Youth organizations in the United States

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 movement groups: the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. Another somewhat smaller but co-ed scouting derived group is Camp Fire. Other youth groups are religious youth ministries such as evangelical Christian Awana, Seventh-day Adventist Pathfinders, and Assemblies of God Royal Rangers.

Smaller scouting like groups include the Christian Trail Life USA for boys and American Heritage Girls for girls and the non-denominational co-ed Navigators USA and Baden-Powell Service Association and pagan but non-discriminatory SpiralScouts International.

Catholic scout organizations

Columbian Squires

Columbian Squires
Owner	Knights of Columbus
Age range	10-18
Headquarters	New Haven
Location	USA, Mexico, Philippines
Founded	August 4, 1925 (1925-08-04)
Founder	Barnabas McDonald
Membership	25,000 1500 local units
Website Squires website

Squire Motto

Esto Dignus / Be Worthy

—BSA Troop 97

Columbian Squires is a Catholic boys Scout-like organization run by the Knights of Columbus. The Squires considers itself to be an athletic team, a social club, youth and civic improvement group, management training, a civil rights group and spiritual development program.

Squires history

The Columbian Squires started in 1925.

In December 2012, the Knights of Columbus was sued over supposed sexual abuse that occurred in Brownsville, Texas by adult Columbian Squires leaders in the 1970s and 1980s. The Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck in August 2015 recommend the Squires as a replacement along with two other organizations for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) as he directed parishes to disassociated from the BSA due to the recent approve to allow gay adult leaders.

Squires program

Local groups are called Circles. The programs five advancement levels are:

• Page
• Shield Bearer
• Swordsman
• Lancer
• Squire of the Body of Christ.

Federation of North-American Explorers

Federation of North-American Explorers
Location	Toronto, Ontario
Country	Canada
Founded	1999
Founder	Paul Ritchi
General Commissioner	Paul Ritchi
Affiliation	UISGE-FSE
Website fneexplorers.com

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.

Timber Wolf Promise

I promise to do my best to be faithful to God, my country, and my parents, to keep the law of the Timber Wolf den, and to do a good turn for somebody every day.

—North Star FNE Group

The Explorer Law

1. An explorer’s honour is to be trusted.
2. An explorer is loyal to his country, leaders, parents, and subordinates.
3. An explorer’s duty is to serve others.
4. An explorer is a friend to all and a brother to every other explorer.
5. An explorer is courteous and chivalrous.
6. An explorer sees in nature God’s creations; he loves plants and animals.
7. An explorer obeys proper orders and leaves nothing half-finished.
8. An explorer smiles and whistles under all difficulties.
9. An explorer is thrifty; he takes care of his own possessions and those of others.
10. An explorer is clean in thought, word, and deed.

—North Star FNE Group

Timber Wolf Laws

The wolf listens to the old wolves, the wolf respects himself and the other members of the den.

The timber wolf thinks of others first. The timber wolf opens his eyes and his ears. The timber wolf is always clean. The timber wolf always tells the truth. The timber wolf is always happy.

—North Star FNE Group

History

Federation of North-American Explorers was founded in 1999 by current commissioner Paul Ritchi. Richi was a Scouts Canada volunteer but felt a lack of "the spiritual component to make it personally fulfilling." 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 and 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 Boy Scouts of America (BSA) as he directed parishes to disassociated from the BSA due to the recent move to allow gay adult leaders.

Program

In addition to the usually camping trips, explorers go on pilgrimages, receive the sacraments and hands on religious education.

The Explorer Promise

On my honour, and with God’s grace, I promise to do my best to serve God, my Church, and my country, to help others at all times, and to obey the Explorer law.

—North Star FNE Group

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
The Brotherhood of the Iron Will
Country	US
Website kepharocks.com

Kepha is a Catholic boys scouting alternative organization in which the father also participate. The organization's name is "rock" in Greek.

Kepha program

5 Anchors

Apologetics, Brotherhood, Charity, Mortification and Prayer.

—Patheos

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

Troops of Saint George
Headquarters	Irving, Texas
Country	US
Founded	May 24, 2013 (2013-05-24)
Founder	Taylor Marshall
Membership	~20 troops
Website troopsofsaintgeorge.org

Saint George Motto

Parati Semper / prepared always

—1 Peter 3:15

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.

