What is the National Catholic Committee on Scouting®
The National Catholic Committee on Scouting®
(NCCS) is a church committee
of concerned Catholic lay people and clergy who see as their mission
the constructive use of the program of the Boy Scouts of America as a
viable form of youth ministry with the Catholic youth of our nation.
Local Committee Website
The committee, which is advisory to the Boy Scouts of America, seeks
to sustain and strengthen the relationship between BSA and the Catholic
Church in the United States.
Through interaction and dialogue with the Secretariat on the Laity and
Family Life (the formal connection between youth ministry in the United
States and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), NCCS works
cooperatively with various other groups involved in youth ministry in the
United States.
Youth Ministry and Girl Scouts: Partners in Youth Ministry
Catholic youth ministry and Girl Scouts of the USA have collaborated in many ways for
more than twenty years. The Catholic Religious Recognition program is administered by
the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire, under the auspices of the National Federation for
CatholicYouth Ministry. This program integrates faith and life by providing Girl Scout
troops and/or individual Girl Scouts with national awards to earn as well as offering
national service awards for adults.
The Girl Scouts of the USA, is committed to helping girls to
develop leadership skills for their future. For more than 90 years, the Girl Scout
organization has delivered quality experiences for girls ages 5 through 17, at local,
national, and international levels. It is a girl-driven program, and reflects the everchanging
needs and interests of its participants. Decision making skills are built,
responsibility is learned, and leadership is developed. All activities are age-appropriate
and based on the Four Program Goals, as well as the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Our local Girl Scout Council,
the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, has worked closely with the Archdiocese through the Catholic
Committee. Together we have developed a number of local Religion Awards for Girl
Scouts. A description of each award and a downloadable booklet can be found on the
“Religious Awards for Girl Scouts” link below.