Venturing
The Next Step….
1
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
2
Here’s 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




3
Venturing/Venture
What’s the difference?






Venturing Crew
Stand Alone Unit
Coed, all male, or all female
Ages 14-20
5 Bronze awards, Gold,
Silver, Ranger,Quartermaster
& 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
4
Venturing/Exploring
Venturing





Exploring
Applications
Members
Leadership
Standards by BSA

Oath and Code
Advancement




Rosters
Participants
Leadership Standards by
Participating
Organization
Motto
Awards and Recognition
5
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.
6
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.
7
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
8
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
 Here’s Venturing - Operations Guide
 Recognition Certificates and Awards
 Sea Scout Manual

9
New Videos
Now Available
 Selling
Venturing to the Head of
an Organization
 Briefing the Organizing
Committee
 New Crew Fast Start
10
New Youth Protection Videos
Now Available
 Youth
Protection - Personal
Safety Awareness (for Youth)
 Youth
Protection Training for
Adult Venturing Leaders
11
New Venturing Training
 Venturing
Training
Adult Leader Basic
 Powder
Horn (outdoor skills
training, first course held at
Philmont in September 1999)
12
Venturing Recognition
 Venturing
Leadership Award for
Youth and Adults
 Venturing
Merit
Advisor Award of
13
Venturing Advancement
Silver
Award
Quartermaster
Eagle
Life
Ranger
Award
Gold
Award
Star
Outdoor
Bronze
lst
Class
Previous
Boy Scout or
Varsity Scout
Youth
Ministries
Bronze
Sports
Bronze
Arts and
Hobbies
Bronze
Sea
Scout
Bronze
JOIN
Venturing
14
The New and Exciting
Venturing Ranger
Program



Rangers are elite outdoorsmen
Ranger are required to teach what they’ve
learned to others
Rangers work with their advisor and
consultants
15
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.
16
Ranger Core Requirements








Standard First Aid plus When Help is Delayed
Communications
Cooking
Emergency Preparedness
Land Navigation
Leave No Trace
Wilderness Survival
Conservation
17
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
18
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 couldn’t 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 can’t 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
19
Venturing’s 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
20
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
37%
Boys and Girls Clubs
64
86
34%
Elks Lodge (BPOE)
52
69
33%
Methodist Churches
614
810
32%
Baptist Churches
232
301
30%
Professional Societies
55
71
29%
Business/Industry
706
911
29%
Governmental Bodies
112
143
28%
Public Schools
639
809
27%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------21
Venturing Crews Chartered to
Non-LDS Religious Organizations
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
22
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
organization’s 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
23
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
organization’s 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?
24
25

“I have always considered Venturing, and
especially the Ranger award, to be, in a very
real sense, the ‘college’ of Scouting…Let 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

26
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
27
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
28
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
29
Male Venturers may continue
to 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
30
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
31
Venturing’s Teaching Philosophy
Four levels of learning
Level I  Level II -
You Read it
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.

32
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
33
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 #

34
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”
35
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
36
Seattle, Washington
Joe 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
37
Ankeny, Iowa
Jeff 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.
38
Greensboro, N.C.
Wes Reid- Assistant Scoutmaster-Troop 214
Member 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
39
Alexandria, Virginia
Cooper 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 can’t 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.”
40
Alexandria, Virginia
Cooper 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.”
41
Lincoln, Nebraska
Marge 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.”
42
Palmer, Alaska
Mike 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 didn’t do much camping. In Boy Scouts he went
camping with his friends but didn’t do much high adventure,
Venturing was the next step.
43
Hartford, Connecticut
Michael 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.”
44
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.
45
North Olmsted, Ohio
Erica 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
Scouting’s 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 can’t function to it’s potential.
The COPE experience was THE bonding experience of my life
and I was on a natural high for days.
We’re all now motivated to work as hard as possible in
everything we do, in Venturing, at home or in school.”
46
Fullerton, California
Amanda 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.
“We’re 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.”
47
Knowledge becomes
power only through
organization and use…
Og Mandino
48
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does a Venturer working on Eagle need to be multiple
registered?
2.Can a male Venturer work toward Eagle?
3.Why is silver higher than gold?
4.What is Venturing’s required uniform?
5.Where did you get that shirt?
6.Where do I find advancement requirements?
7.What is difference between Venture & Venturing?
8.How do we get Venturing started in our council or
district?
9.Can a Venturer get past credit & multiple credit?
10. How do I get a copy of this presentation?
49