History

Saint George Law

1. Honor all men.
2. Love the brotherhood.
3. Fear God.
4. Honor the king.

— (1 Peter 2:17)

The formation of the Scouts of St. George was announced by Taylor Marshall in May 2013 in response to the Boy Scouts of America 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 minimum). By October, the Scouts of St. George was forced due to the Boy Scouts of America's ownership of the "Scouts" trademark to change its name to "Troops of St. George" and the organization filed for 501(c)3 status around the same time.

TSG program

Saint George Oath

Set an example:
1. in speech (in verbo)
2. and conduct (in conversatione)
3. in love (in caritate)
4. in faith (in fide)
5. in purity (in castitate).

— (1 Timothy 4:12)

The program is under development with an expected parallel program to the Boy Scouts of America's.

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 youth groups

Awana

AWANA
Age range	2-18
Founded	1950
Affiliation	Awana International
Website awana.org

Awana is a coed, nondenominational Christian Scout-like organization. AWANA is an acronym for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" from 2 Timothy 2:15.

History

Awana was founded in 1950 in Illinois. Originally, the organization would not affiliate a club with church that belonged to the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, Pentecostal church or charismatic church. In 1995, AWANA lifted the restrictions.

The past Awana Pledge

I pledge allegiance to the Awana flag Which stands for the Awana clubs Whose goal is to reach boys and girls With the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him.

—Crossview Baptist Church

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 and
• Airplane Toss held at Flying Higher Night, in which model airplaes are build with the participant's choice of material with instead of a speed race there are awards for distance, aerobatics, and design.

'External links

• awanainternational.org

Caravan

Caravan
Owner	Church of the Nazarene
Website caravan.nazarene.org

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 about 150 BSA 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 boy's 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 even was promoted at the 1936 General Assembly through a display.

Rev. W. W. Clay, also in the 1930s, developed two Christian principles program for kids: Bluebirds for young children and Pioneers for older children. With Rev. Milton Bunker, an Eagle Scout, Clay promoted these club programs and continued to develop them.

With inadequate materials and competing programs, the 1940 General Assembly formed a Commission on Boys' and Girls' Work that met 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 in this program.

The Milton Bunker Award is granted to those Searchers completing the necessary two-year requirements. The Phineas F. Brezee award, named after the Church of the Nazarene 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
Owner	CSB Ministries
Age range	5-18
Headquarters	Hamburg, New York
Country	USA, Canada
Founded	1937 (1937)
Founder	Joe Coughlin
Website csbministries.org

CSB Vision

Godly men who serve, lead and disciple each generation

Christian Service Brigade is an Evangelical Christian boys Scout type of 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 a Bible emphasis. 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. Soon 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 4 age levels:

• Tadpoles (ages 4–5)
• Tree Climbers (ages 6–7)
• Stockade (ages 8–11), and
• 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 the 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, Cuualifornia
• 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

External links

• CBS Ministries Canada

Dynamic Youth Ministries

Dynamic Youth Ministries is an organization that runs three youth groups: Calvinist Cadet Corps, GEMS Girls' Clubs and Youth Unlimited.

Calvinist Cadet Corps

Calvinist Cadet Corps
Owner	Dynamic Youth Ministries
Age range	4-11
Headquarters	Grand Rapids, Michigan
Location	United States, Canada
Founded	1952 (1952)
Membership	9,900
Executive Director	Steve Bootsma
Affiliation	CRCNA
Website calvinistcadets.org

Calvinist Cadet Corps is an independent non-denominational Christian boys scouting organization usually affiliated with Christian Reformed Church. Currently, the Corps has about 440 US clubs with weekly meeting including a Bible lesson. Members range in grade from first to high school. Merit badges are tied into Scripture and weekly meetings includes Bible lessons.

CCC history

The Calvinist Cadet Corps was officially founded in 1952 in Reformed churches as the Dutch of the Reformed Christian Churches supported Dutch parallel programs compared to the Dutch of the Reformed Churches who generally joined the general organization. While the Calvinettes and Young Calvinist Federation duplicated the Girls Scouts and Christian Endeavour respectively.

CCC program

The Corps is split into 5 ministries, or levels:

• Kingdom Kids (ages 4–5, and the only coed level)
• Junior Cadets (grades 1-3)
• Recruit-Pathfinder-Builder (grades 4-6)
• Guide Trails (grades 7-9)
• Voyageurs (grades 9-11).

