cristipdx

I have been involved in scouting, venturing, and now sea scouts for over 20 years. All arguments for and against new units start and end with district volunteers and professionals serving youth. It doesn't matter how many units or how many adults or how much FOS is done... if you lose sight of why you are there, you'll get hung up on the minutae that will kill your interest in keeping it moving.

When we got mixed up in the council issues and district goals, we lost sight of the purpose: YOUTH!

Our sea scout ship is the largest in our council, second largest in the area. It began four years ago as a result of our council "VOA" being frustrated trying to meet the needs of bridging the gap between Venturing and Sea Scouts in our council. The commodore told them to get involved in Sea Scouts to see what they could do from the inside out.

As a direct result, the young men and women were the cream of the crop from units all over the council. They saw a new challenge and jumped in with their feet running before they even had the paperwork finished. They kept their "home crew" working while building the council program and their sea scout ship.

They found a chartered partner, got 5 adults to get on the paper and launched a new ship after trying to join one that was in weak condition. One thing led to another. Their first regatta they showed up in green shirts. The next regatta they were all in dress blues. Of the 7 that originally started the new ship, 6 were Eagle and one was a GSUSA Gold award recipient. They knew their way around the program and lived it full tilt.

Their momentum is carried on today... it's an awesome thing to see. Today the ship is the steward for a boathouse, a 36' old diesl powered retired navy landing craft, two sailboats:25' Catalina & 22' Capri, three dingy sailboats, two rowing dingys and an inflatable and they have a 16' catamaran their rebuilding. They have a program that will rock your socks off. The alumni show up every year for a New Year's Day cruise and have attended all events that they possibly can. We have to our credit two very capable and outstanding Quartermasters. With three more youth chasing their coattails!

If you have a program, the youth will come and the youth will make it fly. If you get hung up on numbers and issues outside of your unit, you'll get lost in the quagmire away from the program.

Stick to going, doing, and running. Program, Program, Program - the rest are just the details. It's what makes the Scouting program the best in the world. (Oh, one big secret, the adults have to get out of the way

In my opinion, Venturing truly _is_ Scouting but on steroids, so to speak.

It's built on a leadership team that develops and runs program, same as a patrol leaders council. It's built on outdoor/specialty program, same as a troop. It's got the emphasis on a crew, which is the same as a patrol, and if the crew (or ship) is big enough, it typically breaks down into patrol sized groups. In a ship, traditional program is built around rank advancement, just like in a troop. In a Venturing crew, it's based on experiences, and if it's done well, the advancement/awards program happens without even thinking about it, just like a troop.

There is a LOT of crossover from other Boy Scouts of America programming, it's just not labeled the same.

In addition, the emphasis on the youth leadership is much, much heavier than in a troop. This concept is very foreign to the majority of traditional scouters.

A successful crew may or may not build a legacy of long term existence. That seems to be a matter of long range or short range vision.

Venturing meets the needs of teens that may not ever be attracted to a traditional scout unit. It's a hybrid... much like today's new electric/gas cars. It's not a standard, but it's definitely an attractive option.

Bottomline, if you ask the YOUTH what they way, the answer is control of their program. If you ask the adults, it's not the same view of the planet, now is it?

Most "adults" have issues with allowing teenagers to be in control. We'll let 'em have cars, let 'em go off to serve in the military, and we'll even let 'em vote... but can we get out of their way to let them run _their_ program? (along with allowing the consequences of poorly managed program happen?)

Specialized Venturing Commissioners would be great for serving Venturing units, however, as Commissioners, we need to make sure we understand all program opportunities in order to help bridge the gaps.

Yes, Venturing is a unique and misunderstood program, however, separating it away from the more traditional programs we have grown to know so well will only help to further understanding and growth.

The three units I spent the last seven years with have been exploring (then venturing crew) that specialized as a high school competition snowboard team, a venturing crew chartered by a rotary club, and a sea scout unit chartered to a united states power squadron. All three of these units have unique needs and fit no one model of Scouting except that provided in Venturing --> a business model with rewards (aka awards for leadership development)

Venturing commissioners are a great idea, however, our buddies in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts need to understand the Venturing opportunity.

You bring up an outstanding point about Venturing Youth Protection being different. You are right on with that one.

