 Programs
of Religious Activities with Youth P.R.A.Y. Girl Scout News Bulletin Second Quarter 2007 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. BUILDING ASSETS THROUGH RELIGIOUS AWARDS When children participate in a religious award program, they know that when they complete all the requirements they will receive an award. What they may not know is that they will also have received a great number of "assets". Developmental assets, as defined by Search Institute of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are the positive things that young people need in order to grow up to be healthy, caring, and responsible adults. Research has shown that the more assets young people have, the more likely they are to engage in positive behaviors (i.e. volunteering or doing well in school) and the less likely they will engage in at-risk behaviors (alcohol use or violence). These 40 developmental assets fall into eight different categories: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. Religious awards programs are uniquely designed to build assets in children and youth. Of course, the primary goal of religious awards is to help children grow stronger in faith, but a secondary goal is to help families and faith communities build assets in children. When young people work alongside counselors, mentors, and religious leaders, and when parents are encouraged to share their faith with their children, the religious awards programs are helping provide the SUPPORT mechanisms in their lives. When young people design service projects for their congregations and take active roles in reaching out to their communities, the religious awards programs are contributing to youth EMPOWERMENT. When counselors, mentors, religious leaders, and scouting leaders have high expectations for young people and take the opportunity to talk about respect, obedience, and not only how people should behave but WHY, the religious awards programs are helping instill BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS. When young people do independent work at home, attend worship services and youth group, and do volunteer service projects for their community, the religious awards programs are helping them make CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME. When young people are motivated to earn an award, the religious awards programs are strengthening their COMMITMENT TO LEARNING. When young people articulate their faith and embrace the values of honesty, responsibility, and restraint, the religious awards programs are nurturing POSITIVE VALUES. When young people talk about choices and learn how their faith impacts their choices, the religious awards programs are improving their SOCIAL COMPETENCIES. When young people are brought up within a faith community and are valued members of that faith community, the religious awards programs are strengthening their POSITIVE IDENTITY. The religious awards programs are excellent tools to help young people connect the values that they learn in Girl Scouting with the values taught by their faith community. They are also tools that congregations can use to help build assets in children and youth. Take the time to learn about the religious awards programs. Your children and young people will benefit! For more information on Search Institute, visit their web site at http://www.search-institute.org/ RELIGIOUS AWARD UPDATES
The girls in Troop 88 in Topeka, Kansas started a troop at the Rescue Mission and provided leadership and program as part of their Gold Award project. Here's what their Troop Leader Philicia McKee had to say: My girls completely planned and implemented an entire year of activities for a troop at the Rescue Mission. The only thing that I did that year was provide transportation to and from the meetings, and sit back and watch my young women grow as individuals. The task of forming a troop was especially challenging because they had to address all different levels of Girl Scouts, from Daisies to Juniors. They had to make it fun, easy enough for the very youngest and difficult enough to keep the older girls interested. They had the added difficulty of having different girls every meeting. The Rescue Mission's goal is to help people get to the point that they can live independent of the Rescue Mission. Consequently, they had a different set of faces many times. I truly don't know who got more out of the program - my senior girl scouts, the young ladies that they helped shaped their lives, or me. All of our lives were enriched. It was a wonderful year for everyone, and our last meeting was one of the saddest moments of my life. I told them that it would be a celebration of our 13 years together, and no one was allowed to cry. I do keep in contact with my girls, and I know that this experience will be one that they carry in their hearts for the rest of their lives. I am so very proud of them. P.R.A.Y. HELPS CELEBRATE 95TH ANNIVERSARY IN LOCAL COUNCILS
March 4, 2007 Florence Meiselbach was presented with the Lamb Award by Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bellmore, Long Island for her longtime service to young people. Meiselbach has over 53 years of service to her church and over 65 years of service through Girl Scouting." At age 94, Meiselbach is believed to be the oldest Girl Scout on Long Island. A special ceremony was held at the Grace Lutheran Church in Bellmore on March 4. "It was very unexpected," Meiselbach said. "I thought they were having a little social after the Sunday service," she said of the award ceremony. "I feel very honored, humbled." According to Meiselbach, Girl Scouting is a way of life. "Becoming a Girl Scout is the best thing a girl can do. I tell them if they want a full life, join the Girl Scouts. There's no better way. It teaches them good citizenship, responsibility and respect." Click here to read the complete article in the Herald Community Newspapers: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18144330. FIRST QUARTER FOUR-STAR RECIPIENTS The following individuals were recognized in the first quarter of 2007 for completing all four levels of the God and Country series. Four-Star recipients receive a certificate and letter from CEO Mark Hazlewood congratulating them on their accomplishments.
The following leaders received special recognition from their congregations for their service to girls and young women through Girl Scouting.
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