emb021

My council does it once a year. It helps to have a copy (or access to) the Leadership Training (#34169) so you can site the training that exists for different positions, etc. The training is: District Committee Training Workshop #34160B (current one may have a different or no letter)

Final Venturing knot: #40 Venturing Leadership Award gray knot on green/red/blue background Knot is for the Venturing Leadership Award, given to youth and adults for Service/leadership to Venturing/Sea Scouting at three levels, signified by the color of the ribbon of the medal: * blue- council * green- Region * red- national You are supposed to put a miniture Venturing or Sea Scout pin on the background color to indicate which VLA (1, 2 or 3) you have received.

You become an adult at 21. Advancement stops. You can not hold a youth office (in fact, you should not be allowed to run for office if you will turn 21 during that time. This is rules for Regional/National offices, both Venturing and OA). The thing about being on the crew roster mearly means that when the Venturer turns 21 they don't have to immediately pay a new registration fee as an adult, but can wait until charter renewal. But the idea that they 'remain a youth' is false.

#28 Silver Antelope knot with white and yellow threads #29 Silver Buffalo knot with white and red threads This completes the set made up of Silver Buffalo, Antelope, Buffalo, and World. Silver Antelope is the Regional award, for Regional service. Silver Buffalo is the National award, for National service. This award is ALSO given to non-scouters of a national prominence for their 'service to youth'. This has been given to authors, artists, politicians, and the like.

Venturing: National Venturing Youth Cabinet: http://www.nationalventuringyouthcabinet.org/ Central: www.crventuring.org Northeast: www.nerventuring-bsa.org Southern: www.srventuring-bsa.org Western: www.wrventuring-bsa.org (these are ALL official, btw). Sea Scouts. National: http://www.seascout.org/ Central- http://www.crventuring.org/Program_Pages/Sea_Scouting/ Northeast- http://neregion.seascout.org/ Southern- http://sregion.seascout.org/ Western- http://wregion.seascout.org/ (AFAIK, these are all official, as the Regional Commodores & Boatswains are involved with them)

By and large we as volunteers have little interest in the Regions. The Regions (which are further subdivided into Areas) are there to help out the councils. There are various Regional level volunteers and professionals that set goals and assist the councils with a variety of things. Certain training for the councils are done at the Regional levels, such as Wood Badge Course Director Conferences, Powder Horn CDC, and Kodiak/Kodiak X CDCs. As mentioned before, the National Camping Schools are run at the Regional levels. Because there are no Regional or Area events, by and large, most are unaware of the Regions. There are, however, OA Section Conclaves/Conferences, and Sea Scout Regional events and a few Venturing Area or Regional events, but these are rare. So if you are a unit-level volunteer, unless you are involved in stuff like the above, its not a big thing. Actually, the Southern Region has only recently (within the last 6 months) gotten a website, so do feal so deprived.

#17 Community Organization Award gold knot on purple. This knot represents one of several awards given by Community Orgs that are National Partners with the BSA. These awards are approved by the BSA, and follow a basic requirements criteria, but they are owned/managed by the Community Org. Similiar to the Religious Award knots, except that the BSA is specific about what awards are part of this. So far, this knot represents the following awards: *Marvin M. Lewis Award of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) *Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award *Veterans of Foreign Wars Scouter's Achievement Award *American Legion Scouting Square Knot Award *Department of DefenseUnited States Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal *Herbert G. Horton Alpha Phi Omega Youth Service Award of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity *Cliff Dochterman Award of the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians *Ruritan Scout Leader Community Service Award of Ruritan National Service Clubs *Raymond A. Finley, Jr. Sea Scout Service Award of the United States Power Squadrons

"#9 Scoutmasters Key Green and White knot with green backing" Actually, its now the Scouter's Key, and is just a green and white knot. The background cloth is not important, and was available on khaki, forest green, white, and navy for Scoutmasters, Advisors, and Skippers. Its now only available on tan, tho you can get 'repros' on green, white, and navy. "#10 Silver Beaver Blue and White knot With tan backing" The Silver Beaver knot was also once available on forest green, white, and navy. Again, you have to go elsewhere for those.

