Crew21_Adv

Miki101, (et al)

Thanks for watching my back.. lol

That explains why it took so long for an experiment to become an official progam...

Hopefully, an "experimental" honor society for Venturing will move along much faster. Like I stated earlier, across the nation we have some "groundroots" honors bestowed from the local council Venturing programs just to their local Venturers. They already have some good vision for a nat'l pilot program to be commissioned.

Then hopefully, a Venturing honor society would follow a similar style to the OA. Being honored by election into a Venturing society, plus having a mission and purpose that benefits Scouting as well as the Venturer themselves.

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

Crew21_Adv

Owl,

Greetings!

Here is my 2 cents.

"Does anyone know about any Venturing Honor Societies that have or are in the process of being formed?"

No, I don't believe so. yet....

As I've seen, new BSA programs will have a pilot program in one or two selected councils. Of course, National would look at everything, ethics, educational or recreation benefits, and risks assessments. Before, any new programs are published, National would want be sure it is safe and well planned.

National usually debuts any new programs during the National Convention. Under the Commissioner tab of the National Websites, there are speeches and items usually debuting these nationally accepted programs.

Also there are a couple of unofficial websites for the National Venturing Cabinet and Venturing News from the Venturing Division of National.

www.nationalventuringcabinet.org

www.venturing.info

Is it a good idea? I think so.

The OA had a small and humble beginning. (someone may need to help me out on my history here.. lol) In 1915 the Order of the Arrow honor society was an experiement of two young twenty-ish year old camp staffers E. Urner Goodman and C. A. Edwin. It wasn't officially adopted as a BSA program until 1948, over thirty years later.

But in addition of being honor campers, the OA has a purpose and mission. In short(to support the camping program). Yes this is very paraphrased, but I feel the key mission item.

www.oa-bsa.org/misc/basics/purpose-mission.htm

I don't believe it would take 30 years to have an honor program for our Venturers. Some of our own members (here in Scouter.com and other Scouting newsgroups) participate in Council level Venturing Honor programs. i.e. "Corps of Discovery"

A good review of some of our unofficial Venturing Honor Societies may be the foundations of an official "Venturing Honor Society" like you asked. That was the way E. Urner Goodman and C. A. Edwin started.

Lastly, let's remember. After meeting the eligibility criteria, and nomination from the Scoutmaster, our fellow Arrowmen become members by the election from their peers. A Scout doesn't join the OA, A Scout is elected to become an Arrowman. Establishing a program like this for Venturers, should be more than just becoming eligible for membership.

It's is a great idea, but as our "grassroots", "pilot programs", "experiement" honor societies begin in our councils, let's all consider a purpose and mission to follow the Venturing goals.

Maybe National will enjoy the benefits of these societies and adopt it as an official program, in less than thirty years this time.

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

Crew21 Adv

Fellow Scouters,

I share the fustration in seaching for certain forms which may be edited, saved, and emailed.

After seaching for the Eagle Application, I have found a similar alternative.

Troop 661 of Orange County Council, Mission Viejo, California has an Eagle Scout Rank Application (2002 edition) recreated in the Excel format. Even though this form exist on their webpage, I don't believe it is widely known in other Scout Councils and units. (Or I'd expect everyone would be pointing to their website for this form.) If you already knew, then I guess I'm a day late and a dollar short... lol

This excel Eagle Application would help as a Life to Eagle Scout Candidate fills out the application and may email (discuss) the application with the Scoutmaster, Unit Committee Chair and District/Council Advancement.

Credit goes to Troop 661. When you download any Excel file the properties state; created by Larry Morris and modified by Steve Barger.

Although a brilliant Scouter would have to do just a little more work to make it resemble the Eagle Scout Rank Application 2004 edition.

troop661.ocbsa.org

troop661.ocbsa.org/Forms%20Page.htm

Eagle Scout Rank Application - Excel Format

Venture On!

Crew21_Adv

Well... I know Kahuna lives in the largest (Geographic) council, and the same council where the Scouting day begins and ends.