The organization uses uniforms similar to the BSA.

Calvinist Cadet Corps hold Model Car Derbies.

GEMS Girls' Clubs

GEMS Girls' Clubs
Owner	Dynamic Youth Ministries
Age range	4-11
Headquarters	Grand Rapids, Michigan
Location	United States, Canada
Founded	1958 (1958)
Executive director	Kathryn Miller
Affiliation	CRCNA
Website gemsgc.org

GEMS Girls' Clubs, formerly Calvinettes, is an independent non-denominational Christian girls Scout-like organization usually affiliated with Christian Reformed Churches. GEMS is an acronym for "Girls Everywhere Meeting The Savior". GEMS is also affiliated with the Christian Service Brigade.

GEMS history

The Calvinettes were founded in 1958 as the Dutch of the Christian Reformed Churches supported Dutch parallel programs compared to the Dutch of the Reformed Churches who generally joined the general organization, the Girl Scouts. While the Calvinist Cadet Corps and Young Calvinist Federation duplicated the Boy Scouts and Christian Endeavour respectively.

Frontier Girls

Frontier Girls
Owner	Frontier Girls, LLC
Age range	5-18
Founded	January 19, 2007 (2007-01-19)
Founder	Kerry Cordy
Membership	1,500 (2013)
Website frontiergirlsclubs.com

Frontier Girls is an independent non-denominational Christian girls scouting.

History

Frontier Girls was found in 2007 by Kerry Cordy as she felt that Girls Scouts had moved away from skills and badges. After complaints that FG was for heterosexual girls only, Cordy developed a Quest Club program for restriction-free groups to start their own scouting program.

Frontier Girls Promise

I pledge to love God, Be loyal to my country, and to love my neighbor as myself.

—About.com

Program

Believe in God (any higher power) and living by the Frontier promise are membership requirements. Frontier Girls wear red, white and blue uniforms with the red vest available through the program while the blue shirts and slacks are not.

Girls can work on over a thousand badges in nine Areas of Discovery: Art, Home, Technology, Character, the World, Health & Fitness, Outdoors, Agriculture and Knowledge. Frontier Girls has the only set of Character badges with the requirement of earning one such badge a year. There are four badges (Emergency Preparedness, Etiquette, and either the Patriotism or Our Flag Badge) that all troops must earn once every three years, thus a girl would earn these badges at each level.

The girls can earn the same award, some with variant names, at the different age levels:

• Servant's Heart Award, community service hours
• Life Skills Achievement Award, show proficiency at a several life skills
• Make a Difference Award, community service project leadership
• Reaching for the Stars Award, available at the Butterfly and Eagle levels, majoring in an Area of Discovery
• Gem Awards, highest award at each level.

level name	grades	Servant's Heart Award	Make a Difference Award	Gem Award
Otter	K-2 (min. age 5)	5 hours, Red Heart	3–5 hours	Topaz
Dolphin	3-5	10, Silver Heart	10–15 hours	Sapphire
Butterfly	6-8	15, Gold Heart	20–25 hours	Emerald
Eagle	Grades 9-12	20, Gold Diamond Heart	40–50 hours	Diamond

A troop may consist of all age levels as the meeting time is splitting between age level activities and joint activities.

• Quest Clubs, affiliated program

Pathfinders

Pathfinders
Owner	Seventh-day Adventist Church
Age range	10-15
Country	World
Membership	2,000,000 (2001)
director of youth ministries	Gilbert Cangy
Website pathfindersonline.org

Pathfinder Motto

The love of Christ constrains us all.

—BSA Troop 97

Pathfinders is a Christian Scout-like organization run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for boys (40%) and girls (60%) in grades 5-10. Currently, there are 2,000 clubs in North America with membership open to non-Seventh-day Adventist. Considered a church ministry, the clubs focus on camping and community services with earn able honors and patches.

History

• Missionary Volunteer Society

Pathfinder Pledge

By the grace of God, I will be pure, and kind, and true. I will keep the Pathfinder Law. I will be a servant of God and a friend to man.

— Pathfinders Online

In 1907, the forerunner Missionary Volunteer Society was founded. Seventh-day Adventist boys could not join the Boy Scouts when they started up in 1910 due to events happening on the Sabbath amongst other reasons. So local Seventh-day Adventist church leader began in 1911 various similar groups under names like: Pals, Woodland Clans and Takoma Clan.

