VEN 107 ppt Understanding the Venturing Program Jeremy

VEN 107. ppt Understanding the Venturing Program Jeremy J. Kuhar jeolin@hotmail. com www. venturing-nepa. com

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

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 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 &

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 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 &

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 Recruitment Do’s & Don’ts VEN VLSC 327 Oath & Code Why Venturing? Program Planning Making a Successful Crew VEN The Venturing Awards 337 Advising for Awards Venturing Rendezvous & Revenge Crew Bylaws Super Activities Crew Committee Venturing Literature &

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

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

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

Venturing vs. Boy Scouts Venturing is not “advanced co-ed Boy Scouting” Median age is significantly different (11 -13 vs. 15 -17) 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

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”

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 Scout. MASTERS, Cub Scouts have Cub. MASTERS, Venturing has Advisors So, the Advisors job is to ADVISE

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)

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!

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 l The Crew should include provisions addressing male/female conflicts and relationships. l When discipline is an issue, Venturers tend to be stricter on their peers than adults.

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

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 l both 21 or older l Separate sleeping quarters (it’s complicated) “When awake, you’re an adult at 21, when asleep, you’re an adult at 18”

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

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

Experience Areas of Venturing Social Leadership Fitness Service Outdoor Citizenship

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Awards Scheme. gif

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

Powder Horn Training Trexler Scout Reservation in Minsi Trails Council August 24 -27 & September 8 -10, 2006 Advanced Skills Resource Training Fact Sheet – Powder Horn. doc Flyer – Powder Horn. doc

Upcoming NEPA Events 2006 Venturing Rendezvous April 21 -23 @ Goose Pond Scout Reservation 2006 Insomniacs Revenge October 6 -8 @ Goose Pond Scout Reservation 2007 Venturing Rendezvous TBA @ Camp Acahela