1. Venturing / Priest Breakout April 2007
Building a fun, Priesthood centered activity program for Priesthood quorums
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2. Challenges of Priest-Age Boys 16-17
The Priest age is a “turning point” of life for young men.

3. Characteristics of a Priest-age boy 16–17
Physical
Pronounced bodily developments
Increase in strength and reaction
Wants more formal team activities and participates in group sports; looking for group acceptance
Desires more Challenge & Risk (High Adventure)

4. Characteristics of a Priest-age boy 16–17
Mental
Ability to think abstractly, to set goals, and plans for his future
Begins to question the world around him
Desires to develop character and personality

5. Characteristics of a Priest-age boy 16–17
Spiritual
Begins to define one’s self in terms of opinions, beliefs and values
Challenge of authority, and even doctrine
Pulls away from family and looks for other mentors or adults
A church study several years ago found that parents have the greatest impact on 12 and 13 year old boy in how he behaves and exercises his agency. However, as young men approach 15 and 16 and grow toward manhood, major influence in his life becomes his leaders and his peers – particularly his YM leaders.

6. Inactivity Rate Among Priests
We are losing more youth to inactivity:
1-11 yrs old (-28%) = 72%
11-13 yrs old (-4%) = 68%
13-15 yrs old (-18%) = 50%
15-17 yrs old (-8%) = 42%

7. Priest’s Quorum Activity Challenges
Many Priest Quorum’s struggle with quality mutual night activities.
Their view of “Scouting” is, merit badges, wearing the uniform, pressure from parents to earn Eagle, etc.
They feel that mutual is less important because they no longer want to pursue Scouting ranks.
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8. Vitalizing the Priest’s Quorum?
Given the characteristics and challenges facing Priest-age young men, what can we do as leaders to make sure that our voices remain louder than Satan’s?
What do we really want to have happen in the lives of our young men of age 16 and 17 ?
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9. Goal of the Priest’s Quorum?
Retain the Active
Reclaim the Less Active
Grow the Quorum
What can we do as Leaders to help the quorum accomplish these goals?
Answer: Help YM Have Spiritual Experiences Through a STRONG ACTIVITY PROGRAM!
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10. Aaronic Priesthood Activity Program for Priests
If you build it—they will come!
I f you don’t—they will go elsewhere.

11. President David O. McKay
“The spirituality of a ward will be commensurate with the activity of the youth of that ward.”

12. Activities
“Aaronic Priesthood activities should strengthen testimonies and foster personal growth. They should be based on the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. They also should provide opportunities to apply the principles taught in Sunday quorum meetings and feel support in living them.”
General Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, p. 186.

13. How do we vitalize the Priests Quorum?
Through a Fun, Priesthood-Centered Activity Program in the Priests Quorum which Includes Venturing.

14. A Laboratory for Applying Gospel Principles
Section 2:
Venturing –
A Laboratory for Applying Gospel Principles

15. Venturing for Priest’s Quorum?
When properly applied, [Venturing] acts as a laboratory for boys with dedicated leaders serving as trained laboratory instructors, monitoring and encouraging the application of the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood by providing action experiences that appeal to quorum members.
“On My Honor”, Thane Packer pg.10
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16. Why Venturing? Remember the 5 Steps of Learning Process Exposure
Repetition
Understanding
Conviction
APPLICATION
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17. Venturing for Priest’s Quorum?
Application
There are action limitations in whatever we try to teach on Sunday. We do better when our Sunday lessons are fortified, through the experience of doing at another place and time. This is where Venturing becomes the laboratory for Aaronic Priesthood holders.
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18. Venturing for Priest’s Quorum?
What is Venturing?
How does it differ from Boy Scouts?
How does it meet the challenges of the Priest-age boys?
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19. Venturing for Priests
Venturing is a activity program, tailored exactly to the needs and interests of 16 – 18 year olds.
It was designed to meet the needs of Priest-age young men while achieving the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood.
Venturing resources blended with Duty To God requirements can provide the structure and focus to help year-old young men prepare for missions and adult life.

20. Have we forgotten anything?

21. FUN!

22. Venturing Methods Adult Association Leadership Recognition Ideals
Group Activities (FUN)
High Adventure (More FUN)
Teaching Others

23. Venturing is Flexible
Every Priest Quorum is unique. Venturing is flexible; it can be tailored to each quorum’s needs.
Venturing does not have a required uniform.
Young men can decide if they want to work on Venturing awards, or decide not to work on the awards at all.

24. Recognition & Awards
5 Different Bronze Award Programs (LDS Religious Life, Outdoor, Sports, Sea Scouting, and Arts)
LDS Religious Life Bronze Award is based on Duty to God
Gold & Silver Awards
Ranger Award (High Adventure Program)

25. Leadership Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course
Created to help teach young men leadership skills
Modeled after BYU Leadership Course
Teaches young men vision, communication, listening, organization, planning, delegation, teamwork, trust, group problem solving and leadership styles.