Pathfinder Law

The Law is for me to: Keep the morning watch Do my honest part Care for my body, Keep a level eye Be courteous and obedient Walk softly in the sanctuary, Keep a song in my heart, Go on God's errand.

— Pathfinders Online

In 1919, the Mission Scouts of Madison, Tennessee were started by Arthur W. Spalding for which he wrote a pledge and law. The Missionary Volunteer Department of the General Conference began a class style award earning program in the 1920s. The Department associate secretary received permission from the Boys Scouts of America to incorporate into a MV honors program parts from Merit Badges in 1928. In 1926, the denomination held its first summer camp in Michigan. In Santa Ana, California around 1929 to 1930, local Adventist clubs using the name Pathfinder were started by John McKim and Dr. Theron Johnston. A JMV summer camp was found in 1930 by the Southeastern California Conference was called Pathfinder Camp mostly like do to the existence of the Santa Ana Pathfinder. The Santa Ana Pathfinders ended in 1936. A year later in Glendale, California, a new Pathfinder group was founded which also added military drills from the Adventist affiliated Medical Cadet Corps. There was a general opposition to these clubs by the denomination's leaders as they did not want the focus to be on missionary work as opposed to more secular pursuits. Despite this, Pathfinder Clubs were sprouting up all over California and the Pacific Northwest in the 1940s. The Southeastern California Conference youth director John Hancock started the first conference sponsored Pathfinder Club in Riverside in 1946.

• Pathfinder

With the action of the Southeastern California Conference, discussion regarding these clubs move to the denomination's General Conference (GC), which in 1950s recognized the program. The GC then adopted a program and guidelines while adopting a pledge and law similar to the Mission Scouts' version. The next year, the Oregon Conference held the first Pathfinder Fair and the GC issued the Pathfinder Staff Training Course publication.

Program

The organization uses uniforms similar to Scouting. The members follow a Law and Pledge, go on campouts, earn honor patches.

Pioneer Clubs

Pioneer Clubs
Owner	Pioneer Ministries
Founded	1939 (1939)
Website pioneerclubs.org

Pioneer Clubs, formerly Girls' Guild and Pioneer Girls, is a Christian Scout-like organization run by the Pioneer Ministries. The Ministries consist of four divisions: Pioneer Girls, Pioneer Boys, Pioneer Clubs, and Clubes Pioneros.

PC history

Girls' Guild was founded in 1939 as an affiliated girls group of the Christian Service Brigade by Joe Coughlin and Betty Whitaker, 1st program director, on the request of Harriet Brehm, a sister of a Brigade member. In 1940, the Guild held its first summer camp at Fish Lake, Volo, Illinois. A new director took over in 1940, Viola Waterhouse, and another in 1941, Carol Erickson.

Pioneer Girls slogan

Christ in every phase of a girls life.

—Billy Graham Center

The Girls' Guild in 1941 was revamped and renamed by Erickson to the Pioneer Girls (PG). In 1943, Erickson approached Herbert J. Taylor who through his Christian Workers' Foundation funded the PG, gave advice, free administrative support and gave them office space in Chicago's Civic Opera Building. Taylor also had the organization form its first board of director and had them incorporate by the end of 1943. The PG also started buying camps all called Camp Cherith. From 1939 to 1950, the main source of church club sponsors were Baptist, although there was a range of different denomination also sponsoring. In 1953, PG's headquarters was moved. In 1959, a mystery book series featuring two Pioneer Girls called the Pioneer Girls Adventure Series releasing at least three books.

Year	clubs	Members
1943	64	800
1945	226	3,000
1959	2060	48,000
1976	1765	59,396
1976 Canada	671	30,281
2005	8419	121,586

With the camping program and camp expansion in 1971, the camps were placed in a separate corporation then a licensing agreement tied them back to Pioneer Girls.

In 1979, boys were allowed membership and had their own Pioneer Boys clubs in 1981. The Pioneer Girls in 1981 was renamed Pioneer Ministries, but known as Pioneer Clubs. In 1945, clubs were started in Canada. By 1976, the organization owned 19 camps in the USA and 6 in Canada. Also while dropping the pioneer theme, sister organizations were set up in 16 other countries including France, Italy, Korea, Pakistan with more in Latin American, Caribbean and Africa. In Thailand where its branch was founded by Pioneer alumni and missionary Joan Killilea, the branch was called the Friendship Club.

