Commentary
National Policies for Girl Scouts
These national religious recognition programs are available to Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States. In a diocese, these programs are administered and supervised by an authorized official, the diocesan director of youth ministry, diocesan Girl Scout/Camp Fire chaplain, or diocesan Catholic committee chairperson. For further information contact your authorized official.
- The NFCYM does not mandate prerequisites for participation in these programs. Suggested national guidelines are available for the administration of adult recognitions. The diocesan administrator may set up diocesan requirements, alter age or schedule requirements, or authorize other adaptations to correspond to local programming levels or needs.
- Diocesan authorized administrators may extend the use of these programs outside of Girl Scouts and Camp Fire by permitting youth groups and religious education classes, together with adult moderators, to engage in these projects in parishes.
- The NCCGSCF Management Committee advises the NFCYM on matters pertaining to youth ministry through these organizations. Religious recognitions are periodically reviewed by this committee, revised, created, or adapted.
- As of January 2003, any individual may purchase religious recognition workbooks from the NFCYM or their local diocesan administrator. Applications and nominations for specific recognitions (medals and patches) are processed by each diocese.
The Catholic religious recognition programs administered by the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire (NCCGSCF), under the auspices of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), allow young people to explore and become more involved in their Catholic faith. All programs are designed to support and complement the catechetical efforts of Catholic parishes and schools. In particular, the Family of God is an excellent supplement for children preparing for the reception of their first Eucharist. The Spirit Alive provides substantial and creative activities to augment preparation for the sacrament of confirmation.
The religious recognition programs may be utilized by members of:
- Girl Scouts USA
- Camp Fire USA
- American Heritage Girls
- Junior Daughters of the Americas
- Catholic youth groups
- Religious education classes
- Or others as designated by the diocesan authorized administrators.
Related Policies
6.3 Religious Recognition medals and patches may only be purchased and conferred by the diocesan authorized administrators upon verification of program completion and award application. 2015