Eastern
Orthodox
Committee on
Scouting
In Collaboration with
The ORTHODOX YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES
Serving our youth since 1960
Outdoor Orthodoxy in Action
Join us for a unique experience of "Outdoor Orthodoxy" at the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting Religious Retreat.
For almost 64 years, this retreat has been held at St. Basil's Academy in Garrison, New York, and is led by a group of ambassadors from Holy Cross in Brookline, Massachusetts, including Deacon Kyriako of St Basil's and other local community clerics who were also scouts and even achieved the rank of Eagle.
Whether you join us for a day or a weekend, our scouts will explore not only the woods also their inner spirituality while they roam the grounds of iconic St Basil's.
This years theme is "Blessed is the Kingdom" and the scouts will be participating in a "one-to-one" confession, a one hour session on our theme & a service project which will benefit IOCC - International Orthodox Christian Charities. After the sessions we will gather for Saturday night vespers service in the chapel followed by dinner and a campfire.
We ask that you pack a lunch for Saturday as dinner and Sunday brunch will be provided. Please keep in mind that the scouts will be preparing to receive Holy Communion on Sunday morning so no meat or dairy will be served.
Provide School Supplies to Children in Need
Service project
Can you imagine going to school without a pencil or a notebook? Well, in most of the countries where IOCC works, there are children who do not have even these basic school supplies. Church World Service (CWS), a longtime partner of IOCC, makes it possible to send school kits to needy children through its service kits program.
By putting together a CWS service kit, you can give a less fortunate child the tools needed to do well in school. CWS collects the kits at a warehouse facility, prepares them for shipment and works together with IOCC and other partners to make sure these kits reach children in need.
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The EOCS plans on making and donating over 500 of these school supply kits to donate to the IOCC at this years Religious Retreat. This will count towards the World Scout Organizations Messenger of Peace Service project hours for our scouts.