Venturing

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Venturing

• The Next Step.

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BSA has steadily expanded the reach of its
value-based programs

• 1910 Boy Scouting for boys 12 to 17
• 1912 Sea Scouting for boys over 14
• 1946 Exploring for young men 14-20 who wanted
  advanced Scouting
• 1959 Yankelovich Study of high-school age boys
• 1969 Coed Exploring- Young women ages 14-20
  joined Posts
• 1991 Learning For Life - BSA Subsidiary
• 1998 Venturing - Coed ages 14-20 - Outdoor,
  Religious and Hobby related

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Heres Venturing

• The young adult program of the BSA for men and
  women 14 (who have completed the 8th grade)
  through 20 years of age.
• Youth member is a Venturer
• A unit is called a Venturing Crew
• Venturing adults are advisors
• Youth leader is the president
• 7 membership fee - same chartering process

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Venturing/Venture Whats the difference?

• Venturing Crew
• Stand Alone Unit
• Coed, all male, or all female
• Ages 14-20
• 5 Bronze awards, Gold, Silver, Ranger,Quartermaste
  r Boy Scout advancement above 1st class for
  male Venturers
• President, two VP positions,Secretary, Treasurer,
  Activity chairs

• Venture Patrol
• Optional patrol of a troop
• Male only
• Ages 13-17
• Boy Scout Advancement only
• Venture Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader

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Venturing/Exploring

• Venturing
• Applications
• Members
• Leadership Standards by BSA
• Oath and Code
• Advancement

• Exploring
• Rosters
• Participants
• Leadership Standards by Participating
  Organization
• Motto
• Awards and Recognition

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Does Venturing have a required uniform?

• The recommended uniform is the spruce green
  Venturing shirt with green epaulette tabs and
  gray backpacking-style shorts or gray casual
  pants.
• However, the uniform, if any, is the choice of
  the crew.

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Venturing Oath

• As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty to God and
  help strengthen America, to help others, and to
  seek truth, fairness, and adventure in our
  world.

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The National Venturing Division has created the
following bin resources.

• New Crew Sales Kit
• Recruitment Posters
• Sales Brochures
• Fast Start
• Literature and Resources brochure
• Awards and Recognition brochure
• Religious Resource Kit
• Marketing Guide

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The following new literature is available at your
Scout Shop or Service Center

• Venturing Leader Manual
• Ranger Guidebook
• Venturer Handbook
• Venturing Leadership Skills Course
• Venturing Roundtable Guide
• Heres Venturing - Operations Guide
• Recognition Certificates and Awards
• Sea Scout Manual

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New Videos Now Available

• Selling Venturing to the Head of an Organization
• Briefing the Organizing Committee
• New Crew Fast Start

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New Youth Protection Videos Now Available

• Youth Protection - Personal Safety Awareness (for
  Youth)
• Youth Protection Training for Adult Venturing
  Leaders

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New Venturing Training

• Venturing Adult Leader Basic Training
• Powder Horn (outdoor skills training, first
  course held at Philmont in September 1999)

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Venturing Recognition

• Venturing Leadership Award for Youth and Adults
• Venturing Advisor Award of Merit

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Venturing Advancement
Silver Award
Quartermaster
Eagle
Ranger Gold Award
Award
Life
Outdoor Youth Sports Arts
and Sea Bronze Ministries
Bronze Hobbies Scout
Bronze Bronze
Bronze
Star
Previous lst Boy Scout
or Class Varsity Scout
JOIN Venturing
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The New and Exciting Venturing Ranger Program

• Rangers are elite outdoorsmen
• Ranger are required to teach what theyve learned
  to others
• Rangers work with their advisor and consultants

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One typical example of how a crew in Virginia
uses consultants to help conduct the Ranger
program

• Two weeks ago, our crew returned from a two day
  white water canoeing course that was put together
  by an American Canoe Association training, based
  on the requirements laid out in the Ranger
  Guidebook. We did the same thing, earlier this
  year, with a consultant in a two day caving
  program. Next month, we do Wilderness Survival
  with a consultant and later we will join with
  several crews to conduct a mock disaster.
• None of these consultants knew anything about
  Venturing. However, all have adapted their
  training to support it.

