Religious Knot Classes Starting Soon

 

There are only two awards Cub Scouts can earn that they can take with them into Scouts BSA to wear on their uniforms forever -- one is their Arrow of Light award, the other is their religious emblem. 

To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, religious groups have developed a  religious emblems program. The Boy Scouts of America has approved of these programs and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform. We are blessed and grateful to have longtime Scouter and church member, Sheri Tull, facilitate the God & Me and the God & Family programs this year for our Cub Scouts enabling them to earn their religious knots.

They're called religious "knots" because they are a rectangular patch depicting a silver square knot on a field of purple. "Knots" are awards earned by leadership (and youth) for achieving benchmarks in training and/or leadership. 

The program we will be utilizing was created through Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) The 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. It is a Christian Education resource that uses Bible lessons paired with service projects conducted at the family level to help young people not only to grow in their Christian faith but to also express their faith by reaching out in love and in service to others. 

Like all things in Scouting this shouldn't be a "one and done" process because faith --and your commitment to your faith-- should be an ever-evolving continual dialogue. This is why we have a Duty to God component for every rank in Scouts. 

We offer this opportunity every other year.  While you can only earn the knot once, you can however continue to grow in your faith by continuing to take the classes when they're offered.

We will send out a Google Form for you to sign up.  From there, we will add you to the event on Scoutbook for reminders.  Each class has a workbook that is a required part of the curriculum.  We will open a payment link for those.  Once the class is completed, there are other awards you are welcome to purchase for your scout (a medal, a certificate, etc.) however, the knot for their uniform will be provided by the Pack.  

The required workbooks are pictured below.

God and Me is designed for our Wolf and Bear ranks.

God and Family is designed for our Webelos and AOLs.

We will have our classes set up for alternating Wednesday nights.  Classes will start at 6:30 pm at the Scout House on their designated dates.  Doors will be open at 6:00 pm, however, in the event you wish to share a quick meal together (brought from home) prior to the class.  

Again, this is OPTIONAL and this program will never be held in place of a den meeting. The religious component of Scouts is deeply personal and we are all not of the same faith. Therefore, Duty to God means something different for everyone. If you are not aligned with the Protestant belief doctrine, please feel no pressure to complete this course as it is NOT a requirement to complete the Duty to God requirement for each rank, it's simply to earn the knot. The knot is optional but shows your Scout has gone above and beyond the requirements to deepen their faith. 

Since this is entirely optional, the costs of this program (supplies, workbooks and $ for a pizza party at the end) are up to the families participating. The pizza party will be coordinated by those attending (not me and not now). 

Cost is $12 per participant and that provides you with your workbook and class materials.

RSVP on Scoutbook for your Scout by September 2 so we can order your workbook. 

Registration link HERE