DDHII

SPL,

You have good intentions to help out with the instructions with the troop, however, the only way you can be a merit badge counselor is be to 18+ years of age (21+ for shotgun and rifle and be NRA qualified) and be registered as a counselor for that merit badge. It doesn't mean that you can't help out in teaching these to your younger Scouts (with the approval of the merit badge counselor), but the counseling and signing off part needs to be done by an actual merit badge counselor with the appropriate 2-deep leadership.

Also, teaching merit badges should not be done at a troop meeting. Merit badges should be done on the scout's own determination on his own agenda outside of the meetings. If you want to help out teaching a merit badge during a patrol meeting separate from the troop, you can do so... if it's up to the members of the patrol.

Dale

The recommended Venturing uniform is the kelly green Venturing shirt, grey Venturing pants, grey Veturing socks, and the Venturing belt. Notice it says recommends. Since it's not required, you may mix and match your uniform as long as you stay within the guidelines (if you so choose to have one) and there's no rule that says you cannot wear the olive green pants with the green shirt, however it's recommended by national that you don't.

Personally, I prefer the dark grey Dickies cellphone pocket pants. I think they look better and costs 50% less. You can by two pairs for the cost of one pair of Venturing pants and have a higher quality pants made. Even better, they're double kneed and the crease down the front of the pants lasts a long time. I've had the same pair of pants for 4 years and it still looks new and I take it backpacking all the tme. Try that with BSA quality pants that will burn a blackhole in your wallet... I thought Scouting taught us to be "thrifty."

My crew also chose a black leather belt to go along with the pewter Venturing belt buckle, black socks, and a custom embroidered grey Venturing baseball cap.

Unfortunately, my crew folded this year, but I'll still be wearing my uniform according to my crew.

Happy Venturing,

Dale

There's a leadership program found in Venturing called Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC). In fact, it is required for Venturers for the Venturing Silver Award.

Starting 2004, councils can now host a council level Kodiak training program that includes VLSC and additional outdoor leadership skils. At a national/regional level, Kodiak-X will be held at national camps or select council camps to hold Kodiaks-X for Venturers.

There are three phases:

Phase I: VLSC (council level)

Phase II: Kodiak (council level)

Phase III: Kodiak X (a branch of the Nature of Leadership held at a national/regional level)

VLSC is tyically a weekend course and Kodiak ranges from a week to two weeks.

In June 2004, a pocket medal will be available for Venturers who have completed the Kodiak courses, similar to the medal awarded to advisors who have completed Powderhorn.

YIV,

Dale

I'm 22 years young...

OGE,

You might want to try this:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e0ab51dc-e509-4bc2-ae47-507856f9ddc3&displaylang=en

It's an encoder for the Windows Media Player from Microsoft. If it works, you should be able to play .avi's in your PowerPoint presentation.

If you don't have Windows Media Player, you can download it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en&categoryid=4

I hope this helps...

Senior_Patrol_Leader_T15,

Congrads on your achievements. It's good that you're using the knowledge you've learned from your merit badges, however, the merit badges do not count for the requirements for Ranger or any other Venturing Award. Remember, all the of the awards say "As a Venturer..." The requirements are also different from those in the Merit Badges, and in my opinion, I feel the Venturing requirements are harder. Nothing in BSA says you can't use something for another as long as you work within the quidelines of the requirement. So if you're doing Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, why not work a little bit more and complete the Wilderness Survival core requirement for Ranger?

Also, when you do your conservation project for Ranger, fill out the application for the William T. Hornaday Badge since it follows the same requirements. Just make sure you complete the required merit badges for the Hornaday badge. Your conservation project should be the size of an Eagle Project, so if you haven't started an Eagle Project yet, your conservation project can also be used. With one conservation project and a handful of merit badges, you can use it to earn all three awards. Before your start though, just check with your district advancement chairperson if it's ok with him/her.

However, all of the Venturing Awards must be earn while being registered in a Venturing Crew. Being in a Venture Patrol does not count, because you are in a Boy Scout Troop. It's ok (and I recommend) to be registered in a Troop and Crew while working on awards for both programs.

If you find time in your busy schedule, try to start on the Quest Sport Award for Venturing (it's equivalent to Ranger and it requires you to have earned the Sports Bronze Award). It's really cool and if I could earn the award now, I'd work on it... but now I'm too old.

Eagle Scout '99, God and Life '99, Outdoor Bronze Award '00, Venturing Silver Award '02, Ranger Award '02, Silver William T. Hornaday Award '02, Young American Award '03

OA Brotherhood '03

I was in Cub Scouts for two whole meetings and quit after I found out we didn't do any camping. Biggest mistake I have ever made in Scouting.

As a Scout: patrol leader, quartermaster, den chief, JASM

As a Venturer: Crew Vice President - Administration

Adult: Assistant Scoutmaster, Crew Associate Advisor, Council JLT Associate Course Director (we call ours Buckskin)

I currently serve as District Venturing Chairman, Unit Commissioner, and Council VOA Associate Advisor. I've been recently asked to serve as Assistant District Commissioner - Venturing in January.