26. How to Get Started
Don’t announce in Priesthood Meeting or Mutual that there is a new program called Venturing and we’re going to do it.
Do meet with one of the young men that is a leader. Without a sales pitch let him borrow a Ranger Guidebook. Ask him to look at it and report back in a week what he thinks.
Don’t assume the young men want to earn Venturing awards.
Do assume that the young men want to have fun with their friends.
Don’t say, do you want to work on the Outdoor Bronze Award?
Do ask them to choose from a list of over twenty outdoor activities the 4-6 they would like to do.

27. How to Get Started Purchase the following:
Venturing Leader Manual, No C
Venturing Leadership Skills Course, No A
Venturing Handbook, No 33493
Ranger Guidebook, No. 3128A
Total cost approximately $27

28. How to Get Started

29. Get Trained Fast-Start (grandcanyonbsa.org)
Youth Protection (grandcanyonbsa.org)
Monthly Roundtable
Specific Leader Training (Sept. 10, 2005)
Woodbadge

31. Organize Crew

32. Program Capability Inventory

33. Venturing Interest Survey

37. Planning Worksheet Week #1 Activity___________________
Our Monthly Activity plan
Week #1
Activity___________________
Priesthood purposes
(1.)______________________
(2.)______________________
Duty to God
Youth activity chair:________________
Adult advisor:_____________________

38. Crew Officer’s Seminar Agenda

39. Cooperative Games

40. Problem-Solving Initiative Games

41. How to buy a car

42. Job Interview

43. Job Interview

44. Crew / Priests Quorum Integration
First, make sure that Priests Quorum 1st & 2nd Assistant are TRAINED in their Duties and are actively having Quorum Presidency Meetings
Second, make sure that the Crew President is Trained in his responsibilities and is leading the Crew (under the direction of the Bishop)

45. Crew / Priests Quorum Integration
The Venturing Unit must not operate independent of the quorum.
Planning for Crew is done during Priests Quorum Presidency Meeting
“Venturing is part of the Quorum Presidency’s responsibilities. Each scout unit should have a … Crew President who is nominated by the bishopric and sustained by quorum members. This leader is usually the quorum president [1st Assistant].” (LDS Scouting Handbook, pg. 3)
“At least once each month, after the foregoing matters have been considered, the quorum presidency meeting is used to make plans for the quorum’s scout unit. If youth and adult leaders are not already present, they are invited to the meeting at this time.” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2 –Section 2, pg )

46. Section 3:
Duty to God

48. Elder Hales
“I promise you that your achievement of the Duty to God Award will provide you with a living testimony that will sustain you throughout your life.”

49. Duty to God
“The Duty to God program helps young men accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. It helps them develop skills and attributes that are needed to succeed in life.”

50. Importance of Monthly Outings
Application
There are action limitations in whatever we try to teach on Sunday. We do better when our Sunday lessons are fortified, through the experience of doing at another place and time. This is where Scouting becomes the laboratory for Aaronic Priesthood holders.

52. Duty to God and Venturing
Many Venturing requirements can fulfill goals and requirements of the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God Program.
So run a consolidated program!
“On my honor, I will do my best to do my Duty to God…”
Slide Source: Modifications: Ray Walker, Orem Utah Timpview Stake, Aug Design: Robert Raymond.
Clipart from youth materials on lds.org.

53. Duty To God & Scouting If you plan carefully…
You can accomplish many Duty to God Requirements through Venturing.
Venturing/Duty to God Mapping Docs at:
LDS Venturing Guide

54. Example Consolidated Program
Quorum Activity Plan
Example Consolidated Program
Deacon Quorum Activity Plan
Month
Lesson/Activity
Achievement
JAN
Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood/First Aid
Quorum Lesson #22
Mutual: Basic first aid skills
PDS-2
ED-5
Quorum Lesson #1
Mutual: First aid
QA-1, 4
Quorum Lesson #2
Mutual/Combined YM/YW: Frisbee Golf
SD-4
CSD-4
Quorum Lesson #15
CSD-1
First aid merit badge
Campout: Snow camp, survival skills, snow shelters.
PD-7
FEB
Testimony of Christ/Physical Fitness
Quorum Lesson #38
Mutual: Physical Fitness
PDS-10
PD-2
Quorum Lesson #5
Mutual:Physical Fitness
SD-1,2
Physical Fit. MB
Quorum Lesson #6
Mutual/Combined YM/YW: Youth Olympics
CSD-2, 9, 11
Campout: Physical activities, run 1¼ miles, relay race
PD-1, 7, 8
Slide Source: Ray Walker, Orem Utah Timpview Stake, Aug Design: Robert Raymond.

55. Tracking Duty to God Variety of tools and approaches
Individual vs. group
Vertical vs. horizontal
Formats
Printed (PDF)
Document file
Excel spreadsheet
Stored on Web (DutyToGod.org)
Handouts show examples

56. Role of Parents
Parents have the primary responsibility to help your sons succeed.
Become familiar with the guidebooks and review them with your sons.
Help them set and accomplish goals.
Talk with them about their progress, compliment their efforts and sign completed goals.

57. Role of Parents, Leaders, Quorum Pres.
Conduct Role Play – New Quorum Member Visit

58. Other Duty to God Ideas
Conduct Semi-annual Duty to God Firesides with Parents.
Use FHE as a tool to fulfill Duty to God
Read Letter to Elder Dellenbach on Duty to God