Scouting provides opportunities for youth

Intermountain Catholic

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Each year the Cathedral of the Madeleine hosts Scout Saturday. IC file photo

By Nancy Reading

SALT LAKE CITY — Scouting for both boys and girls is an incredible form of youth ministry, providing an adventure into new life experiences, preparation for leadership and an introduction into service. Scouting is open to everyone. Boys (grades 1-12) and girls (kindergarten to 12th grade) are eligible to join a branch of scouts. A scouting program for youth from kindergarten to 8th grade especially fills a large gap in youth ministry because most youth events target those in high school.

Did you know there are national councils dedicated to meeting the needs of Catholic boy and girl scouts? The Boy Scouts have the National Catholic Council on Scouting, whose mission is the constructive use of Boy Scouts of America as a viable form of youth ministry with the Catholic youth of our nation. The Girl Scouts have the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire, whose mission is to serve Catholic girls and adults by promoting spiritual growth through quality faith-based programs.

Through these committees it is possible for both boys and girls to earn and receive a variety of religious emblems each year at Scout Saturday. This ceremony is held in February at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the emblems are presented to each scout by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City. Scouts who are not able to make the trek to Salt Lake can receive these emblems in their pack or troop meeting or during Mass at their local parish.

The Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Catholic Committee on Scouting is ready to assist you in your journey into all aspects of Catholic Scouting. We would love to work with you to grow scouting leadership and programs. A section of the diocesan website, http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/youth/youth/boy-scouts-girl-scouts, is dedicated to all things Scouting. It provides a ready resource for scouts and leaders. Stay tuned for a Catholic family summer camp for scouts and their families this coming summer.

For more information contact Samantha Almanza at Samantha.Almanza@dioslc.org.

Nancy Reading is the Great Salt Lake representative for the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Catholic Committee on Scouting.