PC programs

Clubs can be operated under three formats based on the number and ages of the kids: Pioneer (for churches with 3-12 children per age group), Discovery (for total of 3-12 kids from K-6) and Exploring (lots of kids grades 1-6). Pioneer program is split into 5 age levels:

• Skipper – ages 2 & 3
• Scooter – ages 4 & 5
• Voyager – grades 1 – 2
• Pathfinder – grades 3 – 4
• Trailblazer – grades 5 – 7

Pioneer Clubs hold wood car races called Pine Car Derby.

External links

• Pioneer Girls at Vintagekidstuff.com

Royal Rangers

Royal Rangers
Owner	Assemblies of God
Headquarters	Springfield, Mo.
Country	USA 62 others
Founded	1962
Membership	125,000
international Director	Doug Marsh
Website royalrangers.com

Royal Ranger Motto

Ready

—BSA Troop 97

Royal Rangers is a Christian boys Scout-like organization run by the Assemblies of God. The Rangers have 4,000 US groups with member in kindergarten through 12th grade with a goal to provide "Christlike character formation". About 90 Boy Scout Troops are sponsored by Assemblies of God churches. Many Pentecostal churches also use the Royal Rangers program. Some units in German use the name "Christian Royal Ranger Scouting".

History

Royal Rangers was established by the Assemblies of God in 1962. In 2012, Camporama had a high-ropes course, two zip lines, a water slide, and a lumberjack show.

Program

The organization uses uniforms similar to Scouting and parallel terms:

• outpost (troop)
• Ranger Code (Scout Law)
• Ranger Pledge (Scout Promise)
• Commander (Scoutmaster)
• merits (merit badges)
• Gold Medal of Achievement (Eagle Scout).

Royal Ranger Code

A Royal Ranger is: alert, clean, honest, courageous, loyal, courteous, obedient, spiritual.

—Doorway to Adventure

Their four program levels are divided by school grade:

• Ranger Kids (K-2nd grade)
• Discovery Rangers (3-5)
• Adventure Rangers (6-8)
• Expedition Rangers (9-12).

A Camporama is scheduled in the summer every fourth years at the organization's Eagle Rock, Mo. campground. The Ranger hold small car races called Pinewood Derby.

Salvation Army

Adventure Corps

Adventure Corps

Owner	Salvation Army
Website	Eastern USA official website

Motto

Adventure with Christ!

—Booth Youth

Pledge

I promise to explore God's word and God's world to find ways to serve him and help others, to develop and guard good habits so that I will grow as God desires, and to adventure into the world with the "good news" of Jesus Christ.

—Booth Youth

Adventure Corps, or The Salvation Army Boys' Adventure Corps, is a Christian Scout-like organization run by the Salvation Army. Currently, the organization has about 1,300 units of grades 1-8 boys. The boys do not have to be a member of a Salvation Army congregation. In addition to the Adventure Corps, the Salvation Army has sponsored 130 Boy Scout troops. The Salvation Army from 1913 ran the LifeSaving Scouts/Guards-Boys teen age program to 1929 when it merged with the Boy Scouts of America.

Corps history

The Adventure Corps was established in January 1983.

Corps program

The program core is based on Christian fellowship, teamwork and leadership. The Corps is split into 2 levels: Explorers (grades 1 to 4), and Rangers (5 to 8).

Other groups

• Moonbeams @ The Salvation Army Eastern Territory Youth Department - girls and boys in pre-k and kindergarten
• Sunbeams @ The Salvation Army Eastern Territory Youth Department
• Girl Guards - grades 6 - 12
  • Alaska official website
  • The Salvation Army Eastern Territory Youth Department

Southern Baptist Convention

At the Southern Baptist Convention's meeting on June 11–12, 2013, the convention recommended that Southern Baptist Churches disaffiliate from the Boy Scouts of America and joint alternative organization particularly those run by the Southern Baptist Convention.

Challengers

Challengers

Owner	Woman’s Missionary Union (Southern Baptist Convention)
Website	official site

The Challengers is a Christian teenage boys Scout-like organization run by the Woman’s Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Challengers program is to equip boys in "mission education."