"> #4 NESA Outstanding Scoutmaster - white knot on khaki background" "Sorry that is the Scoutmaster Award of Merit. The same knot is also used for the Varsity Scout Coach Award of Merit and the Venturing Advisor Award of Merit." Well, he's actually correct. Its the NESA Scoutmaster Award of Merit Award. Early on, the NESA connection was dropped. Only later was it extended to Varsity Scout Coaches and Venturing Advisors. "And, no, I don't know why there is not one for the Cubmaster or Skipper. " well, a Sea Scout Skipper IS a Venturing Advisor, so that would work. Only problem is the requirements for the Venturing Advisor version speaks of the Venturing Silver Award program and not the Sea Scout Advancement program.

"#5 Eagle, Red, White, and Blue on a Kahaki background (has been produced on other background colors such as white, black, and green)" Not quite. It was first produced on khaki, forest green, white, and navy blue. While never officially made on sky blue, others have done so. Later produced only on tan. (current uniforms) Others now supply 'repros' on green, white, and navy.

"Good luck with the Explorer Silver Award knot: it has been used for at least four different awards. " Oh? Which awards? I am aware of: * Explorer/Air Explorer Silver Award * Explorer Achievement Award * Explorer G.O.L.D. Award * Explorer Scout Ranger Award (when its unique knot was dropped early one) * Air Scout/Air Explorer Ace Award (again, when its unique knot was dropped early on) I've ran into Scouters who claimed it is also allowed for the Explorer Leadership Awards (which became the Venturing Leadership Awards), but I have NEVER seen any evidence to that.

When you serve on staff for National events like NOACs and Jamboree, it says in the applications that you must have 'recent' YPT. That is what it's said for years. Recent is never defined. If one does SSD or SA training on-line, the cards clearly state how long the training is valid for (2 years). Not so with the training cards for YPT.

"Venturing specific YP training is not online." Which training are you speaking of? The YPT specific to Venturing adults IS on-line. It's at the On-line Learning Center, along with the generic YPT for other scout leaders. NONE of the YPT aimed at youth are on-line. As to this question: "Where a BSA national source suggest YPG should be renewed." I've asked for this for years and have yet to see this. When it comes to attending National events like Jamboree or NOAC, adults are told to have 'recent' YPT. How recent is not stated (1 year? 2? 3?). Before the availability of the on-line training, it was a bit more problematic for some to get 'recent' YPT. But it would be nice to see a more consistant policy.

Get a copy of the Insignia Guide. National and World Jamborees are worn above the right pocket, as is the Venture strip (for Venture Patrols), Varsity strip (for Varsity Scout Teams) and interpreter strips. NYLT patches, like many patches, are worn ON the right pocket. Best rule of thumb is, if a position is not specified, it goes on the right pocket. BTW, the insignia guide is now on-line: http://www.scouting.org/pubs/33066/

If a CO wants to have something to indicate the CO that all the members of the unit will wear, there are better methods of doing so then putting a patch in the place reserved for Jamboree patches or unique shoulder loops. Several National COs have such patches. They are ALL worn as temporary insignia on the right pocket. (btw, I have seen a 'Legion Boy Scout' patch. A unit in my state wears such, but do so on the right sleeve, making it a little difficult to wear quality patches. I wouldn't put it there, but better then then other locations)

"They can, if they wish, also wear the particpant kneckerchief after they complete their ticket with their leather woggle and beads. I wear mine as a working kneckerchief if I am going to be doing something that I might not want to get my mauve dirty." I have to say 'huh?' I don't know of anyone who, after earning their beads, would wear the participant neckerchief again unless they had to. When I staffed WB, all the staff wore the participant neckerchief during the course. If I am doing something that I might get my WB neckerchief dirty, I would just not wear a neckerchief. Most people in my area only wear their WB neckerchiefs at formal occasions. The 'tradition' is that one would wear your unit neckerchief, and only wear your WB neckerchief as needed.

"When questioned on the "accuracy" of what he was doing, he said show me in printing where it says I cant wear all three." the problem with his attitude is that the Insignia Guide by and large is NOT written toward what you CAN'T wear (or who CAN'T wear) something. 99% of the Guide is written to who CAN wear something, and WHEN/WHERE it can be worn. So. If you COULD wear multiple loops, it would say so. Also, someone could write a letter to Scouting magazine for clarification...

