This will provide a significant opportunity for Scouts from various faiths to learn about Sikhs since there are over 2.6 million active Scouts across the US. In turn, it will help in enhancing interfaith understanding and harmony among various segments of society in the country and beyond.
The Boy Scouts of America has as part of their program developed various religious emblems which encompass many of the major faiths of the world. This is to encourage the Scouts to grow stronger in their own faith. The approval of this program allows emblems/medallions to be worn on the official uniform. The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is the umbrella organization representative of Sikhs in the United States. It is an elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions. Currently 51 Gurdwaras and other Sikh institutions across the nation are members of WSC-AR. The major governing purpose of the organization is to represent the collective view of Sikhs in the United States. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and well-being of humankind. ******* Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:1. Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Opelika, AL 2. Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society, Stockton, CA 3. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA 4. Sikh Gurdwara Sahib, San Jose, CA 5. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA 6. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA 7. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA 8. Gurdwara Guru Angad Darbar, Bakersfield, CA 9. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO 10. Connecticut Sikh Association, Southington, CT 11. Guru Tegh Bahadur Foundation, Norwalk, CT 12. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA 13. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 14. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL 15. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA 16. New England Sikh Study Circle, Boston, MA 17. Singh Sabha of Michigan, Canton, MI 18. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI 19. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI 20. Downriver Gurdwara Sahib, Brownstown, MI 21. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS 22. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC 23. Sikh Sabha of Upper Valley, Hanover, NH 24. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ 25. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ 26. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ 27. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ 28. Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh, Las Vegas, NV 29. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY 30. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY 31. Sikh Foundation of Syracuse, Liverpool, NY 32. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH 33. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH 34. Guru Nanak Rel. Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH 35. Sikh Sadh Sangat, Easton, PA 36. Philadelphia Sikh Society, Millbourne, PA 37. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA 38. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN 39. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX 40. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX 41. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX 42. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA 43. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA 44. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR: 1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA 2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS 3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY 4. Sikh Heritage Foundation, Long Island, NY 5. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH 6. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH 7. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX ******* |
Scouts of any religious tradition (Sikhs and non-Sikhs) and gender can participate and work on this Religious Award. Upon completion of the Sikh Religious Award, the Scout will receive an emblem/medallion with a certificate provided by WSC-AR. The emblem/medallion along with the ‘Universal Religious Square Knot’ can be worn on the Scout uniform.
WSC-AR’s recent participation in the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Mt. Hope, West Virginia in July 2013 provided an outstanding opportunity to bring awareness about the Sikh Faith to over 40,000 non-Sikh youth. WSC-AR will continue to collaborate with BSA, in instituting the ‘Sikh Religious Award’.