Catholic Scouting

Catholic scouting is a ministry that forms boys and girls in an integrated way, body, mind and spirit. Catholic scouting offers programs which form youth and adult leaders in the love of God and country; develop virtuous character; and give instruction in basic scouting skills. Below you will find important information about Catholic scouting in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Please click on each arrow to find more information under each heading.

Catholic Scouting Guidelines, Goals & Training

Catholic Scouting Guidelines

Archdiocesan Guidelines and Goals for Catholic Scouting

Training for Scout Leaders

Please contact the Catholic committee connected with your scouting unit to learn more about training that is specific to the scouting program that you are running.

American Heritage Girls

American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered character development program that seeks to build women of integrity through outdoor experiences, leadership projects, skill and virtue formation, and opportunities to grow closer to Jesus in the heart of the Catholic Church. AHG is a Christian organization with a strong Catholic branch, the AHG National Catholic Committee, which serves under the Episcopal Moderator, Bishop James Conley, Bishop of Lincoln.

Boy Scouts

The BSA’s goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking. (From the BSA national website)

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts seeks to help girls thrive in five key ways as they: develop a strong sense of self, seek challenges and learn from setbacks, display positive values, form and maintain healthy relationships, and identify and solve problems in the community. Research shows that girls learn best in an all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment. Girl Scouts is a place where she’ll practice different skills, explore her potential, take on leadership positions—and even feel allowed to fail, dust herself off, get up, and try again. (From the Girls Scouts website)

National Catholic Committee for Girls Scouts and Camp Fire
Philadelphia Catholic Committee for Girls Scouts and Camp Fire
- Contact for the Region 3 (Pennsylvania) Catholic Committee for Girl Scouting: Pat Antonacci, [email protected], 215-659-4359
(Pending) Memorandum of Understanding between the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Girl Scouts
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Girl Scouts and the Catholic Church

Other Scouting Ministries

Challenge (Catholic girls group)
Conquest (Catholic boys group)
Federation of North American Explorers (Catholic boys and girls group)
Fraternus (Catholic mentoring ministry for men and boys with strong outdoor component)
Little Flowers (Catholic mother/daughter group)
Trail Life USA (Christian boys group with Catholic branch)
Troops of St. George (Catholic boys group)

How to Start a Scouting Group in Your Parish

Step 1: Contact your pastor to ask for his permission to start a troop in your parish.

Step 2: Read through the Archdiocesan guidelines for scouting in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Step 3: Contact the Catholic committee connected with the scouting ministry you wish to implement. This committee will walk alongside you as you get your troop started.