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Ranger Core Requirements

• Standard First Aid plus When Help is Delayed
• Communications
• Cooking
• Emergency Preparedness
• Land Navigation
• Leave No Trace
• Wilderness Survival
• Conservation

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Ranger Electives(Must earn 4 of 18)

• Backpacking
• Cave Exploring
• Project COPE
• Mountain Biking
• First Aid
• Fishing
• Ecology
• Equestrian
• Hunting

• Lifesaver
• Mountaineering
• Outdoor Living History
• Physical Fitness
• Plants Wildlife
• Scuba
• Shooting Sports
• Watercraft
• Winter Sports

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Recent correspondence

• July 15, 1999
• I just returned from Philmont with a co-ed
  Venturing crew. Before leaving, I presented each
  member of the crew with a Ranger Guidebook. We
  reviewed the requirements briefly. Quite
  frankly, I expected to see them stuff the book in
  their carry-on bags, never to be seen again. I
  couldnt have been more wrong.
• All the way across the country (Chicago to Raton
  by train) there was a constant barrage of
  questions being fired at me. Once we reached
  Philmont it intensified. I had the same reaction
  from the Philmont Ranger Staff. The Ranger
  Guidebooks are worn and dog eared.
• In my 40 years of Scouting, I cant remember ever
  seeing Scouts pick up and devour a program the
  way they seem to go after the Ranger award.
• Richard Hewitt, Crew Advisor, Portage, Michigan

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Venturings Growth is happening in these areas

• Church youth groups that adopt the structure of
  Venturing to help strengthen their youth
• Successful troops that adopt Venturing to meet
  the wants and needs of older boys
• High School and college outdoor clubs that adopt
  Venturing to complement their program
• Independent groups that are organized from High
  School hobby surveys

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Venturing Crew Growth

• 
  1998 1999 growth
• Community Churches 18 43 139
• Church of Christ 29 49 69
• Disciples of Christ 54 80 48
• Lutheran Churches 181 267 47
• Chambers of Commerce 52 73 40
• Presbyterian Churches 213 293 38
• Catholic Churches 420 550
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• Boys and Girls Clubs 64 86
  34
• Elks Lodge (BPOE) 52 69
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• Methodist Churches 614 810 32
• Baptist Churches 232 301
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• Professional Societies 55 71
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• Business/Industry 706 911 29
• Governmental Bodies 112 143
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• Public Schools 639 809
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• --------------------------------------------------
  ---------------------------------

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Venturing Crews Chartered to Non-LDS Religious
Organizations
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Venturing provides structure and substance to a
Church Youth Group

• Venturing is flexible and can work with any
  existing youth program structure
• Venturing can help keep youth closer to your
  organizations beliefs
• Venturing provides a package that can retain
  existing youth and recruit new ones
• The religious awards will help create an arena in
  which young adults can work closely with
  religious leaders

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Frequently Asked Questions ???

• How much ownership will my religious organization
  have if we start a Venturing crew with my High
  School age youth group?
• What are the advantages of combining my religious
  organizations youth group with Venturing?
• How much does it cost to create a Venturing crew
  with my religious youth group?
• Is a uniform required?
• Where will we find leadership?
• Will Venturing compete with my youth group?
• How do we get started?

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Boy Scout Troops

Venturing Crews
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• I have always considered Venturing, and
  especially the Ranger award, to be, in a very
  real sense, the college of ScoutingLet us
  think of Boy Scouts to Venturing as, high school
  to college. Venturing is the advanced course.
  It in NOT, a simple upgrade with a few new
  features
• Jason Cruse- Department of Political Science
  University of Missouri-Columbia

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Why your Troop should consider organizing a
Venturing Crew

• The Venturing Program complements the Boy Scout
  Troop. It adds exciting new advancement and
  leadership opportunities for your older boys
• It allows flexibility, so boys can participate in
  both programs
• Venturing can help solve many of the Scoutmasters
  challenges
• It meets the wants and needs of 14 to 18 year old
  boys

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Scoutmaster Challenges

• Keeping 14 to 18 year old Scouts engaged in the
  troop
• Challenging older Scouts, while at the same time,
  trying to attract and retain younger Scouts
• Competing with older Scouts interests cars,
  girls, High School
• Giving leadership/role model opportunities to all
  older Scouts
• Giving younger Scouts something to anticipate
  beyond the Troop

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National BSA Statistics

• Average Boy Scout is 13 years and 3 months old
• Average Eagle Scout is 14 years and 9 months old
• Average Boy Scout attendance at summer camp is
  2.8 years

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Male Venturers may continueto work toward Eagle

• Must be at least a First Class earned as a Boy
  Scout or Varsity Scout
• Requirements remain the same
• Board of review can be conducted by the troop or
  crew
• If registered in both the troop and crew can
  receive multiple credit for many Bronze, Gold,
  Silver and Ranger requirements
• Can receive past credit for certificates earned

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What does Venturing offer to older Scouts in your
troop?

