Rags and Leathers Program

The Rags and Leathers Program of the YMCA is a series of challenges for individuals wishing for growth personally and spiritually. The Rags program is for individuals who are of at least 12 years of age, with minimum ages set for each new set of challenges accepted. For those too young to accept the challenge of the rag, there is the leathers program. Similar to the Rags Program, the Leathers program was designed to help younger individuals accept the challenges of personal growth.

Rags Program

There are seven different color rags in the Raggers Program with each color corresponding to a different set of challenges. Each rag stands as “an outward symbol of an inward goal.” The scarves raggers wear are called rags to highlight the physical worthlessness. The true value of a rag scarf is in the commitment that a ragger candidate makes to better himself or herself. Generally, an individual accepting a new Rag takes on 2 challenges: 1) the specific challenge officially prescribed by the program, and 2) a personal challenge that the individual has set for herself or himself. Traditionally, this second, personal goal is themed around the specific challenge of that particular color rag.

The different rag colors (and their respective goals) are as follows:

As is quite clearly indicated by the Raggers Emblem, the Raggers Program is a Christian program, with Christian growth and development being key features in each script of the published Raggers ceremonies. Despite this fact, peoples of all faiths and creeds have accepted the challenge of the rag. Many YMCA camps will even edit and modify the ceremonies to a specific faith other than Christian; however, regardless of with faith the ceremonies focus on, the overall theme of personal growth and a closer relationship with God always must remain.

Leathers Program

The Leathers Program is similar to that of the rags program, with the exception that the minimum age for the program is eight. In the leathers program, campers work on three different levels of challenges with each level being represented by a different shaped leather emblem that the candidate wears around her or his neck. The shapes and their corresponding challenges are listed below. Like the rags program, candidates wishing to accept the challenge of a leather must undergo counseling by a qualified counselor; however, requirements for being a leathers counselor are not nearly as stringent as they are for the rags program. Qualified counselors are simply staff or directors of the camp (regardless of whether they have completed the program or not). Campers cannot counsel for the Leathers Program. Most campers that complete the Leathers Program go on to participate in the Rags program.

Counseling and Preparation

Before one can accept the challenge of the rag, one must undergo a period of counseling and preparation. The individual must meet with a qualified counselor for the specific rag color he or she is accepting. A qualified counselor is one who has already accepted the challenge of the rag color being perused. (for example, someone wishing to accept their gold rag can be counseled by a gold, red, purple or white ragger).

The counselor’s job is to first assess if the candidate meets the minimum requirements of the rag color. In order to accept the new color, a candidate must first meet the minimum age requirements for the rag. Also, the candidate must meet a proper level of maturity for the rag that she or he is accepting. Finally, the candidate must have adequately met the goals accepted by the previous rag. These last two requirements are not tangible and are therefore left to the discretion of the counselor as to whether the candidate has met them.

Each counseling session is extremely personal and different. All counselors have a different approach and style in helping a candidate determine if the time is right to accept a new rag and what personal goals should be perused in accepting the new challenge. Counselors are not just an important part of the preparation for the rag. They also take an active and intimate role in rag ceremonies. Often, fellowship between raggers and counselors extend several years beyond the summer camp experience.

In preparing for the challenge of the blue rag, raggers are requested to memorize the Raggers Creed. The creed represents the way a ragger strives to act and think towards oneself and others.

The Raggers Creed

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be friend to all - the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.

The Raggers Emblem and Raggers Point

Most YMCA camps that run rags programs also have a permanent Raggers Point area designated for their rags ceremonies. Raggers Points, similar to outdoor camp chapels are usually situated in quiet, secluded areas; often they are found in wooded clearings. They are circular, with a permanent Raggers Emblem, often made from rocks, fixed in the center of the clearing. A cross is normally fixed at the head of the circle above the emblem. Often the cross is decorated with the color rag of the ceremony that is being conducted. Due to the nature of some of the ceremonies, there is normally a long path leading from the entrance of the point.

The Raggers Emblem, in addition to appearing in the center of Raggers Point, also appears on all raggers rags. The emblem consists of a circle circumscribing a square circumscribing a triangle. At the center of the triangle lies a cross. The meaning of the emblem is described in nearly every rags ceremony as follows:

“The circle stands for the circle of friendship of all YMCA’s and people around the world – wherever they may be. The square represents the foursquare life of a true Ragger: physical, social, spiritual, and mental. The triangle stands for strength because it is the strongest geometric figure known to man. Because of this strength – we have named the three points: Body, Mind, and Spirit – to remind you to keep the challenge that you have accepted for yourself. And at the center of our emblem and at the center of our hearts – lies the cross. It appears so that we never forget the wonderful lesson that Jesus taught to us through Hislife – His example and His words” (Brown Rag Ceremony, Page 5).

Different ceremonies require candidates to stand in different portions of the emblem. It is tradition that no ragger stands in the portion of the emblem that is reserved for other colored rags.

Even though most ceremonies are conducted at Raggers Point, there is no hard fast rule that they must be. Ceremonies can be conducted anywhere where a Raggers Emblem has been constructed. Out of respect for the emblem, the temporary Raggers Point should be deconstructed to prevent people from walking through it.

External links

* [http://www.campoakes.org/rags/ Camp Oakes Homepage] A comprehensive resource for the Rags and Leathers program. The site includes an extensive history of the program, copies of all the ceremonies and study guides, and other miscellaneous resources.

* [http://christianleadershipconf.org/ Christian Leadership Conference] The Rags and Leathers program is administered nationally in the United States by the Christian Leadership Conference. The CLC website provides the current set of materials for download.