Royal Ambassadors

Royal Ambassadors

Formation	1908
Founder	Woman’s Missionary Union
Location	USA
Members	31,000
Owner	Woman’s Missionary Union & North American Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention)
Website	official site

RA Pledge

As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best: to become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ; to have a Christ-like concern for all people; to learn how to carry the message of Christ around the world; to work with others in sharing Christ; and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.

—BSA Troop 97

Royal Ambassadors (RA) is a Christian boys Scout-like organization run by the Woman’s Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention. About 3,000 SBC churches sponsors groups. There are some Southern Baptist churches sponsoring Boy Scout troops. The name of the program was selected from the New Testament, where Christians are told by the Apostle Paul to be "ambassadors for Christ."

RA history

Year	chapters	members
1915	500+	4,500
1960	13,000	220,000
2013	3,000+	31,000

The Royal Ambassadors was founded in 1908 for elementary school aged boys after the WMU Annual Meeting in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

As the RA continued to grow, a convention-wide full-time RA secretary was needed in 1943. The Brotherhood Commission took over the program in 1954. In 1997 that Memphis-based SBC agency was discontinued through a merger forming the North American Mission Board. With a shift in strategy, the board turned over regular operation of the RA in 2011.

The programs' age groups are Lads (grades 1-3), and Crusaders (4-6). The RA wooden mini-car race is called RA Racers. There is no uniform but they generally wear a T-shirt and own a vest to display their earned badges. Members can earn six "campcraft" patches: Discover 1/2/3, Hiker, Camper, Woodsman. But the program is for missionary training and development. Thus, merit patches are earn for mission work and Bible verse memorization.

Navigators USA

Navigators USA
Age range	7-18
Headquarters	New York City
Country	USA
Founder	Robin Bossert
Membership	600
executive director	Robin Bossert
Website navigatorsusa.org

Navigator Motto

Stay On Course

—BSA Troop 97

Navigator Slogan

The more you give, The more you get

—BSA Troop 97

Navigator Traits (law)

Truthful, Respectful, Inclusive, Generous, Dependable, Resourceful, Cooperative

—BSA Troop 97

Moral Compass (promise)

As a Navigator I promise to do my best To create a world free of prejudice and ignorance. To treat people of every race, creed, Lifestyle and ability with dignity and respect. To strengthen my body and improve My mind to reach my full potential. To protect our planet and Preserve our freedom.

—Navigators USA Guidebook

Navigators USA is a secular co-ed Scout-like organization. In 2013, there are 45 chapters. A congress was held in the Fall of 2013 where the issue of uniform was on the agenda.

The organization stresses outdoor activities and community service projects. The program had no uniform as of July 2013.

History

Unitarian Church of All Souls sponsored a Boy Scout troop in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood. After disagreements over the Boy Scouts' exclusionary membership policies in 2003, the troop broke away to become a coed inclusive organization. All Souls has been underwriting the organization's operation to the tune of $10,000 to $20,000 a year since 2003. In Fall 2010, Navigators issued its first handbook for the senior section thus opening up the organization to the public. By March 2011, the group had seven chapters with four in New York City, three of which are through a partnership with a local service group, and one each in Binghamton, N.Y., Durham, N.C., and Belmont, Mass. In 2012, the first and lone Illinois chapter formed in Palatine via Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist. By June 2013, 29 new chapters were formed in the past year.

Year	chapters
2003	1
2011	7
2012	16
2013	50

Program

The organization has two program sections: Junior Navigators, age 7–10 and Senior Navigators age 11–18. Juniors have three levels:

• Mira
• Vega
• Polaris

while the Senior section has four levels:

• Mira
• Shadow
• Tracker
• Pilot
• Navigator.

The program's top award is the Summit Achievement Award.

SpiralScouts International

SpiralScouts International
Owner	Aquarian Tabernacle Church
Age range	3-18
Headquarters	Index, Washington
Country	USA
Founded	2001
Membership	350
Website spiralscouts.org

SpiralScout Oath

A SpiralScout shall: Respect all living things; be kind and courteous; be honorable; be mindful of his/her words; seek out knowledge in all forms; recognize the beauty in all of creation; offer assistance to others; value honesty and truth; honor personal commitments; and respect the Divine in all things.

