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Yankee Council JEWISH COMMITTEE ON SCOUTING
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SCOUTING SERVES THE JEWISH COMMUNITY JEWISH COMMITTEE ON SCOUTING CONNECTICUT YANKEE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA |
| BSA Mission Statement | The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. |
| Scout Oath | On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. |
| Scout Law | A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. |
| CYC-JCoS Mission Statement | The mission of the Connecticut Yankee Council Jewish Committee on Scouting is to promote Scouting among Jewish youth, to help Jewish institutions provide Scouting opportunities for Jewish youth, and to promote Jewish values in Scouting through the religious emblems program and other special programs. |
| The Charter Concept | The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) can be described as a delivery program. It is a network of more then 300 autonomous councils that franchises program opportunities to youth-serving organizations. This is accomplished through an annual renewable charter. The BSA offers training programs, activity guides, support systems, and the use of camps to the leadership of Jewish organizations interested in additional methods of strengthening the value systems of their members, the children of their members, and possibly other young people in their communities. Jewish organizations can control the program context, membership, and any religious requirements within the basic context of the Scout Oath and Law. |
| Scouting as a Jewish Youth Group | Jewish institutions have been utilizing the Scouting program since 1916. Today, Scouting is flourishing in Jewish communities throughout the United States. |
| Working Together to Benefit Young People | Scouting and Jewish institutions work
together to promote the religious education of Jewish youth and encourage Jewish identity.
BSA programs in Jewish institutions can serve as a vehicle for strenthening Jewish values, a sense
of belonging, enrichment, and education, besides offering motivational support and increasing
parental involvement. The Connecticut Yankee Council Jewish Committee on Scouting works with Jewish institutions in implementing programs that will benefit the Jewish community. The council will provide a support structure to insure a quality Scouting program for the youth enrolled. |
| BSA Programs - A Ready Made Support System for Jewish Institutions at All Levels | Tiger Cubs - For first grade boys (or 7 year old boys) and an adult
partner. The Tiger Cub program is built around 17 program themes called "big ideas," including
a "Know Your Community" topic. Suggested program activities for individual families are
included with each big idea. Program themes geared toward the Jewish community care also
available to supplement the Tiger Cub big ideas. Cub Scouting - For second through fifth grade boys who participate weekly on the den level as a small group and monthly at the pack meeting where several dens come together. Boy Scouting - For boys ages 11 through 17 years that is based in an outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys may also become Boy Scouts if they are 10-1/2 and have completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award.) Venturing - A contemporary program for young men and women ages 14 through 20. Crews can be oriented toward a special interest, or an existing youth group can register as a Venturing crew and take advantage of high-adventure bases, camps, insurance, and other resources. |
| Special Activities | The Connecticut Yankee Council Jewish Committee on Scouting
offers several special activities each year to Jewish Scouts including the Scout Shabbat Service,
Boy Scout Kinus (retreat), and Cub Scout Awards Day. Boy Scouts may participate in additional special activities including Scout jamborees, the Order of the Arrow, and the National Eagle Scout Association, a special association for Eagle Scouts, the highest rank in Scouting. Venturers may participate in local and national activities and events. Venturers are also eligible for national scholarships and other awards. Besides local summer camp opportunities for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, many exciting experiences, including national high-adventure bases located in Minnesota, Florida, and New Mexico are available for older Boy Scouts and Venturers. |
| Individualized Learning Programs - Jewish Emblems | The Jewish Committee on
Scouting provides an additional Jewish stimulus through its religious emblems program. The Maccabee Emblem is intended to involve the families of boys in first through third grades as partners in earning the award. To earn the Maccabee, a Cub Scout must complete requirements in six categories: Jewish personalities, holidays, vocabulary, symbols and objects, community helpers, and heroes. The Aleph Emblem is earned through a set of home-centered activities for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts (third through fifth grades), centered on the Torah, prayer, holidays, American-Jewish heritage, the synagogue, and Israel. The Net Tamid Emblem provides an opportunity for Boy Scouts to enhance their knowledge of Judaism through advanced activities. Central to the Ner Tamid are service projects for the synagogue or other charted organizations. The programs are organized and completed by the Scouts. The Etz Chaim Award is designed for Boy Scouts in high school, ages 14 through 17, and Venturers, ages 14 through 20. The purpose of the award is to encourage young adults to explore Jewish roles in the context of family, community, and Jewish people. The requirements can be completed in six months and require a counselor. |
| Scholarship Programs | Three scholarship programs have been established for Jewish Eagle Scouts who have earned their Ner Tamid emblem: the Frank Weil Memorial Scholarship, and the Chester M. Vernon Memorial Scholarship (provides the Scout selected with a four-year scholarship), and the Marvin & Florence Arkans Scholarship. |
| Adult Recognition | The Shofar Award is granted by the Connecticut Yankee
Council on Scouting to recognize outstanding adult service in the promotion of Scouting among Jewish
youth. Nomination forms are available through the council service center. The CHAI awards have been established by the Northeast Region Jewish Committee on Scouting to recognize individuals who have provided outstanding service on the local or regional level of Scouting. It is hoped that these awards will serve to encourage additional work on behalf of Scouting and the Jewish Community. Nominations are open to everyone. |
| Financial Aspects | Youth participants help pay their own way by paying dues to their pack, troop, or crew, and through approved money-earning projects. Synagogues, Jewish Community centers, Jewish Day Schools, and other chartered organizations rarely incur additional expenses. |
| Support Materials | The BSA published two magazines for its members, Boy's Life and Scouting. In addition, there are handbooks for each phase of the Scouting program, merit badge pamphlets, leader's books, training pamphlets, program helps, and supplementary Jewish program resources. Many of these can be found on the Internet. |
| Unit Leadership | Unit leaders are selected and approved by the local Jewish organization. The council can assist in recruiting leadership. |
| Further Information | For further information, please contact us. |
| This site and the information it contains is not sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, but is solely the opinions and responsibility of the author. Materials found at this web site may be reproduced and used locally by Scouting volunteers for programs associated with the Boy Scouts of America. No material found here may be used or reproduced for commercial or other non-Scouting purposes without the express permission of the Connecticut Jewish Committee on Scouting or other copyright holders. |