National Youth Recognition Programs

There are four national programs overseen by the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire. These are medal programs with emblems also available. Each diocese may choose to add local programs to further enhance the youth faith development.

Contact your local diocese for more information on how to begin working on these programs.


God Is Love

The newest National program, God Is Love program is for children ages 5-6 and welcomes them to a journey of discovering God’s love for them and the world. God is love and God shows us love in so many wonderful ways! God loves you and made you to share his love with other. You will work together with your parents or adult advisor to learn about God’s great love for you. You will learn about God’s great love for all things as well. There are 3 chapters with readings, discussions and 3 activities and an ending prayer for each chapter.

Family of God

The Family of God program is the official religious recognition program of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S.A. for children ages 7-9*, who are enrolled in the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Camp Fire USA, and The Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas. The Family of God is an activity series developed to complement the catechetical efforts of the parish and families with children in the second and third grades. The purpose of the Family of God program is to help children explore a wide range of activities to discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish. (Revised 1994)

I Live My Faith

The I Live My Faith program is designed to help Girl Scouts and Camp Fire members, ages 9-11*, appreciate more deeply the place that God and religion occupy in their daily life. The action-oriented program activities focus on developing awareness within the individual of his/her potential as a growing person, friend, family member, citizen, and a participant in the community of faith. The program is divided into three chapters, "Stretching," "Seeking," and "Finding," each of which blends the dimensions of discovery, prayer, service, and sacrament into a unified whole. I Live My Faith complements and supports the more formal religious education provided in Catholic schools and parish programs. An important part of the program is the involvement of parents in the process of faith sharing; notes specifically for parents are included in the project book. To assist adults working with groups of participants, an adult guide is also included. (Revised 1991)

Mary, the First Disciple

Through Mary, the First Disciple, young Catholics, ages 12-15*, will grow in appreciation of Mary and in understanding themselves. They will meet Mary in Scripture as a young teenager and will follow her journey, as she becomes a woman and the Mother of God. This revised version of the Marian Medal Project book demonstrates the importance of Mary for all generations and cultures. Most striking is the artwork portraying Mary in various mediums, centuries, and cultures. (December 2000)

The Spirit Alive

This program is designed for Catholic youth in high school who are in the High School. It assists them in discovering how the Holy Spirit moves in their lives, calling them to greater participation in the church’s ministry. The Spirit Alive adult guide is available. One copy of The Spirit Alive Adult Guide is sent for each five program books ordered and are sold as needed. (1988)


MISSIO

Missio is designed for students in high school grades eleven and twelve. The program is bi-lingual and invites young people to explore discipleship and their own religious identity. Missio was jointly created by the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States and NFCYM.


*Note - these ages are guidelines from NFCYM and can be adjusted by the diocese as necessary.