1. Venturing Leader Specific Training

2. Table of Contents

3. Session 1: Here’s Venturing

4. Small Discussion Groups
What are you looking forward to?
What are you concerned about?

5. BSA Mission Statement
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

6. What does it mean to “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices” and “instill values”?

7. 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.

8. 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.
Recite the Venturing Code
10:10

9. 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.

10. What Is Venturing?

11. Venturing Uniform No universal official uniform
Recommended uniform is:
Spruce green shirt
Green tabs
Gray shorts or casual pants
Uniform, if any, is crew choice

12. Venturing’s Unique Place
(see chart 3, syllabus)
Venturing Crew
Stand-alone unit
Coed, ages 14-20
Varsity Team
Boys, ages 14-17
Scout Troop
Stand-alone unit
Boys, ages 11-17
Venture Patrol
Optional patrol of the troop
Boys, ages 13-17

13. Charter Agreement Chartered organization’s role Venturing crew’s role
BSA local council’s role

14. Venturing Methods Adult association Leadership Recognition Ideals
Group activities
High adventure
Teaching others

15. Nationwide Crew Interests
Eighty-five percent are outdoor oriented.
Eleven percent have a sports and hobbies focus.
Four percent are Sea Scout ships.

16. Advisor’s Responsibilities
Fostering a sense of community
Developing crew officers to lead
Encouraging participation and support among the crew
Upholding standards of the Boy Scouts of America
Protecting young people in the crew from abuse
Ensuring safe activities
Cultivating the Venturing spirit and fun

17. Session 2: Understanding and Protecting Youth

18. What Is the Purpose of Venturing?

19. Adolescent Developmental Issues
Experimentation
Movement from dependence to interdependence
Social relationships
Physiological changes and sexual maturity
Reevaluation of values

20. Understanding Young Adults
What do we notice first about youth?
Size
Behavior
Many times we misjudge based on the above.
It is harder to know what is going on in their heads.

21. Understanding Young Adults
Teenagers deal with opposing emotions.
They fear and crave independence.
They are in a constant struggle for
power / independence.
They want to be unique, but are affected by peer pressure.

22. Leadership Styles for Advisors
Be a mentor.
Be a coach.
Walk your talk.
Understand teen needs for autonomy.
Relate to youth.
Show mutual respect.
Demonstrate conflict management skills.

23. Protecting Our Youth
Guide to Safe Scouting

24. Youth Protection Guidelines: Training for Adult Venturing Leaders
Protecting Our Youth
Video Presentation:
Youth Protection Guidelines: Training for Adult Venturing Leaders

25. Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness
Protecting Our Youth
Video Presentation:
Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness

26. Session 3: Leadership and Organization

27. Venturing Crew Organization
Committee

28. Officers’ Briefing Get officers started quickly.
Brief new officers on current program.
Schedule PCI, AIS, and seminar.
Explain officers’ responsibilities.
Understand the Advisor’s expectations.

29. Venturing Leadership Skills Course
Vision
Communication
Organization
Synergism

30. How to Conduct a Reflection

31. Session 4: Awards and Recognitions

32. B. A. R. S.
Status
Recognition
Achievement
Belonging

33. Venturing Advancement

34. The Advancement Game

35. Silver
Ranger
Quartermaster
General 10 10 10 10 20 20 20 20 30 30 30 30 40 40 40 40

36. Four Levels of Learning
Level 4 —You teach it to someone else.
Level 3 —You experience it.
Level 2 —It is taught to you.
Level 1 —You read it.

37. Consultants Advisors should seek them out.
They play a key role in Venturing.
They have special skills or resources.
They are registered as adult volunteers.
They have no one-on-one involvement.

38. Boards of Review Scout rank must have board of review
Conducted by troop, team, or crew
Three to six committee members
Review, not an exam
Fifteen minutes maximum
Follows council procedures

39. Purposes of Board of Review
Ensure work has been completed
Determine the quality of experience
Encourage advancement to next rank

40. Conducting a Crew Review
Required for Gold and Silver awards
Give completed paperwork to Advisor
Crew president (with Advisor) appoints review committee
Determine the quality of the experience
Send advancement report to council office

41. Venturing Advisor Award of Merit
Recognition for outstanding ability to work with youth
Recipients nominated by crew president and committee chair

42. Session 5: Resources and Program Planning

43. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

44. Crew’s Program Planning Process and the Crew Officer Seminar
Before the seminar
Conduct Program Capability Inventory.
Conduct Activity Interest Survey.
Brainstorm!
During the seminar
Match interests with resources.
Fill in the gaps.
Schedule the activities.
After the seminar
Select chairpersons and adult consultants.
Follow-up is vital: assume nothing!

45. Open House Before the meeting Greeting Hands-on activity/icebreaker
Welcome
What is Venturing and crew purpose
Distribute chart 19, Open House Sample Agenda, to all participants.
The open house has two purposes:
1. Introduce potential new members to your crew.
2. Make the crew feel good about who they are and what they are about.
Briefly review each agenda item on chart 19.

46. Open House About our crew Questions and answers Advisor’s comments
Invitation to join
Hands-on activity again + registration
Refreshments
Cleanup

47. Questions?

48. What’s Next? 90-Day Action Plan
Set specific goals:
Conduct Venturing Leadership Skills Course.
Conduct open house.
Conduct PCI/AIS and make annual plan.
Conduct Youth Protection training.
Committee assemble a consultant list.
Train crew officers.

49. “A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started
“A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and, when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are most important. You can create all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him.”

50. “He will assume control of your cities, states, and nations
“He will assume control of your cities, states, and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations... the fate of humanity is in his hands.”
-Abraham Lincoln