Scouting Recognition Emblems - Archdiocese of New York

The Catholic Committee on Scouting recognizes the achievements of youth, units and adults.

Youth Recognition

Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts and Explorers

There are five Youth Religious Emblems available through the NCCS for boys. Two can be earned by Cub Scouts, two can be earned by Boy Scouts, Venturing crew members ( as well as registered Sea Scouts and Explorers) who are practicing Catholics of the appropriate age.

Cub Scouts

The Light of Christ emblem can be earned by Tiger and Wolf Cub Scouts.
The Parvuli Dei emblem can be earned by Bear and Webelos Cub Scouts.

Cub Scout emblems are completed in a family setting with assistance of a trained Religious Emblems coordinator from your /local parish. These programs take approximately two months to complete. Cub Scouts receive their square knots and emblems (medals) in their local parishes and Cub Scout packs.

Boy Scouts/Venturers

The Ad Altare Dei emblem can be earned by Roman Catholic Scouts.
The Light is Life emblem can be earned by Eastern Catholic Scouts.
The Ad Altare Dei and Light is Life emblems are completed during scheduled meetings led by a trained Religious Emblems Counselor, with outside homework, and take approximately 5-7 months to complete.
The Pope Pius XII emblem can be earned by older Scouts and Venturing crew members. The Facilitator manual and participant manual are available only online. The Pope Pius XII emblem is completed at scheduled meetings led by the participants, and moderated by a trained Religious Emblems Facilitator, with outside homework. It takes approximately 9-12 sessions (4-6 months) to complete. Upon completion, each candidate will meet with a Board of Review to discuss what the Scout/Venturer has learned. After this review, the Scout/Venturer will receive a BSA religious square knot at an appropriate unit presentation (Unit Meeting, Court of Honor), and the religious emblem (medal) at the next annual Emblems Ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is usually held on a Sunday in the spring after Easter.

To Get Started
Emblem Books may be obtained most economically and quickly from your local BSA Council Service Center Scout Shops or from Scoutstuff.org and Praypub.org. Alternatively, they can be obtained directly on line at our CYO Scouting on-line store. Many local scout Catholic committees have a stock of the books available so check with your local parish or Scout council committee about obtaining the workbooks. The Light is Life book for Boy Scouts belonging to the Eastern Catholic Churches can generally be obtained only from your Eparchial Catholic Committee on Scouting or directly from NCCS at [email protected].

Upon Completion
The trained Religious Emblems Counselor/Facilitatorr you have been working with will submit the completed application found in the workbook to our Archdiocesan Catholic Committee through the local Boy Scout Catholic Relationship Committee. This coordinator is your contact to obtain the religious emblem.

Girl Scouts
There are Catholic Religious Emblems available to Girl Scouts. Books may also be ordered from our Office of Scouting by ordering via our on-line store.

Family of God Program is the official religious recognition program of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S.A. for children ages 7-9, who are enrolled in the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. The Family of God is an activity series developed to complement the catechetical efforts of the parish and families with children in the second and third grades. This religious emblem is usually presented in the local parish.
I Live My Faith Program is designed to help Girl Scouts, ages 9-11, appreciate more deeply the place that God and religion occupy in their daily life. This religious emblem is usually presented in the local parish.
Mary, the First Disciple (Marian Medal) aids young Catholics (ages 12-15) grow in appreciation of Mary and in understanding themselves. They will meet Mary in Scripture as a young teenager and will follow her journey, as she becomes a woman and the Mother of God. This religious emblem (medal) is usually presented at the next annual Emblems Ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is usually held on a Sunday in the spring after Easter.
Spirit Alive Program is designed for Catholic youth in high school who are in the Senior level of Girl Scouts. It assists them in discovering how the Holy Spirit moves in their lives, calling them to greater participation in the church’s ministry. This religious emblem (medal) is usually presented at the next annual Emblems Ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is usually held on a Sunday in the spring after Easter.

