Pathfinder Honor Book 2014 Revision
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ADRA ADRA AC&H AC&H H&S H&S HA HA NAT OI REC NAT SGO&H VOC OI REC SGO&H VOC pathfinder honor book 2014 revision general conference youth ministries department - 1 - ADRA AC&H H&S HA NAT OI REC SGO&H VOC pathfinder honor book 2014 revision general conference youth ministries department - 3 - General Conference Youth Ministries Department Director: Gilbert Cangy General Conference Associate Youth Director/Pathfinder World Director: Jonatan Tejel General Conference Honors Committee: Jonatan Tejel, Chairman Vanessa Correa, Secretary Gennady Kasap: ESD Youth Director Busi Khumalo: SID Youth Director Mark O’Ffill: NAD representative John Sommerfeld: SPD representative Paul Tompkins: TED Youth Director Jobbie Yabut: SSD Youth Director Udolcy Zukowski: SAD Pathfinder Director Copyright © 2014 by the Youth Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist® Church All rights reserved. Published 2014 First edition published 1998. Second edition 2011. Third edition 2014 Rights for publishing this book outside the U.S.A. or in non-English languages are administered by the Youth Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist® Church. For additional information, please visit our website, www.gcyouthministries. org, email [email protected], or write to Youth Ministries Department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® Church, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. Cover and inside design by Jonatan Tejel Printed in the United States of America - 4 - Table of Contents Philosophy of the Pathfinder Honors 6 Introduction 7 Guidelines for Participating in the Pathfinder Honor Program 8 Advanced Honors: A Glimpse Toward the Future 8 Check List for Evaluating New Pathfinder Honors 9 Approval Procedure for a New Pathfinder Honor 10 Instructions for Completing New Honor Worksheet 10 Worksheet for developing new Pathfinder Honors 11 ADRA 13 Arts, Crafts, & Hobbies 27 Health & Science 131 Household Arts 157 Nature 181 Outdoor Industries 289 Recreation 309 Spiritual Growth, Outreach, & Heritage 415 Vocations 469 Master Awards 519 - 5 - Philosophy of the Pathfinder Honors Each honor is designed to be a course of study that introduces a subject. This subject should have practical value and should enhance the lifestyle of the person pursuing the honor. Honor study should assist the person in his/her development as a well-rounded Christian by directly affecting the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of life. The study of an honor should direct the person to a deeper love of the Creator and should increase one’s interest in committing their life in service to God and to the community. Honor study is intended to help the person’s spiritual character development. Therefore, every honor should be designed to require high standards of excellence by clearly stating in all requirements what tasks are to be accomplished. Fulfilling the requirements should be interesting and fun, while at the same time providing the person with a sense of achievement. The study of an honor should provide a person with an attractive way to learn about their surroundings or widen their exposure to new horizons of adventures. Such study topics might include learning about hobbies, a special interest, or being introduced to a new vocation. Each honor should be designed to accomodate group study of a club meeting, family, or individual study by a highly motivated person. The entire content of the honor should be capable of being completed in less than three months. Because Pathfinder honors are a part of a church-sponsored program, all facets of course study should be in harmony with basic church standards. For this reason honor study would normally avoid topics with requirements calling for destruction of plant or animal life as well as types of armed of unarmed defense. Also, subjects should be avoided that could only be studied by a small group of people in a single local area. It is the purpose of all honors to help the person to “increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” - 6 - Introduction This 2014 Edition of the Pathfinder Honor Handbook is representative of the continual growth of Youth Ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We live in a rapidly changing world, consequently this book is quite likely outdated as of press time. The honors reflect this fact as they now undergo continual systematic revisions in order to provide nothing but the best for our youth. By design and definition, honors are “windows to be opened in the mode of discovery” within the philosophical framework of the church. You can find, however, all the honors are updated automatically in our official GC Youth Ministries website: gcyouthministries.org. This manual includes all honors currently recognized at the General Conference level of Youth Ministry, produced in various divisions. The original concept of honors was agreed to at a General Conference Youth Advisory in 1927. They were