers, reflections and music. Many Scouts' Owns are based on a particular theme, such as friendship, using resources wisely, or fairness. This might be connected to a certain event or occasion.
The BSA no longer officially uses the term Scouts' Own, preferring "outdoor worship service" or "interfaith worship service."
Writing in 1928, Baden-Powell described his views on the subject:
"For an open Troop, or for Troops in camp, I think the Scouts' Own should be open to all denominations, and carried on in such a manner as to offend none. There should not be any special form, but it should abound in the right spirit, and should be conducted not from any ecclesiastical point of view, but from that of the boy. Everything likely to make an artificial atmosphere should be avoided. We do not want a kind of imposed Church parade, but a voluntary uplifting of their hearts by the boys in thanksgiving for the joys of life, and a desire on their part to seek inspiration and strength for greater love and service for others.
A Scouts' Own should have as big an effect on the boys as any service in church, if in conducting the Scouts' Own we remember that boys are not grown men, and if we go by the pace of the youngest and most uneducated of those present. Boredom is not reverence, nor will it breed religion.
To interest the boys, the Scout's Own must be a cheery and varied function. Short hymns (three verses are as a rule quite enough-never four); understandable prayers; a good address from a man who really understands boys (a homily "talk" rather than an address), which grips the boys, and in which they may laugh or applaud as the spirit moves them, so that they take a real interest in what is said. If a man cannot make his point to keen boys in ten minutes he ought to be shot! If he has not got them keen, it would be better not to hold a Scouts' Own at all."
Each
rank has a Duty to God requirement as a Core Adventure. Some of those
requirements can be completed by holding an interfaith worship service
as a den or pack activity.
- Tiger: Participate in a worship experience or activity with your family.
- Wolf: Learn and sing a song that could be sung in reverence before or after meals or one that gives encouragement, reminds you of how to show reverence, or demonstrates your duty to God. Offer a prayer, meditation, or reflection with your family, den, or pack.
- Bear: Attend a religious service, den or pack meeting worship service, or time of family reflection and discussion about your family's beliefs.
- Webelos: Help plan, support, or actively participate in a service of worship or reflection. Show reverence during the service.
- Arrow of Light: N/A
- http://troop813.tripod.com/
adobe/reverent/sctsown.pdf A compilation of prayer, poems, and thoughts to be used at an interfaith ceremony. - http://www.scouting.org/
filestor/pdf/ Interfaithservice.pdf A 2 pg compilation provided by the BSA. - http://scoutdocs.ca/Documents/
Scouts_Own.php What is a Scout's Own? - http://www.macscouter.com/
scoutsown/ The Macscouter's Big "A Scout is Reverent" Resource Book
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Resource of the Month: praypub.org
Spirituality
has been an integral part of the international Scouting movement since
its inception. While Scouting is a non-denominational organization, it
has strong ties to various religious organizations. As early as 1908,
Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell wrote in the first Scout handbook
that, "No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His
laws." The Scouting movement allows each boy, den, pack, or troop its
own freedom to worship God in his own way while promoting each scout to
become strong members in his individual faith. To help promote this
spiritual growth among the boys, each faith has its own special award
that a boy can earn, each with its own requirements.
You
may have a Cub Scout that comes into your pack that may not be LDS.
Give them the opportunity to earn the religious knot for their
denomination. You can find the requirements for the religious knots for
each denomination at praypub.org.
P.R.A.Y.
stands for Programs of Religious Activities with Youth. P.R.A.Y. is
best known for religious awards programs. The P.R.A.Y. program helps
young people to develop a deeper relationship with God and to understand
how God is active in their lives and in the world around them.
You can find information about all the religious emblems offered to
Scouts by clicking on "Partnerships" on the left side, then Boy Scouts
of America. Click on "Duty to God Brochure" to find out what each
religion's award looks like and the name of the award. You can find the
brochures with the specific requirements for each religion at the Scout
Shop, or from the religious leader. There are presentation scripts to
make it easy to introduce a duty to God program to your pack or troop.
Please note: The Religious awards are awards of the various denominations, they are NOT Scouting awards. A boy should be able to find a counselor for his faith at his church. If his particular local church does not have anyone who is knowledgeable about the awards, then either someone from your pack could help someone in the boy's church learn about the award or your local Council can help find a counselor or someone to help the local church.
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Patch of the Month: Religious Emblems Awards
These
awards are not Scouting awards but are offered by religious
organizations. To earn the awards, boys work with their religious
leaders and family members. To encourage members to grow stronger in
their faith, religious groups have developed the religious emblems
programs. The Boys Scouts of America has approved of these programs and
allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform. The various
religious groups administer the programs. Check with your local council
service center, or at www.scoutstuff.org or contact the religious organizations directly to obtain the curriculum booklets.
Most
Cub Scout religious emblems consist of a bar pin and pendant, and are
awarded by religious groups. Boys should also be recognized at their
pack meeting with Scouting's universal religious square knot. The
square knot may be worn on the uniform above the left pocket.
Religious
awards programs are uniquely designed to build assets in youth and
adult leaders. Of course, the primary goal of religious awards is to
help children grow stronger in faith, but a secondary goal is to help
families and faith communities build positive assets in children. When
young people work alongside counselors, mentors, and religious leaders,
and when parents are encouraged to share their faith with their
children, the religious awards programs help provide support mechanisms
in their lives. The Religious Award program for LDS packs is the Faith
in God program. Encourage non-LDS boys in your pack to talk to their
religious leaders to get information on the religious award program for
their faith.
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