The Religious Trail Series offers an outline of visits to various sites across the United States that have a religious significance to Catholics. Adults and young people who visit these sites and complete the related Religious Activity may earn the corresponding Religious Activity patch. This series requires travel, which must be a arranged by a Scout leader or a Scout’s parent/guardian.
- All Scout units and other organized youth groups assume full liability and responsibility for their group participants.
- Members of Scout units and other organized youth groups must follow any requirements regarding hikes/tours/overnight visits established by their organization.
- Participants are requested to wear appropriate Scout uniforms or clothing when visiting sites.
- There is no time-limit to finish Religious Trail activities.
Eligibility
All young people and adults—Scouts or non-Scouts, Catholic or non-Catholic—can work on the activities in this series and earn a patch for each activity they complete. The activities in this series can be worked on individually or as a group.
Activity Requirements
Young people must fulfill the requirements for their grade level to complete this activity. Adults must fulfill the adult requirements to complete this activity.
Completion of the Activity
After a young person completes the requirements, a parent, guardian or Scout leader will meet with the Scout to ensure requirements have been met and the young person has an age-appropriate understanding of their significance. Then, if the young person is to earn a patch for the completing the activity, the parent, guardian or Scout leader will order the patch from the NCCS Online Store. Detailed documentation of fulfillment of activity requirements does not need to be sent to NCCS.
Presentation of the Patch
Patches can be presented to those who earned them in a formal Awards Mass, Scout meeting, by family members, etc. The key is to make the presentation special, so young people understand why they have earned this patch. Also, the presentation should be done in a timely manner, so young people are recognized shortly after completing the activity.
Our nation’s capital is home to several religious sites of importance to American Catholics. Among the most important are the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, the Catholic University of America and Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America. This activity helps Scouts and others learn more about these sites.
Download a PDF with information about how to earn this Religious Activity patch
