How to Help Scouts Earn Their Religious Knot (Who Approves What?)

Ask a room full of Scout parents about the purple Religious Knot patch worn on the uniform, and you’ll often hear the same question: “How does my Scout get that, and who signs off on it?”

There is often confusion around who approves faith-based awards. Does the Scoutmaster sign the handbook? Does the Den Leader test the Scout? Does the Council issue the medal?

Here is the quick answer: Scouting America does not create, teach, or approve religious emblems. Instead, national religious organizations create the programs, local faith mentors approve the work, and Scouting America recognizes the achievement with the official Religious Knot patch.

Here is your straightforward guide to navigating the process, along with a fun activity to get Scouts excited to start!

Faith Emblems vs. The Religious Knot: What’s the Difference?

To understand how the process works, it helps to distinguish between the Emblem (the medal) and the Knot (the uniform patch).

• The Religious Emblem (Medal): Created and administered by independent national religious committees (Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Islamic, LDS, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.). It is earned through the Scout’s own place of worship or faith tradition and approved by their local clergy or faith mentor.
• The Religious Knot Patch (Uniform Recognition): A purple square knot on a silver background produced by Scouting America. It is worn above the left pocket to signify that a Scout has earned a recognized religious emblem for their grade level.

Who Approves What? (The 4-Step Approval Workflow)

Step	Action	Who is Responsible?	Who Approves/Signs Off?
1. Select Program	Pick the age-appropriate workbook for the Scout’s faith.	Parent & Scout	N/A (Self-selected)
2. Complete Work	Complete lessons, discussions, and service projects.	Scout	Parent & Local Faith Counselor / Clergy
3. Present Emblem	Award the official medal during a religious service.	Place of Worship	Faith Leader / House of Worship
4. Award the Knot	Present the purple knot patch for the uniform.	Unit Committee / Leader	Unit Leader (verifies completion)

Tip: For a comprehensive, updated list of approved faith programs, workbooks, and national religious contacts, visit the official Scouting America Religious Awards Page.

Earning the Knot Across Program Levels

Did you know a Scout can earn a religious emblem at multiple stages of their youth journey?

Most faith traditions offer age-appropriate programs tailored to different growth stages:

• Cub Scouts (Grades 1–3)
• Webelos / Arrow of Light (Grades 4–5)
• Scouts BSA (Middle & High School)
• Venturing & Sea Scouting (Young Adult)

While a Scout can earn an emblem at each level, they wear one single purple Religious Knot patch above their left pocket throughout their entire Scouting journey. Earning an emblem at a new level builds on their spiritual growth, and the single knot continues to represent their ongoing commitment to Duty to God across all program phases.

Bonus Resource 1: The “Faith Journey Pass” (A Fun Challenge for Scouts)

Looking for an engaging way to get Scouts to ask their parents about local religious emblem programs? Hand out this quick, printable “Faith Journey Pass” during your next den or troop meeting!

Bonus Resource 2: Parent Email Template for Leaders

Copy, edit, and send this ready-to-use template to your unit’s families.

Explore Faith Emblem Options for Your Unit

Ready to help your Scouts take the next step in their faith journey?

👉 Visit Scouting America’s Official Religious Awards Hub to find workbooks, faith-group contacts, and requirements, or check out dutytogodbsa.org for more unit planning guides!