Who would be better to help teach and anticipate the needs to serve that difference than a commissioner team?

The Venturing Leaders Manual is a step by step written for YOUTH primarily and adults secondarily. Almost all materials from the Venturing division are written for teens first.

Most Venturing units do not have the resources to purchase several copies of manuals, handbooks, etc. They spend their money on program.

The Sea Scout manual does not serve to provide all the answers and support material for the program. It's a small fortune for a skipper (like me!) to own and keep the resources necessary to support my ship! I rely on professional mariners and avid boaters to assist in program support. Much like a boy would find a merit badge counselor to support his race to Eagle, we use consultants to achieve the end results.

Venturing is about variety and purpose centered on what the chartered organization can provide and what members want as well as are willing to gather to support their goals.

If you grew up in Scouting, you'll be looking for a package of deliverables that has been refined and honed to a precise result.

Venturing could not possibly meet that need. The nature of the program is that one scuba crew in the Pacific Northwest would not have the same needs as one in Maine or one in the Gulf of Mexico. However, they have one thing in common: arts and hobbies or sports bronze can be adapted to fit their program in a heartbeat. Even a sea scout bronze could be earned (if they're a sea scout unit).

One group of hunters in the mid-west would not look the same as avid backpackers in Alaska. They apply the people, program resources, and opportunities with very different outcomes.

It's a wonderful program for anyone with the patience and vision to adapt. (Yep, that's meant as a challenge!)

Ok, I'm gonna pipe up here.

Point of reference for those that don't know me: i'm a dedicated scouter with 20+ years experience in all phases of BSA and GSUSA.

Today, my most active role is that of a Sea Scout Skipper... now, don't discount me based on that statement. For those that know me, they can vouch for my next statement --> I run a Venturing program through the Sea Scout arm!

It's an amazing mix of resources that no one should miss! Outstanding opportunities exist here.

Ok, about what Venturing Is and Isn't:

Put what you "know" about Scouting aside and think of a business model! All businesses use a simple structure that gets things done... Venturing does the same! By wrapping your program around a business model, rather than a troop patrol method, you'll better understand how to apply the Venturing opportunity.

As a veteran of the Venturing world, I can tell you that there is no easy way to teach what Venturing is, only that it can be whatever the chartered organization wants it to be, along with the dedication of vision for the participants to the outcome they design.

Now, if you apply that information to a Boy Scout troop there are people that will throw wild and crazy fits.

What's wrong with the concept that people can take this thing and make it what they want?

At a typical camporee, every troop does NOT look like all the others. Venturing is a unique application of everything Scouting!

I'm having a blast and I think if people understood just how much fun it is in Venturing, there'd be a massive shift in membership!

If you're interested in seeing it in action, come for a visit! It's amazing!

This is an outstanding fundraiser!

Think of it like this: You order a bouquet of roses, and pay for delivery. Nice feelings all around (until you get the bill!) Roses get delivered and enjoyed for a few days, then off to the compost pile. Wouldn't it be nice to share the roses with someone else?

So, you get 20 pink flamingos delivered with a note from us that says: "You've been flocked!" with an entry telling you who the sender is.

There are many options going along with this gift: You can choose to forward migration instructions for someone else (or the sender) to receive them, you can choose to have them retrieved, or you can buy them!

You can also purchase an agreement to prevent the birds from returning - one month, two months, six months, or a lifetime agreement. (Threats of plastic bird decapitation automatically earns a lifetime agreement!)

There is a basic test for fundraising in our program: is it a legitimate product or service? does it have a value? along with the rules for not using the uniform as a method to promote it, etc.

It's a very lucrative option for fundraising! And it's hysterical fun to move them! We have had losses, but the fun and the cheer they bring is significant!

We have drivers and youth that perform the migrations of which they get partial credit to their camp fund for any dollars received, which is a donation to the unit. Sometimes there is no donation! Sometimes it's a surprising amount! Donations are sent to the treasurer's post office box so the migration teams don't have to handle money.

It's really good fun working the migration instructions -- map reading, navigation, sometimes even a compass is required! Is this different from having a bouquet of roses delivered?

Big question here is: does it qualify as a conservation project: it's a form of recycling