Youth Venturing Advancement Area 5 Conference February 21, 2011

Presentation Objectives 1.Provide an overview of Venturing recognition 2.Show that a good advancement program strengthen and benefits council Venturing youth and its Venturing organization 3.Demonstrate the important role that advancement plays in the crew’s program 4.See that advancement is not intended as a process of amassing shiny awards 5.Provide glimpses of both the bottom-up view and top-down view of advancement

Outline A.The Aims and Methods of Venturing B.The Method of Advancement C.Advancement Program Basic advancement Expert-level awards Additional advancement opportunities D.Advancement Strategies E.Conclusion

The Aims and Methods of Venturing

Venturing BSA Program Venturing is a youth development program of the BSA for young men and women who are 13 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age Launched in 1998, it has traditions in the Explorer Program, but it is not the “Senior Scouts” of the 1950s and 60s, nor is it the “career awareness” posts of the 1980s Local Resources Community organizations are to establish Venturing crews by matching their people and resources to the interests of youth scouting.org

Purpose and Intended Outcome Purpose Provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults Intended Outcome Venturing to provide exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens scouting.org

Venturing Aims and Methods Target improvements: Aims of the BSA Build character, develop citizenship, and foster personal fitness Way to hit the target: Methods of Venturing Leadership Group activities Adult association Recognition (through advancement) The ideals (Venturing Oath and Code) High adventure Teaching others

Recognition Method Goal of advancement is to: Provide a pathway for personal development Encourage Venturers to learn, grow, and serve Recognize the high level of achievement of Venturers who acquire Venturing skills Develop a training, leadership, and program resource for other Venturers, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, organizations, and the community Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures, 2009

Advancing = Progress in personal growth In short

Personal Growth is the Prime Consideration in Advancement Venturing advancement: Is achieved as a result of a youth’s participation in his or her crew program Is measured by how youth live the Venturing ideals within their daily lives We know advancement is occurring when: 1.There is learning by doing 2.It is educational and fun 3.Youth progresses at his or her own rate Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures, 2009

Advancement occurs whether or not patches and metals are bestowed To foster personal growth, the BSA does provides an awards framework in support of the crew’s program

A Recognition System Supports the Crew’s Program Venturing awards offer a framework of requirements and recognition that supports to every crew Provide a good crew program, advancement will naturally follow Advancement requirements are a good way to: Jumpstart a new crew Add substance and spice when things get stale Acquire new crew consultants and engage adult leaders This is the purpose of published requirements and awards

The Method of Advancement

By Choice of Venturers The Venturing advancement program is available to all youth Venturing members of the BSA Recognition is available to those crews that choose to pursue Venturing advancement Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures, 2009

Uniform is Optional The recommended uniform for Venturers 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

Types of Youth Venturing Awards Learned skills (earned) Honor (nominated) Basic advancement Expert- level Additional opportunities for crews and individuals Exceptional service (heroism) Leadership (VLA)

Venturing Skills Advancement Basic Advancement A progression of three awards where youth acquire Venturing skills, achieve goals, and lead and teach others Expert-level Awards Recognition of elite proficiency in specific Venturing skills Unfinished Eagle Trail Males who are First Class or above and are not yet 18 - this is not the primary focus Basic Advancement Expert-level Awards If unfinished

Advancement Program

Venturing Requirements Venturing requirements and details are documented in official BSA manuals Online resources include: Meritbadge.org Usscouts.org Scouting.org

Credit Requirements Past Credit If requirements were completed previous to being registered as a Venturer, then they must be redone to satisfy a Venturing award Exception exists for:  Standard First Aid  Wilderness First Aid  Sports First Aid/ First Aid for Coaches  EMS training  CPR certification Multiple Credit Many awards have overlapping requirements within Venturing and for those dual registered in Boy Scouting Venturers may apply requirement credit to multiple awards Multiple credit does not apply to tabletop displays or presentations Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures, 2009

Role of Crew Leadership Crew leadership help advance members The Vice President - Program responsible for a crew’s program Activity chairs plan specific program events for the crew The Vice President - Administration manages the recognition of crew members To advance, youth should seek to become Activity chair or crew leaders Den Chief or Den Leader Leaders in school, church or other volunteer organizations

Council-level Sponsoring of or Promoting Activities that Support Venturing Advancement Training Examples Leadership ILSC (formerly VLSC), NYLT, NAYLE, Kodiak Power Horn (Ranger and more training) COPE instructor training Wilderness First Aid Activity Examples Venturing Olympiad Climbing trips Philmont treks Venturing resident camp High adventure promotions CSI Day - local police dept. Out all night - teen city tour