It's good that your troop and your Venturers have taken JLT. However, JLT is a Scouting training program and focuses primarily on Boy Scoutng. I would recommend that your crew participate in a Venturing Leadership Skills Cource (VLSC), usually held by the Venturing Officers' Association (VOA) in your council. Most VOAs hold VLSCs twice a year, once in the spring and fall. If your VOA has a Kodiak program (think of it as a week or 2 week long VLSC), I strongly recommend that you attend. You'll learn about all of the awards and the new Quest sports award. Plus, VLSC training is a requirement for the Silver Award.

For your adult leaders, have them visit the Venturing Fast Start site provided by National Council: http://www.scouting.org/venturing/faststart/index.html

Dale

As a clarification, the Ranger Award is not the highest award in Venturing. The highest award is the Silver Award, which encompasses all core areas. The Ranger Award is a supplemental award for the Venturing program, the highest award for outdoor crew emphasis. The same goes for the Quartermaster Award for Sea Scouting and the Quest Award for sports.

On a side note, it took me about 3 years to complete the Silver Award and the Ranger Award together.

Our council's VOA does a council wide Venturing award banquet every spring. The youth do all of the planning and contact local hotels, conference centers, or any nice place that can accommodate 200 or so people. We usually plan ours to be like a prom and Venturers come in dressed very formally or in the their uniforms. We try to get keynote speakers (like the National Venturing President, Regional Venturing President, etc) and other well-known community leaders. The VOA does this additionally to the crew's own COH's. This way, Venturers get recognition not only from their crews, but from the whole council as well.

Dale

These are just my intials... nothing original.

Dale

I'm from Cahuilla Lodge #127, Section W4B... Snake Power! Our site is www.snakepower.org

WWW,

Dale

Any Venturer can apply and run for office for any officer position as long as they have met the minimum requirements and have submitted the application form by the council (or regional/national) deadline.

Dale

It's good that you are actively doing recruitment for your crew. It's not necessarily a bad thing to have brought in someone from another crew, but remember one thing: every crew has its own personality and people choose crews based on the program and the attitudes of the Venturers. There are other factors that a person may want to change units, however he cant actively be registered in more than one crew. Theres no reason why he cant participate with your crew and others, in fact I would recommend crews to become active with each other in addition to council/district VOAs.

Dale

Venturing Crews cannot wear the green epaulet loops with the khaki uniform. Only green on green, unless the Venturer or adult advisor is serving at a district, council, regional, or national levels. Venuring Crews can choose their own uniform, however it is strongly recommended to wear the kelly green Venturing shirt with grey Venturing pants. A crew may change the uniform, however, only green loops may be worn on green shirts. Some crews even opt out of wearing a uniform at all.

The Aims and Methods of Scouting effect all program areas, including Venturing. However, uniforming is less stressed to allow more crew flexibility in their programs and also since most teens prefer a less structured program and less uniform rules. Sea Scouting, however, (a subdivision of Venturing) requires a uniform to fit the needs of their respective program.

Dale

That sounds like a great idea. You should also foward your ideas to Thomas Franklin, National Venturing President, or Josh Green, Western Region Venturing President. Maybe, your ideas might become a reality.

YIV,

Dale

Male Venturers can actively participate in OA activities. It's just that Crews cannot hold elections. A Venturer may be in the OA, he just has to be elected from a Troop or Varsity Team. All that is required is that he remains active and serves cheerfully with a unit. There is no reason why a Venturer should not be able to participate in OA activities, regardless of the fact that Crews cannot hold elections. The same goes for male Venturers wearing lodge pocket flaps. It's like Cubmasters or Den Leaders wearing sashes. Packs cannot hold unit elections, but the Scouter was inducted into the OA as Boy Scout or as a Troop level Scouter (over 21) and is allowed to wear sashes. There's nothing wrong with that.

It's true that the young men (I prefer not to call them boys) can continue to work on OA awards and advancement, along with Venturing (until age 21), but OA regalia and sashes are reserved for OA activities. Remember, wearing OA insignia is not for Troops and Teams only. It's for the arrowmen who bring service back to their units, whether that is a pack, troop, team, crew, post, or ship. Just make sure when wearing the sash, it's the BSA field uniform (Class "A").

WWW,

Dale

This is an actual leadership position for youth members of the Venturing program for each level (unit, district, council, region, and national). (This position is also open to Sea Scouts and his/her title would be Council Boatswain)

For requirement number 4, the age set by national is the running canidate must be under 21 during the term of office.

Each term of office (President, Vice President-Program, Vice President-Administration, Secretary, Tresurer) is for 12 months, however, it may be shortened if the officer is elected to a regional position; or if removed by the Scout Executive and Advisor. The Scout Executive (or Venturing Director), Council Venturing Advisor, and Council Venturing President makes the Council Venturing Key-3. Each council determins the term period for council officer positions.

For regional positions, a Venturer does not have to have previously held a council officer position. Starting this year, National Presidents are selected from the exsisting Regional Presidents.

