Poquoson Girl Scouts Earn God and Family Recognition

In Girl Scouts, everything that girls do is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law— a pledge that includes many of the values and principles common to most faiths. Since Girl Scouts was founded in 1912, the organization has encouraged girls to take spiritual journeys by earning recognitions created by national religious organizations. Recently, Girl Scout Juniors Emily and Hailey from Poquoson earned the God and Family recognition at Emmaus Baptist Church.

The God and Family program that Emily and Hailey participated in focused providing an opportunity for them to explore their faith with their family. The girls learned about different families in the Bible and about strengthening relationships in their family. Each week, the girls had certain scriptures to read at home and activities to complete with their family members. The program also helped Emily and Hailey learn and understand the Ten Commandments. After completing the program, the girls were awarded with a God and Family medallion during a church service.

Emily and Hailey earned the God and Family recognition through Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.). P.R.A.Y. is a nonprofit organization focused on connecting youth with their faiths through the adult ministry at their church and through youth-serving organizations, such as Girl Scouts.

For more information about joining Girl Scouts or earning a religious recognition through Girl Scouts, visit www.gsccc.org.

Hampton Girl Scout Earns Religious Recognition

In Girl Scouts, girls are guided by the Girl Scout Promise and Law, pledges that include many values and principles that are common to most faiths. While a secular organization, Girl Scouts has always encouraged girls to take spiritual journeys through their faiths’ religious recognitions. One way that many Girl Scouts explore their faiths, including Girl Scout Cadette Madison from Hampton, is by participating in a religious recognition program through Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.).

Madison recently earned P.R.A.Y.’s God and Church recognition through a program at First United Methodist Church of Fox Hill. This recognition is designed to help youth strengthen their relationship with their church and challenges them to participate in the worship and ministry of the church. To earn the recognition, Madison participated in a three-part journey that included learning more about Jesus, worshipping God and ministering for Christ. She also learned about the structure of First United Methodist Church of Fox Hill to better understand the mission of the church.

Madison has a been a Girl Scout for six years, and previously earned the God and Family religious recognition as a Girl Scout Junior.

P.R.A.Y. is a nonprofit organization focused on connecting youth with their faiths through the adult ministry at their church and through youth-serving organizations, such as Girl Scouts. For more information about joining Girl Scouts or earning a religious recognition through Girl Scouts, visit www.gsccc.org.

New Patch Series from P.R.A.Y.

Programs of Religious Activities with Youth, also known as P.R.A.Y., offers programs and resources to help Girl Scouts grow their faith. Girls can earn religious recognitions through activities they complete with parents and clergy. Each religious organization develops and administers its own program.

Recently, P.R.A.Y. introduced a new program called Bible Basics RP3, which is designed to help girls get into the Bible. This series is designed for girls of all ages, as there are questions for both younger and older children included in the series.

The Bible Basics RP3 series has three patches that girls can earn: The Good Book, Out of the Water and Birds of the Air. Each patch focuses on a simple object and will require three separate sessions to complete. During each session, girls will Read a Bible story, answer questions to Picture the story, discuss issues to ponder its meaning and choose an activity to Put into action.

Requirements to earn the patches can be downloaded for free here, and patches can be ordered online here. These patches are separate from the P.R.A.Y. awards and do not require workbooks or an application/ review process by clergy.

Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which include many principles and values that are common to most faiths. Although a secular organization, Girl Scouts has always encouraged girls to take their own spiritual journeys. At all levels of Girl Scouting, girls can earn religious recognitions, as well as the My Promise, My Faith pin, which helps girls strengthen the connection between their faith and Girl Scouts.