Youth Religious Emblems Retreat

Yes, YOU can help increase the number of youth in your church or youth serving agency who receive the appropriate religious emblems of their faith! After all, the four greatest hindrances to completion of the emblems studies are removed easily. These hindrances include:

The youth are not aware of the religious emblems programs and/or the study materials are not readily available.
Youth are not exposed to the actual emblems they would receive upon completion of a study/action program.
Youth do not observe their peers working on and completing religious emblems.
Youth are not aware of ministers and other individuals who understand the various religious emblems programs and who are eager to serve as counselors.

Many have found the Religious Emblems Retreat (sometimes called the Christian Fellowship Camp) to be an answer which addresses the aforementioned hindrances:

All participants receive the correct, current study materials. upon arrival at the retreat site.
Actual samples of the various religious emblems are on display, both at the retreat and at pre-retreat promotional activities.
Since much of the retreat is conducted in large group settings, youth are able to work alongside their friends and learn together.
Retreat staff members are knowledgeable, dedicated counselors - both clergy and. laity - who want to help participants reach their goals.

Since each Religious Emblems Retreat is designed to uniquely meet the needs of youth in a particular locale, there are few absolutes for establishing such events. However, here are some thought-starters to help begin the process:

WHO'S INCLUDED?

The answer to this question is directly related to the retreat’s sponsor. One approach is for the retreat to be a part of the annual council program of a youth serving agency (Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. or Camp Fire, Inc.). For instance, if the religious relationships committee of a local Boy Scout council provides a retreat, the target groups would likely be Boy Scouts and Explorers. (Since Cub Scouts generally do not participate in overnight camping experiences, their needs would be addressed in a day camp-like setting.)

This approach to retreat sponsorship by a single youth agency is a good one. Members are taught that their relationship to God is part of a well-rounded members life. A one-agency eliminates variances in program terminology for the youth, too. Other facets of the youth agency's program may be blended into the retreat as well.

On the other hand, if a local church or group of churches sponsors the Religious Emblems Retreat youth from several youth serving agencies may be included in the event.

(Experience has proven that focusing the retreat on Christian denominations makes it easier to plan some joint religious activities during the event. Yet, successful retreats are conducted each year which have a broader religious spectrum.)

WHERE IT IS HELD?

Church, youth agency and civic club camps am obvious choices for overnight and day camps. Other facilities may also be available. For instance, at least one Religious Emblems Retreat is held at a nearby national guard camp. This facility offers ample classroom space, good food service, ample indoor housing and quality recreation opportunities.

One key consideration in choosing a site is adequate insurance coverage. This insurance may be available through the youth agencies, churches or camps. But, do not assume such coverage exists. Frequently, special arrangements must be made and insurance forms completed before agency events occur.

WHO WILL BE THE LEADERS?

One of the direct benefits of having a Religious Emblems Retreat is discovering scores of adults in the community who are committed to the religious development of youth. Among the possible sources are:

clergy, especially those who are former members of youth agency organizations
church youth ministry leaders, both paid and volunteer
youth agency volunteers on the unit or council level who have an interest in the spiritual development of youth, particularly those serving on religious relationships committees
past recipients of youth and adult religious emblems

WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES?

Besides the religious emblems study materials(1)for the various faiths, there are at least three other types of resources:

basic Bible research materials for use in the classroom studies
Pathways to Worship booklet and accompaniment cassette for use in worship experiences(2)
Bibles or New Testaments (If it is a Boy Scout-oriented retreat, consider including a Boy Scout New Testament(3) in the registration cost for each participant.)

WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE?

A variety of factors such as age groups, camp facilities, agency or church target groups, sponsor and time of year will impact the retreat schedule. As an example, here is how one local Boy Scout council's religious relationships committee structured its retreat:

First Day

1:00-3:00 p.m Registration

[Early arrivers participated in a scavenger hunt based on items identified in Scripture passages which must be looked up by the patrols (or groups) prior to beginning the actual search. Every participant was placed in a patrol composed of youth from his own Scout unit, regardless of his denominational affiliation.)

3:30-4:00 Assembly: Introduction/Orientation

4:00-4:20 Patrol Leaders' Meeting

4:30-6:00 Instructional Period 1 (1.5 hrs.)

[Each Scout meet with the group pursuing the religious emblem of his faith. Study groups for this particular retreat are listed below. Some sub-groups for specific denominations also met once or more during the retreat.]

Baptist "God & Country"

Catholic "Ad Altare Dei"

Catholic "Pope Pius XII"

Protestant "God & Church"

Protestant "God & Life"

6:15-6:30 Flag Ceremony/Retreat/Evening Prayer

6:30-7:20 Supper

7:30-9:00 Bible Study/Making Patrol Flags/Leaders' Meeting

(Participants created patrol flags based on a biblical story or concept of their choice. These flags were used throughout the retreat. Patrols with the best flags were rewarded at the closing ceremony.]

9:00-9:30 Movie

(The movie chosen for each retreat has a Christian theme.)

9:30-10:30 Free Time

[A trading post and refreshment center were operated at all breaks.)

10:30 Taps

Second Day

6:00 a.m Reveille

6:30-6:45 Flag Raising/Morning Prayer

6:45-7:45 Breakfast

8:00-10:30: Instructional Period 2 (2.5 hrs.)

10:30-NOON Recreation Break

NOON-12:50 Lunch

1:00-3:00 Instructional Period 3 (2-0 hrs.)

3:15-5:15 Swimming/Team Sports

5:45-5:55 Flag Ceremony/Retreat/Evening Prayer

6:00-6:45 Supper

7:00-8:00 Patrol Flag/Bible Study Interpretations by Patrols

8:00-9:20 Anti-Drug Presentation

[This presentation was made by prisoners in the drug rehabilitation program of the state prison.]

9:30-10:00 Cracker Barrel/Fellowship

10:30 Taps

Third Day

6:00Reveille

6:30-6:45 Flag Raising/Morning Prayer

6:45-7:45 Breakfast

8:00-10:30 Instructional Period 4 (2.5 Hrs.)

[This period included signing-off of requirements by counselors, assignment of additional work to youth and arrangement for contacts with participants ministers for follow-up and completion after the retreat.)

10:45-11:15 Pack/Break Camp

11:30-NOON Recognitions/Award Presentations

[Every retreat participant received a personalized certificate of participation; every counselor received an inexpensive appreciation plaque made from readily available, natural materials; and patrols were given awards for best patrol flags.]

NOON-12:50 Lunch

1:00Dismissal/Checkout

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE THE RETREAT?

Promotion plans depend to some degree on the retreat's sponsor(s). For a youth agency event, use all available agency publications, provide displays and sign-up sheets at all council events, visit each local unit to issue personal invitations to the youth and send letters of introduction/invitation to all area churches and ministers.

If the retreat is to be church-sponsored, many of the same promotional plans can be used to secure participation. Also, letters ought to be sent and other contacts made to every youth on the church rolls. (Note: Religious emblems materials for Protestants and some other faiths may be pursued by any youth, not simply those who are members of the youth serving agencies. Therefore, all youth of the church can be involved in the retreat.)

Well, that's about all there is to planning and conducting a Religious Emblems Retreat. Why not try one? You and your youth have everything to gain!

- R. Chip Turner

(1) Religious emblems study materials for most Protestant denominations as well as the Jewish faith can be secured from PRAY, 8520 MacKenzie Road, St- Louis, MO 63123 or from the local youth agency council office.

(2)(3) These materials are also available from PRAY or may be available from the local youth agency council office.

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