1. Understanding the Venturing Program
VEN 107.ppt
Understanding the Venturing Program
Jeremy J. Kuhar

2. My Audience I assume an audience that…
…has heard of the Venturing program and wants to know more
…knows little if anything of the Venturing program
…needs all the details it can get about Venturing

3. Topics I’d Like to Cover
Basic Venturing Terminology
The Age Group
Venturing vs. Boy Scouts
The Adult’s Venturing Philosophy
Male vs. Female
Youth vs. Adult
Program Goals
Methods of Venturing
Experience Areas of Venturing
Uniforming
Adult Leadership Structure
Youth Leadership Structure
Starting a New Crew
Sea Scouting
Open Houses
Recruitment
Do’s & Don’ts
VLSC
Oath & Code
Why Venturing?
Program Planning
Making a Successful Crew
The Venturing Awards
Advising for Awards
Venturing Rendezvous & Revenge
Crew Bylaws
Super Activities
Crew Committee
Venturing Literature & Resources
Membership Statistics

4. Topics I’ll Cover in Detail
Basic Venturing Terminology
The Age Group
Venturing vs. Boy Scouts
The Adult’s Venturing Philosophy
Male vs. Female
Youth vs. Adult
Program Goals
Methods of Venturing
Experience Areas of Venturing
Uniforming
Adult Leadership Structure
Youth Leadership Structure
Starting a New Crew
Sea Scouting
Open Houses
Recruitment
Do’s & Don’ts
VLSC
Oath & Code
Why Venturing?
Program Planning
Making a Successful Crew
The Venturing Awards
Advising for Awards
Venturing Rendezvous & Revenge
Crew Bylaws
Super Activities
Crew Committee
Venturing Literature & Resources
Membership Statistics

5. Topics I’ll Briefly Cover
Basic Venturing Terminology
The Age Group
Venturing vs. Boy Scouts
The Adult’s Venturing Philosophy
Male vs. Female
Youth vs. Adult
Program Goals
Methods of Venturing
Experience Areas of Venturing
Uniforming
Adult Leadership Structure
Youth Leadership Structure
Starting a New Crew
Sea Scouting
Open Houses
Recruitment
Do’s & Don’ts
VLSC
Oath & Code
Why Venturing?
Program Planning
Making a Successful Crew
The Venturing Awards
Advising for Awards
Venturing Rendezvous & Revenge
Crew Bylaws
Super Activities
Crew Committee
Venturing Literature & Resources
Membership Statistics
VEN
327
VEN
337

6. A Disclaimer….Sort Of
This course covers much of the basic information about Venturing
VLST & Fast Start
You will feel overwhelmed and will think this session is moving too quickly…stop me whenever you need.
VLST is a multi-hour course…I’m compressing basic information into 45 minutes!

7. Venturing SAT Analogies (Terminology 101)
Venturing : Boy Scouting : Cub Scouting
Crew : Troop : Pack
Venturer : Boy Scout : Cub Scout
Advisor : Scoutmaster : Cubmaster

8. Who is Venturing For? Young Men and Women
14 (And Completed 8th Grade) – 20 Years Old
Adults of All Ages
Many are younger
Many are not parents of Venturers

9. Venturing vs. Boy Scouts
Venturing is not “advanced co-ed Boy Scouting”
Median age is significantly different (11-13 vs )
Venturing is co-ed
Venturers are in charge (Boy Scouts are often not)
Venturing Can SUPPORT Boy Scouting
We won’t “steal” your boys
Venturing can strengthen your Troop
Venturers can teach advanced skills
Venturers give boys an incentive to remain in the BSA program

10. Retaining Youth in the BSA
Venturing does not “steal” boys from a Troop
If boys leave a Troop for a Crew
You were going to loose them anyway!
A Troop with a strong program will keep boys in BOTH the Troop and Crew
Remember our ultimate goal in Scouting…we’re not here to be selfish
The Scouts in our Troops are not “OURS”

11. The Adult’s Venturing Philosophy
Youth are completely in charge!
Adults often have a problem with this aspect of Venturing, especially if they’ve served for many years as Scoutmaster or Cubmaster.
Stand back and let the youth fail!
It’s all about learning from your successes (and failures).
Boy Scouts have ScoutMASTERS, Cub Scouts have CubMASTERS, Venturing has Advisors
So, the Advisors job is to ADVISE

12. Male vs. Female Issues?
For “Old Scouters,” mixing girls with boys in the Scouting program is “a bad idea!”
To the contrary…
…girls give boys an incentive to stay in the program
…Venturing helps the BSA ideals reach the other 50% of the USA population (girls)

13. Interesting Observations About Girls
Boys often assume they’re “better suited” for the outdoors, but young women usually outperform the boys
The “girls” often take leadership roles more seriously
The girls can keep the boys under control!