• New Advancement opportunities for boys interested
  in progressing beyond Eagle
• New Awards and recognition for boys out of the
  Advancement loop

• Activities with boys and girls their own age
• New leadership skills training for all members
• Older Scouts give leadership to the Troop through
  the Ranger program

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Venturings Teaching PhilosophyFour levels of
learning

• Level I - You Read it
• Level II - Someone Taught It to you
• Level III - You Experienced It
• Level IV - You Teach it to someone else
• Venturing advancement requires Level IV. We
  retain 85 of what we learn when we teach it to
  someone else.

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How does a Troop and a Crew work together?

• Scouts ages 14 to 18, and adult leaders can be
  members of both units primary registration in
  the troop and multiple in the crew
• The Crew meets separately from the Troop twice
  each month and has occasional activities apart
  from the Troop
• Older Scouts in the Troop, (especially troop
  leaders) are expected to participate in both units

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• Recruit an Assistant Scoutmaster to serve as Crew
  Advisor
• Utilize existing merit badge counselors as
  consultants for the Ranger Award
• Utilize Troop advancement chair to help conduct
  Crew reviews for the Gold and Silver Awards
• Venturers can wear distinctive uniforming and
  maintain the same unit

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14 to 18 year old boys want

• Challenging Physical Activities with boys their
  own age
• Recognition of their older status
• Activities with Girls
• Control of their environment
• Independence
• To explore and experience their world
• A sense of Belonging and Acceptance from their
  peer group, inclusion in a gang

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14 to 18 year old boys need

• Consistent Adults that Walk their Talk
• Character and ethical education outside the
  classroom
• Positive adult role models, male and female
• Opportunities to become proficient at something
• Leadership opportunities

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Seattle, WashingtonJoe Garrett-
Scoutmaster-Troop 582 Committee Chair-Crew
582

• Venturing keeps older boys interested and me
  too!!
• 7 boys and 6 girls in the crew, 3 boys came from
  Troop 582, 2 boys had no Scouting background, 2
  had quit another troop and rejoined BSA in
  Venturing
• Entire crew is pursuing the Ranger Award
• Green shirts have become status symbol- similar
  response that the Webelos wearing khaki shirts in
  the pack
• 4 of the boys in the crew would not be in
  Scouting if not for Venturing, they joined
  Venturing initially to go snowboarding, but have
  now become interested in the entire Ranger
  program
• Venturers have taught Land Navigation and Winter
  Sports skills to the troop
• Crew 582 is going to Philmont this summer. The
  Philmont age requirements fit nicely in the
  separate group apart from the troop

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Ankeny, IowaJeff VerHelst - Advisor of Crew 869

• Crew started with five Venturers in 1998 and now
  has 30.
• Most members are college students
• Crew 869 was asked to operate and staff the
  district camporee.
• They created a blue activity shirt with a small
  Venturing logo in front and a large design on the
  back. They wear the recommended spruce-green
  shirt for formal occasions.
• They are attending the Boundary Waters High
  Adventure Base in summer 2000.

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Greensboro, N.C.Wes Reid- Assistant
Scoutmaster-Troop 214Member of Church that
charters Crew

• We noticed that older boys were losing interest
• Most our campouts catered to the new scouts, ages
  11-12
• Older Scouts were looking for more exciting
  adventure
• In our Church chartered units, boys that are 1st
  class scouts are eligible to join the crew
• They continue to work toward Eagle and pursue
  high adventure
• We look at Scouting as part of our Church
  ministry. Having girls in our crew allows us to
  provide a total ministry

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Alexandria, VirginiaCooper Wright- Advisor

• Letter received on December 3, 1999
• Our crew continues to grow. We recently awarded
  our fourth Eagle this year, and have already
  presented two Bronze awards and one Gold award.
  I expect that we will award two more Bronzes,
  three more Golds, one Silver and one Ranger in
  January. During November, the crew participated
  in Scouting for Food and sorted 9,000 lbs. of
  food.
• This weekend, we will hold our Venturing
  Leadership Skills Course at a nearby youth
  hostel. We have augmented the course material
  with items from 7 Habits of Highly Effective
  Teens. I cant wait to go back to Philmont
  with a co-ed crew. Right now it looks like the
  crew leader will be a young woman who is well on
  her way to earning the Venturing Silver and Girl
  Scout Gold awards.

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Alexandria, VirginiaCooper Wright- Advisor

• e-mail received on 6-15-00
• Venturing is not some sort of grown up Venture
  program. It is much more than that. Not only
  does it involve outdoor skills, it also focuses
  ethical discussions, leadership training, and
  emergency preparedness. It requires a commitment
  on the part of each Venturer in the form of a
  Personal Growth Agreement. It uses youth
  developed bylaws to outline how the crew will
  function and interact. I have learned that to be
  a good advisor really means to be a mentor,
  someone who listens a lot more than I did as a
  Assistant Scoutmaster for a Venture Patrol.
  Venturing is the establishment of a trust
  relationship between adults and young men and
  women on the edge of adulthood. It is not
  standing around looking cool in a green shirt. I
  really love the Venturing program.

