Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin

First Quarter 2006

Welcome to the P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin.  This Bulletin is how we share information about the religious awards programs and ways to strengthen relationships with the religious community.

2005 God and Country Usage Figures

The P.R.A.Y. web site has posted the 2005 God and Country usage figures for each Girl Scout Council. Click here to see how active your council was in 2005, and also to view a five-year history on God and Country usage.

Congratulations to the following councils which had the largest number of God and Country recipients in 2005:

Greater St. Louis – St. Louis, MO
Nation’s Capital – Washington, DC
San Jacinto – Houston, TX
Tarheel Triad – Colfax, NC
Penn Laurel – York, PA
Northwest Georgia – Atlanta, GA
Colonial Coast – Chesapeake, VA
Hornet’s Nest – Charlotte, NC
Tejas – Dallas, TX
Kentuckiana – Louisville, KY

The following Girl Scout councils (with more than 50 recipients) also experienced a 50% growth. Congratulations!

Black Diamond – Charleston, WV

Northwest Georgia – Atlanta, GA

Colonial Coast – Chesapeake, VA

Goldenrod – Kearney, NE

Kentuckiana – Louisville, KY

God and Country Usage Declines in 2005
 

Usage of the God and Country Protestant program for all youth declined 1.75% in 2005. There was a corresponding 15% decline in usage by members of the GSUSA. Here is the breakdown by program level:

Best Practices – Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital provides information on the religious recognitions in the “Program” portion of their web page. Here is the link to visit their web site: www.gscnc.org/program/religiousrecognitions

Volunteers of the GSCNC organize a series of “Open Houses of Faith”.  This series takes place in February and March and has been designed for anyone interested in learning about their religious neighbors. It is not a Girl Scout event, but Girl Scouts are encouraged to attend. Youth can earn a patch for coming, but anyone is invited to participate in this program. "Open Houses of Faith" is an exciting and educational forum for enhancing public awareness about different faiths and religions in the Washington metropolitan area. Each participating religious group independently hosts its own Open House for conveying basic information about its beliefs and practices. Participants come with open minds, expecting to learn about different faiths in a welcoming environment that respects their commitments to their own faiths and beliefs. It is also an excellent opportunity for a variety of different religious groups to introduce themselves to the community. Visit www.OpenHousesOfFaith.org to learn more about this program.

GSCNC recently recruited individual girls and troops to construct posters highlighting religious recognitions. The program department provided poster supplies to these Religious Recognition Poster Work Groups. They created posters for specific recognition programs. The GSCNC now has customized posters for events at congregations through its area.

Update From Carol Eker, P.R.A.Y. Relationships Director

Carol Eker is the P.R.A.Y. Relationships Director who conducts training sessions for local councils. Carol recently contacted the Girl Scout Councils to determine the impact that this training has had on their work in faith communities. Here is her update:

I was pleased to hear that nearly every council has implemented some of the strategies that we covered in training. They have all begun a program that is membership driven and are working to improve relationships in the community.

Most Girl Scout Councils have sent representatives to ministerial meetings in their areas to introduce Girl Scouting to the faith communities and to try to form new troops. The recognition program is always a big part of that meeting. Most councils also indicated that they are using bulletins and inserts at times other than Girl Scout Sunday/Sabbath. These inserts are to introduce congregations to Girl Scouting or to keep them apprised of what is going on in the Girl Scout Troop that is meeting at that facility. Several councils have begun interfaith committees. The makeup of the committees varies from council to council as well as the work they do. The success of each committee also varies from council to council. I have also heard that more and more councils are adjusting accountabilities to include relationships building. I’m pleased to learn that promoting religious recognitions and building relationships has become a "way of work" for them. Here are some highlights of what some individual Girl Scout Councils are doing:

Promoting religious recognition is a part of the Denver Plan Of Work again this year. Every field person has accountability for identifying a faith community and working there to create a positive rapport.

Several councils have held "faith walks". San Diego held its first one this year. They report that it was very successful. Another council will hold a Thinking Day event "Religions Around the World".  It will be very similar to a faith walk.

Nations Capital set a goal for girl and adult recognitions received last year. They report that there was a significant increase after publishing the girls’ names in the Capital News.

Mile High has a patch program for attending planned open houses at a number of houses of worship. These visits and completion of some requirements and girls are eligible to wear a patch.

D.C. Girl Scouts meeting at a Mosque hosted a visit for other girls. There was a very large article in the Washington Post about the program.

Topeka is working on a membership plan to introduce Girl Scouting to facilities where there are no troops.

Wilderness Road publishes a newsletter distributed to area faith communities.

Upcoming P.R.A.Y. Trainings

·        Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, Inc  - Charleston, WV

·        Girl Scouts of The San Antonio Area – San Antonio, TX

·        Sooner Girl Scout Council, Inc - Chickasha, Oklahoma

·        Faith Based Initiative Training – Texas – March 21-23, 2006

Adult Award Recipients

The adult recognitions are given to adults for outstanding service to young people through service to the faith community and Girl Scouts.  During the third quarter of 2005, the following Girl Scout Councils recognized adults for their outstanding service:

Central Maryland (Baltimore, MD) – Rosalind Ann Ambrose, Good Shepherd

San Jacinto (Houston, TX) – Carol A. Gillingham, Protestant God & Service

Totem (Seattle, WA) – Carol Chilcoat, Lutheran Lamb Award

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