Each council should have an active Venturing Officers Association (VOA), Teen Leaders Council (TLC), or Venturing Executive Committee (VEC). If not, organize one by inviting all crews & ships (older Boy Scouts who have completed your council's JLT or national JLT and Explorers are also welcome if alowed by your Venturers) and get your youth involved. Invite your Regional President to help with starting your VOA, TLC, or VEC and get active or other local councils to help you in getting yours active.

Hopefully this helps in getting yours started.

West is Best!

Dale

P.S. Happy Anniversary! Venturing is 5 years old today!

You can continue your Venturing while in college. Many colleges/universities have Venturing Crews on campus that are affiliated with Alpha Phi Omega and the National Eagle Scout Association. Many of the things you do for your Religious Life/Youth Ministries Bronze require that you to volunteer with a nonprofit organization (i.e. your Aunts pack). This can also be used for the Gold Award personal growth requirement. Remember, there are a lot of awards that can be earned; but most importantly, you effect those little guys the most when working with them. Good luck and have phun!

Dale

That's awesome that you want to help out your Aunt's pack! Like the others have stated in this forum, you can register as an adult leader if you are over 18. However, you cannot be a den chief, even though you are a Venturer. You can be a mentor and help out in the Cub Scouting program, just not under the "den chief" title. Are you currently working on the Gold Award in Venturing? This would be excellent to use for your personal growth requirement. There other awards as well that require you to teach a skill or something you have learned in Venturing (ie, Ranger, Quest, Bronze Awards).

Hope this helps!

Dale

"they might have asthma problems

We have allergies - that's what drugs are for. Are you gonna stop living because of a fixable health problem? you can have asthma at home, too!"

I just want you to know that asthma is not an allergy problem. It is a reactive airway disease, also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmanary Disease (COPD). As a serious asthmatic, I find that statement to be very rude. I understand that a Scout is to be prepared and to make sure they have their medications, but also remember that a Scout is to be courteous, helpful, and kind. Asmthma however, is not a fixable problem: there is no known cure. It is idiopathic, where the medications help relieve acute bronchial spasms temporaily. Regardless of my condition, I am in the OA (Lodge and Section EMT Advisor) and that hasn't stopped my function as a Scout leader. It may have limited my outdoor activities and please understand that just because a Scout may limit their activities doesn't make them a lesser Scout.

As an adult leader, I would certainly hope that you would follow all points of the Scout Law and not continue to make comments as these.

Perhaps this was not your intention, but please reconsider your statements in the future.

YIS,

Dale

ps. Oh and by the way... asthma is a "true illness"

The tent size depends on which camp you are going to. Some BSA camps do not require tents, since tents/cabins are available to the campers. You should contact the local council for the tent requirements.

Dale

Powderhorn is being held every year in every region. Currently, it is on a Regional basis, about 5 per Region. www.powderhorn.com is not a BSA website, but the BSA uses it to list current Powderhorn courses. Eisely, if you're in the Southern California area, Desert Pacific Council is holding Powderhorn this year in San Diego and I'll be there.

Dale

The unit commissioner would not be the best person to go to for unit elections, unles he or she is a member of the OA. Even then, UC's cannot hold unit elections. You should contact your local OA chapter/clan for your district to see if a ceremony team and/or OA troop/team representative could do unit elections. It is the responsiblity of the second-vice-chief in your chapter to hold unit elections with the approval of the chapter advisor and scoutmaster of each unit. Your troop needs to be aware that the OA is a honor camper's society and that the main function the OA is service to their units. We are a brotherhood of cheerful service and obligated to serve our units with the leadership and knowledge we learn through the order. The unit committee does not approve nor dis approve any unit elections. It is due solely on the desgression of the scoutmaster.

WWW,

Dale

That's very interesting dsteele... I'm 21 and I'm an ADC. I was a UC for almost a year, but 2 weeks ago was asked to be the Venturing ADC so I can recruit and train Venturing UC's. Currently, my district has 16 known Crews (Crews seem to be popping in and out of district with no one knowing about them and it drives me crazy because I'm one of the few who are trained in Venturing and knows the program) and so far, I have recruited 2 UC's who have Scouting experience and very limited Venturing experience. My biggist concern is that, with Venturing, many people get confused between a Venturing Crew and Venture Patrol, and begin to start Crews and become disappointed in the end because it was not what they were expecting. Venturing is 98% youth lead, and if the youth do not have the passion nor the desire to be in the crew (whatever the reasons for it may be) units seem to fail in about 2 years. It has gotten to a point where it has become extremely difficult to help maintain crews and I lose crews before before they even get visited. What's even worse is, my DC & DE have no experience nor the desire for the Venturing program. It's too bad the DC you talked to didn't want 21 year old commissioners... we may be young, but we do have a lot of passion for the program and what better way to show our leadership potential.

Dale

fotoscout,

No, a Venture Patrol cannot have girls because it is a patrol within a troop, with boy scouts that are registered within that troop. It's a regular patrol that does high adventure level activities (not the same level activities that crew are allowed to do). Only Venturing Crews are allowed to be coed.

Dale