NCCS provides chartering guidance as well as programmatic support, including Awards & Recognitions, for the following BSA Scouting programs.
Cub Scouts
Ages 5-10
Cub Scouts is a great way to unite young families in family-friendly and faith-centered activities. Cub Scouts is also a great opportunity for Catholic parish and school leaders to reinforce Catholic Scouting programs as youth ministry and engage young families in parish life. In Cub Scouts, an adult Den Leader, along with other adult leaders, leads a den of same-grade boys or girls in activities appropriate to each specific age group. Dens are not coed. Activities are centered around skill areas and include indoor and especially outdoor fun and learning. In addition to regular den meetings, all dens come together for a monthly pack meeting when Cub Scouts tell about their recent activities, enjoy skits and songs and receive their advancement awards. Packs can be made up of boy dens and girl dens.
- Learn about Religious Activities for Cub Scouts – Each one has requirements and activities broken out by age group
- Learn about Religious Emblems for Cub Scouts – Light of Christ is for 6-7-year-old Catholic Scouts and Parvuli Dei is for 8-10-year-old Catholic Scouts
- Learn about Catholic Scouting Awards & Recognitions for Cub Scout leaders, other individuals and units
- View Cub Scout BSA resources
Scouts BSA
Ages 11-17
Catholic Scouts BSA troops allow opportunities for young people to participate in activities that help them take a deeper dive into Catholic teaching and traditions. Catholic Scouting activities align with parish faith formation and youth ministry programming. Leadership of each Scouts BSA troop is under the direction of older youth leaders, who are in turn under the direction and supervision of the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters. Troops are assembled of patrols of 4-8 scouts. Troops are not coed. Girl and boy troops are chartered separately to an institution with separate leadership at the troop level. The Chartering Organization may choose to manage troops with separate committees or a single committee for all the troops. The Scout Oath and Law form the basis of admission for Scouts BSA and are the motivating factor in Scouts BSA activities and advancement.
- Learn about Religious Activities for Scouts BSA – Each one has requirements and activities broken out by age group
- Learn about Religious Emblems for Scouts BSA – Ad Altare Dei – for Roman Catholic Scouts, Light is Life – for Eastern Catholic Scouts and Pope Pius XII – for Scouts 15 and older
- Learn about Catholic Scouting Awards & Recognitions for Scouts BSA leaders, other individuals and units
- View Scouts BSA resources
Venturing & Sea Scouting
Ages 14-21
Catholic Scouting programs at the Venturing & Sea Scouting level allow opportunities for young people to engage in self-directed activities that align with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and can help keep young adults connected with their parish. The Venturing & Sea Scouting program may be all male, all female or coed at the discretion of the Chartering Organization. A key feature of Venturing & Sea Scouting is youth leadership and self-direction under the guidance of appropriate adult advisors. Venturing & Sea Scouting crews may have a specific crew interest, such as high adventure, or a particular activity, such as rock climbing/rappelling, photography, aviation, and other activities. Crews follow the Scout Oath and Law, which guide all their activities and instill the values of trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courteousness, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence.
- Learn about Religious Activities for Venturing and Sea Scouting – Each one has requirements and activities broken out by age group
- Learn about Religious Emblems for for Venturing and Sea Scouting – Pope Pius XII – for Scouts 15 and older
- Learn about Catholic Scouting Awards & Recognitions for leaders, other individuals and units
- View Venturing BSA resources
- View Sea Scouting BSA resources