Could it be Aloha Council? or maybe Maui County Council?

Venture On!

Crew21_Adv

Our Den and Pack meetings. in the evenings, were normally relaxed attire for the parents.

But, I have worn my Official BSA Green tie (with my WB beads spun around from back to the front) to a just a few semi-formal Blue and Gold celebrations back in the mid-90's, while the fathers wore slacks, shirt-n-ties and mothers wore skirts-n-blouses. I also wore it to a couple of annual Council Awards ceremonies.

On the few occasions I wore the tie, I would wear my long sleeve BSA shirt. It just seemed proper etiquette and attire. (I think I still have the Cubmaster POR on that shirt).

I think BSA National Supply Center stopped selling them in the early 90's (even though it is still on the male adult leaders inspection sheet 2000 edition)

Now it hangs, for the last 10 years, from my tie rack near my fancy business ties I wear to church and work. I do own one of the BSA Official Khaki Ties, but that tie is still in the box.. lol

Good thing... I know exactly where my tie is. Bad thing, I haven't seen my Scoutlite Buck knife since 94.... Anyone wanna trade a green tie for the Scoutlite Buck?

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

Crew 21 Adv

Greetings everyone!

Here's my 2 cents.

I am happy to receive the various types of Scout training. I too, just desire that it is a good use of my time.

On very rare occasion, it seems my time was wasted in Scout training. A friend once said to me If you can teach it better, then volunteer to be a trainer! Ive usually offered my experience to the District and Council to staff and even chair training. Many times with raving success; but, on rare occasion, with a disappointment. Hey ya just cant satisfy everybody!

Outside of Scouting, in the outdoor recreational environment there are modifications, new methods, improved safety equipment and standards that occur in the real world fairly regularly.

An example. I consider myself a safe driver. On three occasions during in-town trips with Scouts in my car, after opening my eyes I have starred (very intensely) at the grill of much larger vehicles which had run the red light. Thank goodness I followed my regular Scout training, filed a tour permit and everyone was seat belted. I dont think an ambulance driver would care if I had followed the traffic laws and the other driver had not. I dont think the Intensive Care Unit would have cared, that I had the right of way or not. But Im sure the parents would be concerned that I followed all the safety requirements with their children.

On a different note (and this follows another similar thread about knowing the rules and looking the other way).

I believe a few of us have experienced this dilemma. Ive been involved in discussions about the (bold printed) restricted activities in the GSS. Disappointedly, Ive heard a few fellow Scouters that have said, Im experienced at ___ and I know what Im doing. Ill take the risks. Ouch!

I believe inside the Leadership Training Committee Guide: Plans, Procedures, Materials (and I dont have it with me right now, so dont kill me on this) it allows for three types of Scout training, Group, Self-paced, and Individual Coaching. In all the types, the same curriculum and standards should always be met. However, time commitments may be altered, lengthened or condensed.

Group learning obviously has the most benefits a learner obtains additional resources, makes networking contacts and met people with similar interest. However, the self paced and individual coaching could benefit those that do have outdoor recreational experience or long, long drives to the metropolitan area. Some of our Scouters that work rotating shifts, nights or weekends may never be able to attend a Saturday training event. The decision of whom may be self-paced or individual coaching would rest with the Council Training Chair.

A Scouting Urban Legends is The only required training is YPT. A unit probably wont have much of a program if at least one adult doesnt complete the required safety training courses required in the GSS. They certainly wont earn Quality Unit.

This one is not a Scouting Urban Legend. It is important (not required, but important) to obtain a local tour permit (the national tour permit is required) Quote the GSS, If a unit plans a trip within 500 miles of the home base, it is important that the unit obtain a local tour permit. A national tour permit is required for trips in excess of 500 miles from home or outside the continental United States.

