Youth organizations in the United States are of many different types. The largest is the government run 4-H program, followed by the federally chartered but private Scouting groups: Scouting America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. Another somewhat smaller co-ed Scouting group is Camp Fire. Other youth groups are religious youth ministries such as the evangelical Christian Awana, Seventh-day Adventist Pathfinders, and Assemblies of God Royal Rangers.
Smaller Scout-like groups include the Christian Trail Life USA (for boys), American Heritage Girls (for girls), the non-denominational co-ed Navigators USA and Baden-Powell Service Association, and pagan but non-discriminatory SpiralScouts International.
There are also two types of Masonic Youth groups called International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG or just referred to as Rainbow), and Job's Daughters International (JDI). Both of these organizations have a background in the Christian Bible but participants do not necessarily need to believe in God, just a supreme being. There are many different charities and service projects that are done throughout the year for those in need.
Catholic organizations
Columbian Squires
Columbian Squires is a Catholic boys' Scout-like organization run by the Knights of Columbus. The Squires considers itself to be an athletic team, social club, youth and civic improvement group, management training, civil rights group and spiritual development program.
Squires history The Columbian Squires were begun in 1925. In December 2012, the Knights of Columbus was sued over supposed sexual abuse that had occurred in Brownsville, Texas by adult Columbian Squires leaders in the 1970s and 1980s.Stannard, Ed. (December 15, 2010). 2 suits against Knights of Columbus claim sex abuse by Columbian Squires youth group leader. The Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck in August 2015 recommended the Squires as a replacement, along with two other organizations, for the BSA, as he directed parishes to disassociate from the BSA due to their recent approval of gay adult leaders.
The Knights of Columbus in January 2016 moved to have the parish youth program dictate whether a Boy Scout troop or a Squire Circle fits and have the parish sponsor the troop. No new circle were to be formed and inactive circle be dissolved.
Squires program Local groups are called Circles. The program's five advancement levels are: Page Shield Bearer Swordsman Lancer Squire of the Body of Christ
Federation of North-American Explorers
The Federation of North-American Explorers (FNE) is a Catholic Scouting association in Canada and the United States of America. The association is a member of the International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe.
FNE history Federation of North-American Explorers was founded in 1999 by current commissioner Paul Ritchi, who was a Scouts Canada volunteer but felt a lack of "the spiritual component to make it personally fulfilling." While doing research, he found information on the Federation of Scouts of Europe, an international organization of national Catholic Scouting associations. The first FNE group, the "Timber Wolves", was then started with Richi, another leader, and 10 boys, ages 8 to 12.
The Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck in August 2015 recommended FNE as a replacement, along with two other organizations, for the BSA, as he directed parishes to disassociate from the BSA due to their recent move to allow gay adult leaders.
FNE program In addition to the usual camping trips, explorers go on pilgrimages, receive the sacraments and get hands-on religious education.
The age level groups are: Otters, six- and seven-year-olds Timber Wolves, eight to 12 Explorers, ages 12 to 15 Wayfarers, Explorer "graduates" and senior leaders of other Explorer sections
Kepha
Kepha is a Catholic boys' Scouting alternative organization in which the father also participates. The organization's name means "rock" in Greek.
Kepha program
The Kepha program had monthly retreats and shared daily prayers for brotherhood. Member have 2 AM two-hour Eucharistic adoration called "Yawns For Jesus". They go camping but required cold showers for discipline. The service work they do includes visiting nursing homes and hospitals.
Troops of Saint George
The Troops of Saint George, briefly the Scouts of Saint George, is a Catholic boys' Scouting organization focusing on father-son camping and catechetics through outdoor experiences. The organization's "hard launch" took place on January 1, 2014.Our January 1 Hard Launch for the TSG!. Troops of Saint George. Accessed on April 11, 2014.
TSG history
The formation of the Scouts of St. George was announced by Taylor Marshall in May 2013 in response to the BSA's changing its membership policies for same-sex attracted youth. The program was planned to be free, open-source, grassroots and a traditional Boy Scout program with no 501(c)3 non-profit status (so as to keep government interference to a minimum). By October, the Scouts of St. George was forced, due to the BSA's ownership of the "Scouts" trademark, to change its name to "Troops of St. George". The organization filed for 501(c)3 status around the same time.The Troops of Saint George Are Back!
TSG program
The program is under development with an expected parallel program to the BSA.
Their "Trinitarian Salute" is "three fingers of the right hand (index, middle, ring) out, and with the pinky and thumb joined signifying that the divine nature of Christ is joined to His human nature: fully God and fully man as taught at the Catholic Council of Chalcedon".
Protestant groups
Awana
Awana is a coed, nondenominational, Christian, Scout-like organization. AWANA is an acronym for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" from 2 Timothy 2:15.
Awana history
Awana was founded in 1950 in Illinois. Originally, the organization would not affiliate a club with a church that belonged to the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, Pentecostal church or charismatic church. In 1995, AWANA lifted the restrictions.