"what guidelines have you ever seen for wearing the all-tartan necker given to WB21C course participants -prior- to receiving their beads? "I've seen them worn to district meetings and events from time to time, but never really saw or heard any guidance on when not to wear them when I took my course. Can it still be worn by someone who took the course but never received their beads? " The practice is that the WB Participant should continue to wear the participant neckerchief (the all-tartan one you speak of) until they have completed their ticket and earned their beads. At that point, the participant neckerchief will be removed and replaced with the WB neckerchief, woggle and beads. Around here you see people continue to wear the participant neckerchief until beading.

Many people make and give away turks head knot neckerchief slides. Nothing wrong with that. So long as you don't make them out of leather thong such that someone would think them a Wood Badge Woggle, have at it.

The Leadership Training booklet lists all the training awards and their requirements. All of the forms are also on the National website in the forms directory: http://www.scouting.org/forms/ you want these: Progress Record for the Tiger Cub Den Leader Award Progress Record for the Cub Scout Den Leader Award Progress Record for the Webelos Den Leader Award Progress Record for the Cubmaster Award Progress Record for the Cub Scouter Award Progress Record for the Boy Scout Leader''s Training Award Scoutmaster Progress Record for the Scoutmaster''s Key Varsity Scout Leader Progress for the Coach''s Key and Varsity Scout Leader Training Award Varsity Scout Leader Letter Scorecard Venturing Leader Progress Record Roundtable/Huddle Staff Progress Record for the Scouter''s Training Award Roundtable/Huddle Commissioner Progress Record for the Arrowhead Honor/Commissioner Key District and Assistant District Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Key/Arrowhead Honor Award Unit Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Key/Arrowhead Honor Award Progress Record for the District Committee Key Plus the nomination form for the Scoutmaster Award of Merit and the Advisor Award of Merit.

I read the original article in "Outside" magazine about this kid and what happened to him. (the author would later turn this into the book, which I never read). Alex struck me as someone who foolish put himself in danger, and sadly paid the price. I recently read a followup article on the matter in National Geographics "Adventure" magazine, which spoke of the then upcoming movie, the research into the book, his parents, etc. I''m reminded about the guy who got trapped in the wilderness and had to cut off a limb (leg or arm, can''t recall) and wrote a book about it recently. I recall how others spoke of him needless putting himself in danger. Thus this was more of a terrible tragedy that befell someone, and more of something that might have been avoided had this guy not done stupid things...

"I''''ve seen similar issues come up with some of the LDS troops -- some stake presidents and bishops don''''t want women involved in Scouting except in a cooking/cleaning type role, while other stakes don''''t seem to have a problem with them serving as CC''''s, ASM''''s, etc. " Well, not to justify it, but you need to understand that how the LDS uses Scouting is a little different. The LDS very much segregates their youth by gender. Thus they only want male leaders for their scout troop, their Venturing Crews are male-only, etc. I''ve heard that they seem to have issues with bringing their scout troop to events were there will be female leaders (this may vary from stake to stake, I assume), and its near impossible to get them to allow their Venturing Crews to associate with other crews in a council (due to the co-ed issue). Now, if you''re dealing with a non-LDS troop, that''s a different matter.

"Does completing a basic degree at "commissioners college" count as being "trained" as a unit commissioner?" No. Basic training for commissioners has been established by National. Attending commissioners college is looked upon as supplemental training.

"the various "Highlights" booklets" Actually, the various Highlights booklets are no more. They''ve put them all into one single book. Sorry, can''t tell you the title or doc #. Saw it in my local scout shop recently.

Really hard to answer that question. There are many Commissioner College programs out there, many of them excellent. The better ones have a well developed program with the expectation that the participants come back for 3-4 years to take additional courses and earn specific degrees. Typically you would take specific course each year to earn a bachelor, masters, post grad (some may not have these), then doctoral degree. Some programs require extra work to earn the doctoral degree, like doing a research paper or project. I would hope that this particular program has a course catalog that you could check out. Has no one in your council participated in this program? If the staff are from ''every council in our region by mine'', I would have to wonder why. In my region, the Atlanta Area Council has for many years run a very well respected College of Commissioner Science program. Many people from my home council (in southern florida) attended it, and from this started their own, similiar program, expanding it to a University of Scouting Arts with a four year ''degree program'', etc. Nearby councils also run College of Commissioner Science programs with multi-year degrees, tho not to that extent. As to costs, most of these program are your typical weekend training weekend costs, so are in the range of $20-40 bucks. (food and materials are you main costs)