American Heritage Girls

The American Heritage Girls National Catholic Committee (AHG NCC) developed the Catholic Faith Award Program to be worked on each year to better comprehend the fullness of the faith. Each award is divided into Segments, one Segment for each year of the Program Level.

Deus et Familia Mea: God and My Family (three Tenderheart Segments, ages 6-9).
- Deus et Familia Mea guides Catholic Tenderhearts through an awareness of who they are as children of God in the family of the Catholic Church. Girls will learn about the Holy Mass, sacraments, traditions, and history of the Catholic Church, with fun, hands-on activities. Tenderhearts are encouraged to explore and perform works of charity for their families and neighbors.
Deus et Patria Mea: God and My Country (three Explorer Segments, ages 9-12).
- Deus et Patria Mea allows Catholic Explorers to learn about various saints representing the United States of America. Explorers enrich their faith by exploring the Catholic elements that are most important to those saints, including the Eucharist, Corporal Works of Mercy, and missionary work. Deus et Patria Mea is thought-provoking, hands-on, and will foster a desire in Explorers to serve Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church.
Deus et Civitas Mea: God and My Community (two Pioneer Segments, ages 12-14).
- Deus et Civitas Mea guides Catholic Pioneers to examine service in their community through Sacred Scripture and Catholic Church Tradition. Girls learn the importance of preparing to serve through prayer and learning about people who exemplified service in their lives. Pioneers put what they have learned into practice by serving others and reflecting on their service’s impact.
Femina Integritatis: Woman of Integrity (four Patriot Segments, ages 14-18).
- Femina Integritatis has two medals: Moral Compass for Segments 1 and 2 and Quiver of Arrows for Segments 3 and 4. Femina Integritatis encourages Catholic Patriots to internalize and immerse themselves in being a Catholic Woman of Integrity. Prayer and discussion are essential elements of this study, with opportunities for outings and engaging speakers. By studying the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Our Blessed Mother, the lives of the saints, and the sacraments, Patriots discern God’s call for their lives after high school. Femina Integritatis encourages Catholic Patriots to internalize and immerse themselves in being a Catholic Woman of Integrity. Prayer and discussion are essential elements of this study, with opportunities for outings and engaging speakers. By studying the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Our Blessed Mother, the lives of the saints, and the sacraments, Patriots discern God’s call for their lives after high school.

Workbooks should be ordered by individual Troops or families through the American Heritage Girls Store.

Unit Recognition

There are various Cub and Boy Scout unit recognition programs.

National Catholic Unit Excellence Award: Cooperation, development, and program are the keywords in the recognition of Catholic chartered units in earning the National Catholic Unit Excellence Award – Pope Paul VI. Find out more about the National Catholic Unit Excellence Award, including purpose, eligibility and requirements.
Duty to God Recognition: available to those units who assist in accomplishing the goal of “Duty to God.” Find out more about the Duty to God recognition.

Adult Recognition

The Archdiocese of New York, through the Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, recognizes adults who are actively engaged in assisting the development of Catholic Boy Scouting in two ways. The Bronze Pelican, and the St. George, are intended to recognize adults for their contribution to Catholic Scouting. They are not presented to an individual merely for being involved in Boy Scouting and being a Catholic. Both awards are presented in recognition of the significant contributions of the individual in integrating Catholicism and Scouting.

Both adult Catholic Scouting Awards may be presented to:

clergy (including priests, deacons, sisters and other professed Catholic religious),
Catholic laypeople who are actively involved in Boy Scouting,
Non-Catholics Scouters who have made significant contributions to Catholic Scouting,
Non-Scouters who have provided exemplary support to Catholic Scouting.

The nominee must have made an outstanding contribution to the spiritual development of the Catholic youth in the scouting program.

The Bronze Pelican. This emblem was created within the Archdiocese of New York, with the first being awarded in 1950. It is an Archdiocesan Award, not a Scout Award.
The Saint George is named after the patron saint of Scouting. The St. George award was created by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to recognize significant contributions to the development of Catholic Scouting. It was first presented within the Archdiocese of New York in 1957.