Awana program
The program's age groups are: Puggles Cubbies (3–4 years old) Sparks (K-2nd grade) Truth & Training (3rd-5th grade) Trek (6th-8th grade) Journey 24-7 (9th-12th grade)
The AWANA holds various types of model racing events: AWANA Grand Prix is a wood car race, similar to a pinewood derby. AWANA Regatta or Sail On Night are boat races. Airplane Toss is held at Flying Higher Night, in which model airplanes are built with the participant's choice of material. Instead of a speed race there are awards for distance, aerobatics, and design.
Caravan
Caravan is a Christian Scout-like organization run by the Church of the Nazarene. With a first through sixth grade co-ed membership, the organization has 600 US clubs, which focus on church doctrine. There are also about 150 Boy Scouts of America troops affiliated with Nazarene churches.
Caravan history One of Caravan's forerunners was started in the 1930s by LeRoy Haynes as Boy's Works. As it spread from church to church. the program was picked up in 1934 by Nazarene's Southern California district as its boys' program under Haynes direction. The next year, Girl's Works was started up under Jeanne Haynes. The Works programs spread past outside the district and were even promoted through a display at the 1936 General Assembly.(August 30, 2010). Local Caravan Girls earn top honors in Christian Scouting Lake County News. Accessed on January 13, 2014.
Rev. W. W. Clay, also in the 1930s, developed two Christian principles programs for kids: Bluebirds for young children and Pioneers for older children. With Rev. Milton Bunker, an Eagle Scout,(May 28, 2008 ). Milton Bunker, Caravan's first general director, passes away at 91 . Nazarene Communication Network. Accessed on January 13, 2014. Clay promoted these club programs and continued to develop them.About. Caravan. Nazarene.org. Accessed on January 13, 2014.
With inadequate materials and competing programs, the 1940 General Assembly formed a Commission on Boys' and Girls' Work that met from November 17–18 in Santa Cruz, California. The commission was composed of six western districts' representatives, three members of the commission on Boys' and Girls' Work, and two members of the Department of Church Schools. This Commission decided to replace the existing club programs with its own program. The Board of General Superintendents approved this commission's program, while a committee developed and wrote the books.
Caravan was started in 1946 with the release of the first Caravan book, Trailmarker, for boys ages 12 and up. Books that followed were Pathmarker (girls ages 12+), Signals (boys ages 9 to 11), and Signs (girls ages 9 to 11). That fall, the first official Nazarene Caravan club in the United States was started by Millington Church of the Nazarene in Michigan, under Rev. Bunker. In 1948, Bunker was appointed the first general director of Caravan. Carol Wordsworth of Youngstown, Ohio in October 1949 at a district Caravan Round-up was the first person to be granted the Phineas F. Brezee award. In 2005, the program was revised with the addition of the Core Values badges and modified or added skill badges.
Caravan program Caravan's grade level groups are: Searchers (1-2) Explorers (3-4) Adventurers (5-6) Adults leaders of a group are called guides. Earning badges is an optional part of this program.
The Milton Bunker Award is granted to Searchers who complete the necessary two-year requirements. The Phineas F. Brezee award, named after the Church of the Nazarene's founding pastor, is the highest award in Caravan. A member earns the award upon completion of eight core values studies, 16 Articles of Faith, 32 skill badges, four ministry projects and four missionary books. Additional awards, the Esther Carson Winans and Haldor Lillenas awards, are achievable using the requirements from the Brezee award.
Christian Service Brigade
Christian Service Brigade is an Evangelical Christian boys' Scout-like organization run by the CSB Ministries. The organization has chartered 300 units with members in the first through 12th grades, and works to build boys' character with an emphasis on the Bible. CSB is a partner of the GEMS Girls Clubs.
CSB history Christian Service Brigade was established in 1937 by Joe Coughlin in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with a Methodist Sunday School sixth-grade boys' class in conjunction with Wheaton College's Christian Service Council. In 1939, an affiliated girls group was founded, Girls' Guild. Both groups received backing from Herbert J. Taylor's Christian Workers' Foundation starting in 1943. The Guild became Pioneer Girls in 1940 and remained a division of CSB until 1944.
CSB program The Brigade is split into four age levels: Tadpoles (ages 4–5) Tree Climbers (ages 6–7) Stockade (ages 8–11) Battalion (ages 12–18)
The organization uses uniforms similar to the BSA. CSB runs a few shape and race events: the Shape N Race Derby wood car race for the Stockade level, and the Shape N Sail Derby boat race and Shape N Sled Derby, model sleds raced in a rain gutter packed with snow with a depression as a trail. The equivalent rank to the Boy Scouts' Eagle Scout is the rank of "Herald of Christ".
The CSB runs 11 camps: Stony Glen Camp, Madison, Ohio Wilderness Ridge Brigade Camp, Bastrop, Texas Camp Teepee Pole, Sundra, Alberta, Canada Sequoia Brigade Camp, Concord, California New England Frontier Camp, Lovell, Maine Camp Kaskitowa, Michigan Camp Nathanael, Minnesota Northern Frontier Camp, New York Hickory Hill Brigade Camp, New York Haycock Camping Ministries, Pennsylvania Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp, Wardensville, West Virginia
Dynamic Youth Ministries Dynamic Youth Ministries is an organization that runs two youth groups: Calvinist Cadet Corps and ThereforeGo Ministries.
Calvinist Cadet Corps