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In the last few months I've been hearing several rumours of changes in the Venturing uniform, and even had some people contact me for confirmation. At the BSA National Meeting last week, I asked around to try to get a confirmation/denial of them. This is what I was able to find out. * YES, there will be charcoal gray zipoffs coming around August. * NO, the green shirt is not being dropped. * NO, there are no plans at this time to come out with a spruce green version of the current 'centennial shirt'. * NO, there are no plans on changing the shoulder loops for Venturing. (no red loops for Venturing...) As to the last question, on the loops, National really wants to see the red loops go away. Some are apparently not happy that they are still lingering. They've seen some troops where boys are wearing one red and one forest green loops, and people are still trying to obtain red loops. SOOOOO, for those reasons the idea of them bringing back the red loops for Venturing just won't happen, because some Boy Scout types will then just try to keep wearing them.

I should have pointed out that part of the confusion is that the Jamboree Staff Guide sadly ignores the fact that some of the staff are involved in Venturing/Sea Scouts and wear those uniforms. They somehow thing that everyone wears the tan BSA uniform, and its not so. And sadly, some read the guide and think they need to go out and get a tan BSA uniform. YOU DON'T! Those of us involved in Venturing will be wearing the green Venturing uniform. You will see us in several photos from the Jamboree. Further, those involved in Sea Scouts will be wearing the Sea Scout uniform (usually the tan, white or chambray blue as appropriate). There should be a Sea Scout booth manned by Sea Scouts and leaders in sea scout uniforms, and the Venturing Mine exhbit will be staffed by Venturers and adults in the green Venturing uniform. And there will be other venturers and adults in other areas.

Staff members wear the regular uniform that wear at home. NO ONE on staff should be changing their uniform in terms of loops or the like. (ie, we are all put into 'jamboree troops', but no one expects us to put those troop numbers on our uniform, nor should you be wearing gold loops just cause you are on jamboree staff). The green/gray Venturing uniform is a BSA uniform. If you are involved in Venturing back home, wear that uniform at Jamboree. That's what all of us involved in Venturing will be doing. Those involved in venturing do NOT wear the tan uniform. Venturers are specifically prohibited from wearing the tan uniform, and the spruce green loops are NOT to be worn on the tan shirt. If you are only involved with a crew, wear the green shirt with the spruce green loops, CSP, crew numbers, etc. The "Venture" strip has NOTHING to do with Venturing. That strip is for boys involved in their troop's Venture Patrol.

Or get Alton Brown. He did an episode of Good Eats with Dutch Ovens, and apparently filmed an episode or two at one of the scout camps near Atlanta (sorry, don't know what episode).

Sorry, but a Roundtable Commissioner should have ZILCH to say about the scheduling of the District Camporee. That should be the decision of the District Camping Committee. Maybe someone should have reminded him of what his actual duties are?

New and exciting? Hmmmm. Supply had a lot of 2010 items on display that don't become available until August. One item is a 2010 Anniversary patch that's a ring to go around the World Crest. (most people don't understand that annivesary items are only to be worn during the anniversary year and taken off, so am sure many people will never take them off). They are coming out with 3 Tom Clark scout gnomes that run $200-300. Most of the booths seemed geared to 'pushing' the new BSA (or is explaining?). They are also making a big push on protecting the 'BSA Brand' by ensuring that everyone follows the rules regarding the logos (proper use, colors, etc). Info on World Jamboree 2011 was given, even a brochure on it. Info on 2010 National, with info on proper formats for jamboree CSPs (no oversized ones, 4 shapes allowed, if you want to use the 2010 logo, must be a certain size and location, no jambo logo), etc. They are rolling out a new National Youth Leadership Society (see my posting over in Venturing). Full info will go to the pros at the Top Hands meeting in August. (info was given at an elective session with no handouts...) There is a new Scouting/Baseball promotion with Major League Baseball. 2 new merit badges will be coming out in 2010: Scuba & GPS. No work on requirements, they are being worked, but they did show the designs (who knows if those will change). Alvin Townley has a new book on Eagle Scouts. He was there signing copies.