—About.com

SpiralScouts International (SSI) is an independent secular inclusive coed Scout-like organization designed on pagan beliefs and practices. SSI has 45 units called circles and hearths, or families.

The PathFinder Pledge

I pledge myself to the FireFly Promise, the SpiralScouts's Oath, the fulfillment of all my commitments, made to myself as well as others. I pledge to serve all my brothers and sisters in every way on our many journeys around the sun together as I find my way through the world.

—About.com

History

The Aquarian Tabernacle Church, a Wiccan community, in Index, Washington had sponsored a pagan scout group in 1999. The church looked for a non-believe based program but found none. Renamed SpiralScouts International in 2001 to expand nationwide at which time they dropped Wiccan identification. The Boy Scouts of America has sent a cease and decide letter to SpiralScouts to which they responded to with no future contact with the BSA. With the Boy Scouts’ membership policies disapproved by SSI, SSI offered their highest award to any Eagle Scout returning their Eagle Badge in protest.

The FireFly Promise

I promise to serve the Wise Ones, To Honor and respect Mother Earth, To be helpful and understanding toward all people, And always keep love in my heart.

—About.com

Program

The group can be a Hearth that consists of one family or as a "circle" with community membership. Members are placed into local groups called Circles which may consist of age group Hearths. The age level groups that the Hearths can be for are: FireFlies (ages 3–8), SpiralScouts (8-14), and PathFinders (14-18). The programs pagan twist is that its badges have a culture's myth relationship component and its dress uniform of a capuche and a braided, beaded macramé necklace. The activity uniform consists of Forest green polo shirt with khaki bottoms (pants, short, skirt or skort) and the SpiralScouts neck cord.

Earth scouting

Earth scouting or scout-like groups, also called Green Scouting, are those that are eco-orientiated groups.

Earth Champs

Earth Champs

Formation	2002
Owner	Earth Charter US
Website	http://www.sbctampabay.org/

Earth Champs is an independent non-denominational Scout-like organization, a program of the Sustainable Business Coalition of Tampa Bay, Inc.

History

Earth Scouts was founded in 2002. The Boy Scouts of America owning the trademark to Scouts forced Earth Scouts to change their name a decade later to Earth Champs. By July 2013, 4 chapters were operational with 4 more in start up.

Program

Earth Champs program is to get children interest and involved in activities that support living sustainably and the environment.

Kids for Earth

Kids for Earth

Formation	2009
Founder	Aditi Sen
Headquarters	Hillsdale, New Jersey
Owner	United for Earth
Website	http://www.kidsforearth.org/

Kids for Earth is an independent non-denominational secular eco-focused Scout-like organization.

History

Kids for Earth was founded in 2009 by Aditi Sen after watching An Inconvenient Truth.

Youth wings of political parties

• Armenian Youth Federation – founded in 1933, youth wing of the socialist Armenian Revolutionary Federation
• Georgia Teen Republicans – founded in 1978
• National Socialist Liberation Front – A neo-Nazi youth group that existed from 1969 until sometime in the 1980s
• Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade – succeeded by the Revolutionary Student Brigade both existed during the 1980s.
• Socialist Youth League (United States) – existed from 1946 to 1954 and eventually merged with the Young People's Socialist League (1907).
• Teen Age Republicans
• W.E.B. Du Bois Clubs of America
• Young Communist League USA
• Young Democratic Socialists
• Young Democrats of America
• Young People's Socialist League
• Young People's Socialist League (1907)
• Young Pioneers of America
• Young Republicans
• Young Socialist Alliance

Religious

• Epworth League – Methodist youth group founded in 1889
• First Priority – middle and high school evangelical Christian clubs founded in 1996
• Generation Joshua – Conservative Christian political group founded in 2003