first called Vocational Merits, then they became Vocational Honors. The first handbook listing the requirements was published in 1928. At that time there were 16 topics selected. While requirements have changed and names have been modified, those original honors remain today. Often these patches were hand-sewn on treadle machines; some were sewn in private sewing rooms utilizing the pictured design as a pattern. These original patches have a quaint appearance when compared to today’s computer-generated designs sewn on high precision machines at the Lion Brothers plant near Baltimore, Maryland in the USA. Down through the years other honors have joined these original 16 and today there are 414 Pathfinder honors recognized worldwide as well as 12 Master Awards. It is the desire of the General Conference Youth Department that this edition of the Pathfinder Honor Handbook will lead you into many new adventures as you discover the world around you. We also hope that these very enjoyable activities will prepare young people for the world to come. - 7 - Guidelines for Participating in the Pathfinder Honor Program Adventist youth follow in a long tradition of service to humanity. They can be found all over the world applying their skills to the myriad tasks and many vocations and professions needed to carry the “gospel to all the world in this generation.” Many Adventist youth who are now successful in overseas mission service, in business or professional work, trace their vision of service to the Pathfinder honor system. We all should be able to draw from the great book of nature lessons that will inspire and enable others to emulate the example of Jesus, the greatest nature Teacher this world has ever known. Youth should know how to place truth-filled literature in the hands of those who may thus be led to the Savior. Every young person must be prepared to answer the call of the Master in many fields of endeavor. The Youth Ministries Department desires to help young people reach these ideals, and Pathfinder honors enable young people to gain proficiency in many areas. Sometimes study for honors leads to the adoption of a vocation or at least a useful hobby. While some may consider Pathfinder honors as just study, theory, and book work, remember that the Pathfinder honor system is based on the philosophy, “an ounce of theory to a pound of practice.” Enjoyment and adventure are the keys to any honor achievement. Advanced Honors: A Glimpse Toward the Future There have always been those persons who would like to see even greater challenges in a given honor. This desire created the concept of Advanced Honors. To reduce production costs and provide interested persons with additional levels, advanced levels will be written for every honor. As these sets of requirements come into existence, a small bronze star will be available to be attached to the patch. - 8 - Check List for Evaluating New Pathfinder Honors Check to see if the honor (or a similar one) already exists: http://gcyouthministries.org/Ministries/Pathfinders/Honors/tabid/85/ Default.aspx If no existing honor is found, please complete the following requirements: __________ 1. The honor requirements must uphold the standards and philosophy of the Seventh-day Adventist church. __________ 2. The honor requirements must include a balance of theory and “hands on” activities. __________ 3. If possible, requirements should be developed on two levels of study: Basic (ages 10-15), and Advanced (ages 16 and older). Having the basic honor should be the pre-requisite for earning the advanced honor on a given subject. __________ 4. Requirements should be usable in a group setting or by a single individual. __________ 5. Requirements should be able to be completed in less than three months. This is a general rule only as some honors (e.g. Outdoor Industries category) need more time. __________ 6. Requirements should clearly state in simple terminology exactly what is to be accomplished. (Avoid ambiguous words or phrases such as “explain briefly,” or “demonstrate ability.”) __________ 7. Requirements must consider care of our natural environment. For example, to avoid destruction of animal or plant life, ask for photos or drawings rather than collections. __________ 8. Activity requirements of extended time are worded so as to avoid conflicts with school or work schedules (e.g. a four day campout could be done in two weekends). __________ 9. All requirements are to be accomplished in a safe and supervised environment. They must comply with legal requirements and will avoid involvement in armed or unarmed defenses. __________ 10. Requirements should be able to be accomplished without unduly affecting the safety of its participants. __________ 11. The requirements should reflect current practice and language. - 9 - Approval Procedure for a New Pathfinder Honor 1. All new honor requests should be submitted to the local conference Pathfinder director for verification that the honor has met criteria as stated on the worksheet for developing new honors.