"$100 to process an application." No. $100 to cover the cost of the certificate, pocket card, recognition item (lapel pin or necklace), and shadow frame for the certificate and 2 pictures (formal and informal). (shadow boxes for Eagle, etc cost $50). The local councils are to recognize these kids in a formal setting and do a press release, have a wall of honor for honorees, etc. I assume National will have info on their website. Whether they will list all recepients on-line I don't know.

"NYLT, NAYLE and Trainers EDGE for starters. Perhaps a stint staffing NYLT. I'm not sure what else. The only other "leadership" courses available are OA but LLD and NLS are not on par with NYLT." I would expect TLT, NYLT, maybe NAYLE, and Trainers EDGE. AFAIK, most councils run Trainers EDGE as an adult-only training. Wonder how they will handle dealing with Boy Scouts and Venturers wanting to take it??? I won't think LLD and NLS should be added. LLD varies greatly. NLS is a top-level course, but there is a limit to how many can take it (which is why I am a little leary of adding in NAYLE). We'll see what they announce next year.

Sea Scouts ARE still Venturers. I confirmed this at the meeting. I think the intention was to create more 'sea scouty' training for them, rather then expect them to do Kodiak & Kodiak-X. Personally, I don't see why they need to do that. VLSC, Kodiak, and Kodiak-X can all be done by and for Sea Scouts as is. I could see changing so of the items for Kodiak to give it a more 'sea flavor', but the basic syllabus is valid for both. Problem is, for Sea Scouts, is they really don't have a separate set of training courses. SEAL has 'issues' that preclude it being used as a requirement for NYLS. I had a discussion with my Region's Commodore about this, and he explained is take on SEAL. So we'll see.

"Until they open up the Innovation Engine to volunteers, there is a version for volunteer input on the Scouting Community at myScouting.org. " I asked the people running the Innovation Engine booth. There are no plans to open it up to volunteers. Mainly because they just don't have the manpower to do so. ALL the items posted there are reviewed and answered by the staff. Its not quite the same as a forum where people are just discussing things amoung themselves. They noted there is the forum at myScouting.org. But to be honest, I haven't used it much as I don't find it very easy to use.

"Who gets to go to the National Meeting? Is it open to any member who wishes to attend?" Its mainly the council bigwigs. The Council President, Council Commissioner, and Council Exec are all supposed to go. Other council leaders should also go. Rank and file, not really. As noted, you need to get approved to go.

This past week I was at the BSA National Meeting, and attended a session on the new National Youth Leadership Society. This is new name for the concept that has been in the works for the last couple of years as the National Venturing Leadership Honor Society or the like. This is what I found out from this meeting. The purpose of the National Youth Leadership Society (NYLS) is to legitimize the leadership training our youth receiving in scouting such that they can add it to college applications, job applications, and the like. (which was always the purpose of the NVLS as it was explained to me over a year ago) At present, there are a set of requirements for Venturers. They plan on putting together separate sets of requirements for Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts by next year. Full info will be giving out to the professionals at the Top Hands meeting in August. For Venturers, they must take the following courses: VLSC Kodiak Kodiak-X Mentoring Trainers EDGE Mentoring is a new course that will be rolled out in August. Trainers EDGE is the new version of Trainers Development Conference and will be used to prepare both youth and adult trainers (this is a change, as its always been run as adult training). Once the youth have completed these courses, there is a nomination form that is filled out and certificated by the council. A $100 fee is submitted to National, and in return there will be send a certificate, pocket card, and recognition item (either lapel pin or the emblem on a chain). It is intended that the certificate, along with a formal and informal photos be framed and presented AND that a wall of honor or the like be established in the council office to list all these youth. The youth should have this presented to them at an appropriate venue (Council Banquet or the like). It is not intended that the NYLS have any function beyond that. It's not a competition with Corps of Discovery or the like. Funny thing is that during the session, the question of an honor society came up, and the CoD was mentioned (tho not by name). Some seem to think Craig Murray created it (he didnt). And one lady seemed to feel that she had to mention that his council doesnt approve it (so what?). I am hoping that this NYLS will cause an increase in the number of Kodiak & Kodiak-X courses. I dont like the idea of having a set of requirements for Boy Scouts. I liked the idea of the NYLS being a Venturing-only thing (I include Sea Scouts in that group). Opening it up to Boy Scouts takes away an incentive for former Scouts to join Venturing

"I'll be there. emb021, what booth?" APO. I'm told we're in the back, next to the "Red Arrow" stuff, which is the high-end OA collectibles.