Other

• 4-H
• AFS Intercultural Programs - International youth exchange program, founded in 1915
• Boy Spies of America - existed during World War I to seek out spies
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Campus Kitchen - founded in 2001, works to have extra food from campus kitchens donated to people in need
• Children's Express - existed 1975-2001, news agency run by children ages 8 to 18
• Federation of Galaxy Explorers - founded in 2002
• Freedom's Answer - founded 2002(?), supports voter registration and turnout
• Girls For A Change - Girls implementing social change projects, founded 2002
• Girls, Inc. - Roots back to 1865 but national since 1945
• Ignition (student training) - Student to student high school mentoring program
• Junior Birdmen - existed during the 1930s for boys interested in model airplanes
• Junior G-Men - existed during the late 1930s and early 1940s for boys
• Junior State of America - A high school club founded in 1934 to develop political leadership skills. Claims about 10,000 members
• Link Crew - student to student mentoring program
• Mexican American Youth Organization - civil rights organization founded in 1967
• National FFA Organization - At one time Future Farmers of America but name changed in 1988. Founded in 1928. Membership of 610,245 in 2014.
• National High School Rodeo Association - Incorporated in 1961 but roots back to 1947.
• National Junior Horticultural Association - founded in 1934
• National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization - founded in 1980
• National Student Association - an association of university student governments founded in 1947 and merged with the National Student Lobby in 1978 to form the United Statues Student Association
• National Student Federation of America - an association of university student governments that existed from 1925 until the Second World War. succeeded by the National Student Association
• National Junior Firefighter Program
• National Youth Administration - A New Deal agency dealing with youth aged 16 through 25 from 1935 until 1943
• New Farmers of America- African-American version of Future Farmers of America founded in 1935 and merged with Future Farmers of America in 1965.
• Running Start: Bringing Young Women to Politics
• SUSTA The Federation of Ukrainian Student Organizations of America - founded in 1953
• Safe Schools/Healthy Students
• Southern Negro Youth Congress - existed from 1937 until 1949
• Students Today Leaders Forever - founded in 2003
• Taiwanese American Foundation
• Teens in Prevention
• The Choice Program
• The First Tee - A golfing associated program founded in 1997
• United States Student Association - association of university student governments founded in 1978 with the merger of the National Student Association and the National Student Lobby
• United States Youth Council - existed from 1945 until 1986
• Urban debate league
• White Stag Leadership Development Program
• YMCA Youth and Government
• Young Judaea - Zionist youth organization
• Youth Activism Project - founded in 1992

Age groups

-	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	21+	adults
Adventure Corps
	Explorers (grades 1-4)				Rangers (5 to 8)
AWANA
Cubbies Puggles (toddlers)	Sparks (K-2nd Grade)					Truth & Training			Junior Varsity			Varsity or "24-7"
Baden-Powell Service Association
	Otters (ages 5 to 7)			Timberwolves (8 to 10)			Pathfinders (11 to 17)							Rovers (18+)
Calvinist Cadet Corps
Kingdom Kids (only coed level)		Junior Cadets (grades 1-3)			Recruit-Pathfinder-Builder (grades 4-6)			Guide Trails (grades 7-9)			Voyageurs (grades 9-11)
Caravan
	Searchers (grades 1-2)			Explorers (3-4)		Adventurers (5-6)
Christian Service Brigade
Tadpoles (ages 4-5)		Tree Climbers (ages 6-7)		Stockade (ages 8-11)				Battalion (ages 12-18)
Frontier Girls
	Otter Grades K-2 (min. age 5)			Dolphin 3-5			Butterfly			Eagle
GEMS Girls' Clubs
Kingdom Kids (only coed level)		Awareness (grades 1-3)			Discovery (grades 4-6)			Advanced (grades 7-8)			Counselor-in-Training (CIT) (grades 9-11)
Navigators USA
			Junior Navigators (age 7-10)				Senior Navigators (age 11-18)
Pioneer Clubs
Skipper (ages 2-3)	Scooter (ages 4-5)	Voyager (grades 1–2)		Pathfinder (grades 3–4)		Trailblazer (grades 5–7)
Discovery (grades K-6)
	Exploring (grades 1-6)
Royal Rangers
Ranger Kids (K-2nd grade)					Discovery Rangers (3-5)			Adventure Rangers (6-8)			Expedition Rangers (9-12)
SpiralScouts International
FireFlies (ages 3-8)					SpiralScouts (9-13)					PathFinders (13-18)
Southern Baptist Convention
								Challengers
Royal Ambassadors
	Lads (grades 1-3)				Crusaders (4-6)

Other groups external links

• Keepers of the Faith - is an independent, decentralized purchasable Christian Scout-like program that originated in the United States with separate programs for boys, Contenders for the Faith, and girls (formerly Keepers at Home), though they can be coordinated, and there can be overlap in the skills learned and activities.
• Young Vikings Club - is a Norse heathen teenage boys Scout-like organization