Parents have the option of enrolling in the
Adult Mentor Program. In this program, the parent is an active
learning participant alongside the child. The parent would
have lessons and projects to complete in the Mentor Workbook
just like the child, and then both parent and child would work
on the student curriculum together. The mentor program is
designed to provide the adult/parent with additional
opportunities to model his or her Christian faith and to help
a young child talk about his or her belief in God.
What
is the difference between a “counselor” and a “mentor?”
The
counselor is the pastor (or other adult assigned by the
pastor). The counselor serves as an instructor who gives
assignments to the young people, and it is the young people
who do all the work.
Mentors
are parents who have chosen to work alongside their
children on the God and Country curriculum. Mentors are active
learning participants (students) with lessons to complete in
their own workbooks just like their children. Both mentors and
children work under the supervision of the pastor or
counselor.
What
are the Adult Mentor Workbooks like?
The Adult
Mentor Workbooks are designed to help parents focus on their
faith and their relationship to their children. The lessons
are patterned after the student curriculum so that the parents
are studying the same topics and scripture as their children,
but at an adult level. For example, in the God and Me program,
when the children read the story in the Bible about Jesus
blessing the children, they will talk about how they are
important to Jesus and how they are loved by him. Their
parents, on the other hand, may discuss other questions: Have
you ever acted like the disciples? When has “important” work
kept you away from your children? What can you do to bring
your children closer to Christ? Children will understand how
important it is to grow in faith when they see their parents
doing their “homework” (reading the Bible and answering
questions).
How
do you incorporate the Adult Mentor component into a program?
Parents
need to complete their work in the Adult Mentor Workbook
prior to working with their children. After completing
their own lesson, parents will then focus on helping their
children complete their work in the Student Workbook.
Churches
that offer God and Country programs for children can encourage
parents to serve as mentors. Parents are encouraged to attend
classes with their children. At some point in the class,
parents will meet separately to discuss the lessons in the
Adult Mentor Workbook and share their thoughts with other
parents.
Can
parents serve as both “counselors” and “mentors?”
Yes,
parents can “wear two hats” and serve as counselors and
mentors. When the pastor asks the parents to work on the
program with their children at home, the parents are in
essence serving as counselors, i.e. they are “teaching” their
children and helping them be successful in completing the
requirements. At the same time, they can also choose to be
“mentors.” Being a mentor is an entirely different role. A
mentor has to answer questions and complete the requirements
in the Adult Mentor Workbook. Parents who choose to
participate in the Adult Mentor program are challenged to
model their faith and share their faith with their children.
They are showing their children that it is important even as
an adult to always seek to grow in faith.
Can
the adult mentor pin be worn on the adult uniform?
It depends
on the youth agency. GSUSA and Camp Fire USA allow the pin to
be worn on the uniform, but BSA does not (BSA permits the
patch to be worn as a temporary patch, but not the pin).
Does the
Adult Mentor Program qualify an adult to receive the BSA
universal religious square knot?
No. The
only way that an adult can receive the square knot is to be
nominated for one of the national adult recognitions.
What
is the difference between the adult mentor pin and a national
adult recognition?
The mentor
pin may be worn by parents who have successfully completed the
Adult Mentor Program. This is a program for parents to work on
while they lead their children through the God and Country
Series. There is an adult workbook that must be completed.
The
Adult Recognition Awards are by nomination only (they are not
work/study programs like the youth awards). These are honors
given to worthy adults for their outstanding service to youth
through both their church and one of the national youth
agencies. Most of the awards require a minimum number of years
of service. Recipients of these awards are unaware that they
are being nominated: an outside party must nominate them to
receive an award by submitting the required application,
letters of recommendation and resume. Please check on specific
eligibility requirements by visiting
http://www.praypub.org/promotional_adultnomination.htm and
clicking on the appropriate adult brochure/nomination form.
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