I'll be there helping man an info booth in the exhibits area. I hope to be able to touch base with certain people and hopefully get some questions answered.

Actually, the Jamboree is about a 2 week event. Longer for some staffers. But, yeah, its not quite like its happening every year even.

"Ventures wear a dark green uniform shirt" The term you are looking for is "venturers", not "ventures" or "venture" or the like. Back to your question. IF (big if) they do come out with a new dark green shirt, the current dark green shirt will still be valid. Once a uniform always a uniform. Just because the BSA came out with this new 'centennial uniform' doesn't meet that people have to chuck the prior one and more then they had to chuck the old 'green-khaki' uniform when the Oscar DeLarent uniform came out. Because of several rumors floating around about Venturing uniforms, I am hoping to get some answers at the BSA National Meeting this week.

Since there isn't an 'old dark green venture shirt', I have no idea. Will the BSA come out with a new dark green Venturing shirt? Prehaps. It may be based on how much stock there is in the current Venturing shirt AND they know how quickly they are sold such that a new version is doable.

It helps if you go to the top level of my site: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/8826 ALL of the different Explorer logos of the different program eras as there, as I cover the Explorer Scout program, Explorer program of the 50s, Exploring program of the 60, and later Explorer program of the 70s thru 90s.

Regarding editions of the Fieldbook. There have been four so far. First came out in 50s Second came out in 1967. This is the one I grew up with. Third came out in 1984. Fourth came out in 2004. Most people believe the first edition was the best, with the second a close second. I have all 3, and find the first 2 better.

Considering the current edition came out in 2004, I find it hard to believe they are doing a new edition. I think we would have heard something.

A regular item in Boys' Life magazines of the 40s and 50s was info on carving different neckerchief slides. There were several companies (Neal, Torchy, etc) who made a variety of nice molded plastic slides for scouts to paint and wear.

Have to agree with Tokala regarding restrict registration. But then, we Florida Lodges try to get as many as possible to attend our Section Conferences, whereas in other sections, those events are usually limited to a select few. As to cost. As staff I had to pay $400 to attend. I assume the same cost is what the boys pay. So anything above that is the contingent fees for travel and such. I was able to get airline tickets for $200, which was ok.

Those of us in the Florida OA section have done a lot of research on the clothing of the florida seminole. You can see a lot of our research here: http://www.nativetech.org/seminole/index.html If you can, try coming to our Section Seminars in November, as we usually have many sessions on Seminole Men's Clothing. Also, join the SoutheasternCulture group at Yahoo Groups for more info (pictures, etc)

this topic keeps coming up every so often. As has been pointed out, parents (and other concerned adults) can NOT be turned away from viewing any OA ceremonies. However, they should NEVER be encouraged to attend. We do NOT want OA ceremonies turned into the equivalent of graduation ceremonies, etc. We don't need mom & dad & little siblings and grandma and auntie there to view Little Jimmy at his Ordeal Ceremony. The reason we allow certain non-members to view the ceremonies is NOT to 'share in the experience with their child' or some such, but to allay they fears about what goes on during OA ceremonies. And this should be the last result in dealing with this issue. The prefered method is that if they have concerns about the ceremony, they be allowed to read the ceremony materials. If that doesn't satisfy them, then they can view, with the understanding they stay outside the ceremony and do not disturb it.

I recommend you get some of your more active Venturers to be involved in the planning of Venturing events. Don't leave it to the adults. You might be surprised. Some Venturers don't care for competative events, other like it. So prehaps a mixture of both would work. My council's annual Venturee has a mixture of different competative events, all planned and carried out by the Venturers. So maybe get with your council VOA, challenge them with something along the lines of each crew come up with an event to man. Some things we've done: volleyball four way tug of war geocaching challenges of the type of 'get from point a to point b' using certain items. low cope events tomahawk toss You could also add in other things like say a video challenge (crews or venturers produce a 5 minute video on 'what it venturing all about' or something similiar, these are brought and judged), displays on some them (what our crew does, etc.) take a look at some of the venturing events out there and what they do as activities, and see what is workable at your site. hope that helps. I know we face the same thing, but we have a multi-council camporee next year with venturing activities, so we'll have to do the same.