Leadership & Training

Lay Apostolate Formation

Lay Apostolate Formation is the process by which Catholic Scouters create greater awareness of our role to "seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God." We will examine scouting as a form of youth ministry and our call to leadership, holiness, conversion, and worship through reflection on sacred scripture. Bring a Roman Catholic bible with you to the class. At the end of this day-long course, we review Lay Catholic Scout Chaplain training requirements. This course is required of all Religious Emblem Counselors.  The next scheduled training is Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Pastoral Center, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (lunch will be served).Click here to register

Religious Emblem Counselor (REC)

REC training is for Catholic adults who wish to become certified as religious emblem counselors or any Catholic adult who assists in scouting. This process will prepare you to lead scouts (grades 7 and above) on a faith journey in Catholic spirituality so that they can earn the Catholic religious emblems. 

In addition, you will learn how to teach the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII Roman Catholic Religious Emblems for Boy Scouts and Venturers. Other faith formation activities for girls and boys in Scouting as sponsored by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, including Footsteps of the American Saints, the Rosary and Marian activities, and the Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei Emblems for Cub Scouts will also be discussed. Learn about the Saint George Trek at Philmont and how to plan a beautiful Scout Sunday Mass in your parish. The next scheduled training is Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Pastoral Center, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  (lunch will be served) Click here to register

Youth Ministry Essentials 

Classes are required for those seeking to be a Scout BSA Lay Chaplain. These courses are designed for those who work with youth, in order to (1) introduce adult leaders to the field and study of comprehensive youth ministry, and (2) equip adults with the necessary theological, pastoral and leadership skills to serve and minister to the adolescent community and (3) empower adults who are beginning their ministry to adolescents. 

The role of the Chartered Organization Representative (either a staff person or volunteer) is to assure, with Catholic-chartered Scout units, that the Scout program is a true youth ministry. Among other things, he or she encourages prayers at the beginning and end of meetings, earning of the religious emblems and supports the activities of the local diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting. There is a four-part, one-hour training program available for Catholic Charter Organization Representatives that helps to explain how scouting can be used as a youth ministry of the Catholic Church: Chartering to a Catholic Institution SCO_275, Reaching Youth through Scouting SCO_276, Your Role as a Catholic COR SCO_277 and Catholic Scouting under BSA Standards SCO_278. It is offered online through the scouting.org training website; instructions on how to access the training can be found here. Every Catholic Charter Organization Representative will be required to take the course. Charter Organization Reps will have until May 1 to complete the courses. After that date, Catholic units will not be able to re-charter until this COR training is completed.