14. Male vs. Female Issues?
When organized correctly, the youth of a Crew control themselves
Crew bylaws are your best friend
When youth write the bylaws, they tend to follow them
The Crew should include provisions addressing male/female conflicts and relationships.
When discipline is an issue, Venturers tend to be stricter on their peers than adults.

15. Crew Bylaws The Crew’s constitution Each Crew creates their own bylaws
When the youth write their own bylaws, they’re much more likely to abide by them
Advisors can gently guide the Crew, but should not impose any rules other than those deemed necessary
Crew 951 Constitution.doc

16. Youth vs. Adult Issues?
The Guide to Safe Scouting tells you everything you need
Two deep leadership for co-ed crews
1 male & 1 female
both 21 or older
Separate sleeping quarters (it’s complicated)
“When awake, you’re an adult at 21, when asleep, you’re an adult at 18”

17. Program Goals
To gain practical experience in a special interest, a skill, or leadership
Engage in a program of activities centered on the following areas: social, leadership, fitness, service, outdoor, and citizenship
To experience positive leadership from adults and youth and to have an opportunity to lead others
To learn and grow in a caring environment

18. Methods of Venturing Leadership Group Activities Adult Association
Recognition
The Ideals
High Adventure
Teaching Others

19. Experience Areas of Venturing
Social
Leadership
Fitness
Service
Outdoor
Citizenship

20. Who Charters a Crew?
Any non-profit of for-profit organization or business
“Traditional” BSA Chartering Organizations
Churches, schools, fire companies, etc.
For many Crews, businesses may be the best chartering organization
Specialized resources
Equipment and supplies readily available

21. Crew Specialties Majority are outdoor oriented
General interest not necessarily a good idea
When Crew grows, there may be conflict due to lack of focus in the Crew’s program
Can be almost anything!
Consider the six experience areas of Venturing
Remember the Guide to Safe Scouting
So, you can’t have a sky diving Crew, e.g.

22. Uniforming A Crew’s uniform, if any, is the choice of the Crew
There is a “suggested” uniform offered by BSA National Supply
It’s expensive!
The key is for it to be a “uniform” uniform
Non-BSA uniforms are typically a Crew t-shirt with a standard color/design shorts & pants.

23. Youth Leadership Structure
Crew Cabinet
Crew President
VP for Administration
VP for Program
Secretary
Treasurer
Additional Youth Leadership
Appointed Activity Chairs
Youth Leadership Detail.ppt

24. Adult Leadership Structure
Advisor
Associate Advisors
For Program
For Administration
Others as Needed
Committee Chairperson
Committee Members
Consultants
Adult Leadership Detail.ppt

26. Recruitment Use your Crew Calendar
Your Venturers are the best recruitment tool you have…word of mouth works!
Invite prospective members on Crew outings
BSA Insurance covers prospectives for one time only
Hint…hint…Venturing Rendezvous is April 21-23

27. The “Do’s” of Venturing
Do give your Venturers…
…the resources they want (or don’t know they want)
…the encouragement they need
…ideas and guidance as needed
Do let your Venturers…
…fail every so often
…lead the Crew where they wish
Do treat your Venturers…
…as EQUALS

28. The “Don’ts” of Venturing
Don’t treat your Venturers…
…like overgrown Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts
…like children
…as inferiors or subordinates
Don’t let your Venturers…
…hurt themselves
…do anything illegal

29. VLSC – A Youth Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course
Leadership skills training
Annually conducted by Advisors and outgoing/existing president
Hands-on training
See the VLSC Training Guide

30. The 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.

31. The Venturing Code
As a Venturer, I believe that America’s strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strength, and` traditions of our people.
I will, therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life.
I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it.
I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life.
I will acquire the Venturing attitude that seeks the truth in all things and adventure on the frontiers of our changing world.

32. Why Choose Venturing? The Ideals Leadership Skills & Training Co-Ed
The Awards Program
Customizability
The Insurance

33. The Venturing Awards Bronze Awards Gold Award Silver Award
Outdoor
Sea Scouting
Arts & Hobbies
Youth Ministries
Sports
Gold Award
Silver Award
Ranger Award
Trust Award
Quest Award
Quartermaster Award

34. Awards Scheme.gif

35. Other Venturing Awards
Advisor’s Award of Merit
Venturing Leadership Awards
National, Regional, Council
Young American Award
Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement Award
Quartermaster Award

36. Powder Horn Training Trexler Scout Reservation in Minsi Trails Council
August & September 8-10, 2006
Advanced Skills Resource Training
Fact Sheet – Powder Horn.doc
Flyer – Powder Horn.doc

37. Upcoming NEPA Events 2006 Venturing Rendezvous 2006 Insomniacs Revenge
April Goose Pond Scout Reservation
2006 Insomniacs Revenge
October Goose Pond Scout Reservation
2007 Venturing Rendezvous
Camp Acahela