Im a long time Scouter and parent. I am definitely far from perfect and dont walk on water. Heck, I can barely swim, so the class 4, class 5 white water rapids will have to wait!! Im not sure if Id allow my teenagers to go on an excursion with a Scouter that was not trained. I do know that I wouldnt want my teenage children to go on an excursion with any commercial outdoor recreation outfitter (canoeing, COPES, mountain biking, caving) whose staff (sitting on their lifejackets or strapping the helmet to their fanny pack) was experienced but not trained in safety requirements.

But, then again, maybe Im paranoid or an overly protective father. Do I get the safety award this year?

Just my 2 cents.

Venture On!

Crew21_Adv

FYI..And I'm not making a point here, my entry here is just for fun.....

There are a few photographs in some of our popular literature showing uniforming errors. Each year, I read this Scouter.com and other Scouting blogs about errors in the annual Scout catalog (or Scout Stuff website). They are pretty humorous sometimes. Even if you look at Cub Scouts in the leaders' Scouting Magazine, the patches are sometime stapled to the uniform or sewed in the wrong location. (Okay, their parents may not know where to sew the ranks and recognitions.)

When you have the opportunity... Look at the most recent copy of Scouting Magazine or the online version. The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year for 2005. He looks like a nice young man and he has alot of accomplishments, Even a Hornaday Award on his chest. And look at all those merit badges! I give this young man alot of credit.

But then I saw his red, white and blue epulates. Maybe he should have saved those for his Troop events and put on the red epulates for the Scouting Magazine photo. lol

Also, if you ever look at the Varsity Scout Handbook. There are a few photos of Scouts wearing their OA Sashes on the belt. (Without the Varsity Handbook infront of me, I believe there are some photos with OA Sashes over activity T-shirts and Merit Badge Sashes draped over the belt). You would kinda think for action photographs in the handbook, they would abide to uniforming decorum.

Venture On!

Crew21_Adv

What I meant was, if any Fellow Venturer or Advisor desires to actually view the 2005-2006 Venturing Program Highlights 25-200D.

They can view it on the Direct Service www.directservicebsa.org website, by clicking on the http://www.directservicebsa.org/pdf/25-200.pdf

The www.Scouting.org Venturing Resources, list last year's Highlight as 25-200C, but does not link to the current 25-200.pdf file.

r/

Crew21_Adv

Greetings Fellow Advisors!

FYI.. There are a few resources to purchase that are not available to be seen on the www.scoutstuff.org and may not normally be on the shelf at your local Scout Council store.

You have probably seen the www.scouting.org Venturing page already. On the bottom of the Resources page is video support. If your Council or DE doesn't possess them, you may consider increasing your Crew library.

For those adults that get stuck behind a desk, there is a good interactive CD which is new in 2005(Venturing Adult Leader Fast Start CD (AV-0321CD - order form). Which you can hand between your advisors, consultants, committee and parents.

Also, there is a high quality commercial or public service announcment called Hangin' Out: Venturing Youth Recruiting (AV-03V019). Roughly, it has a 3 minute version and a 30 second version on it, but it is designed directly for the teen youth.

Another location to view new resources is the Venturing Program Highlights, however the only place I've ever seen them is under the Direct Service webpages. Look under http://www.directservicebsa.org/

Resources (tab)

Venturing Program

Venturing Highlights 2005-2006 (25-200D)

Scouting Forever and Venture On!

r/ Crew21_Adv

Greetings Everyone!

I am Crew21_Adv. I have been around Scouting for a while. I have read many post from this Scouter.com and different Scouting newsgroups and have taken on quiet a bit of the advise. But I may like to post on rare ocassion.

I've been in Troops and Packs in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Panama, Hawaii, and Europe. I'm a summer camp staffer, Arrowman, WB Staffer, Assistant District Commissioner, Assistant Scoutmaster and Crew Advisor. I've also done a fifty miler and a Nat'l Jamboree. Now I'm looking forward to Powderhorn.

But best of all, I've also had the pleasure of camping and teaching some fine young Scouts. Not only that, but I've also had the pleasure of meeting, chatting and becoming friends with some Scouters around the world, some even here on this newsgroup.

Crew21_Adv