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Lincoln, NebraskaMarge Klein, Associate Advisor,
Crew 316

• Crew 316 started in October 1998, since then we
  have grown to 21 members. We have 15 boys and 6
  girls. All the boys came from Scout troops
  around town.
• We have a waiting list of 13 year old boys and
  girls wanting to join our crew.
• Our crew rule for Boy Scouts wishing to join is,
  you must maintain registration and leadership in
  your troop. Twelve of our boys will be earning
  Eagle in January 2000.
• In our 12 months as a crew we explored caves with
  the University of Missouri caving club, went
  rappelling with the Univeristy of Nebraska
  climbing club, did whitewater rafting, snow
  skiing, and scuba diving.
• Our boys sit down with the girls when they join
  and teach them Scouting from the Boy Scout
  Handbook.
• We have make presentations for the Ranger program
  to Cub Packs, Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops and
  at roundtable.

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Palmer, AlaskaMike Patterson - Advisor of Crew
366

• Crew organized Sept. 99 from Troop 361 - 9
  boys and 6 girls
• Crew was created to save the boys ,six would not
  be in Scouting without the crew
• Joining requirements for boys who are Scouts?
  Must be a Life Scout
• Crew meets twice each month plus 1 crew activity
• Crew officers meet monthly to plan
• Crew president, Adam said that he wanted to do
  funner things and Venturing was a natural
  progression. In Cubs he was with his friends,
  but didnt do much camping. In Boy Scouts he went
  camping with his friends but didnt do much high
  adventure, Venturing was the next step.

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Hartford, ConnecticutMichael Sobol, Advisor of
Crew 57

• I am the Scoutmaster of Troop 57. My 18 year
  old son approached me about organizing a
  Venturing crew. Apparently he had been down to
  the Council Service Center and picked up some
  information about Venturing. He handed me a new
  unit application and seven completed youth
  applications.
• I agreed to be the Advisor of a new Crew 57. My
  son wants to earn everything Venturing has
  created. He had already earned everything Boy
  Scouts had created.
• His girlfriend also joined the crew. My crew
  consists of 7 boys and one girl currently.
• My Venturers have been teaching the Ranger skills
  to the troop. It has benefited both the troop
  and the crew.

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What are Venturers saying?

• Sean Luther - 17 year old in Crew 28 and Troop
  28, Pittsburgh, PA He serves as Senior Patrol
  Leader in Troop 28 and Crew President in Crew 28.
  Sean believes that the Leadership skills learned
  in Venturing have helped him be a better Senior
  Patrol Leader. Venturing has also provided new
  experiences that he would not have experienced if
  he was only in the troop.
• Adrian Johnson - 16 year old in Crew 414,
  Philadelphia, PA Before joining
  Venturing was thinking about joining the Air
  Force after High School. She has served as a
  leader in Venturing for the past 12 months. She
  believes that the leadership skills learned in
  Venturing and the increased confidence gained has
  helped her set new goals. She has applied to the
  Air Force Academy.

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North Olmsted, OhioErica Sheehan, Venturer,
Secretary of Crew 630

• My crew has been in existence for about a year
  and I can honestly tell you it has been one of
  the best experiences of my life.
• I am the sister of a Star Scout and have been
  surrounded by Scoutings morals and values for
  years.
• Our first campout in March it went down to 10
  degrees. We learned from experience how to pack
  for winter camping.
• In June we went on our first ten mile canoe trip,
  we had a blast.
• In all our outdoor activities I have learned how
  important it is to work together and that if
  there is one person not working to their ability
  the rest of the crew cant function to its
  potential.
• The COPE experience was THE bonding experience of
  my life and I was on a natural high for days.
• Were all now motivated to work as hard as
  possible in everything we do, in Venturing, at
  home or in school.

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Fullerton, CaliforniaAmanda Delaney and
Christina Canino, Crew 214

• Crew 214 was organized in June of 1998, it has 15
  boys and 15 girls, chartered to a Presbyterian
  Church in Fullerton, California
• Activities include backpacking, rock climbing,
  snowboarding, skiing and COPE
• The youth adopted the spruce green shirt as their
  formal uniform. They designated a navy blue
  t-shirt with their own logo as the activity
  uniform.
• Were all like brothers and sisters, we trust
  each other.
• We set our own rules no boy/girl buddy system,
  go in threes in mixed company.
• Venturing is more than we expected.
• The guys have seen me on campouts without my
  makeup on and they still like me.

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Knowledge becomes power only through organization
and useOg Mandino
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