Exploring on the move?

[Eamonn 61]

I have heard that Exploring is moving from LFL too once again being a traditional BSA program.

I don't know how true this is?

If anyone does have the facts? I'd love to see them.

Also what impact will this have on both Exploring and Venturing, if any?

Ea.

[emb021 16]

I find that VERY hard to believe.

 

The reason the Exploring program was split into Exploring and Venturing, was that most of the career-oriented Exploring Posts (which became Exploring by itself after 1998) were chartered to government bodies. The BSA's policies regarding faith and homosexuality was a major issue for these groups. So the only way these posts could survive (along with the career-oriented part of Exploring) was to move it to LFL.

[Eagle92 110]

Gotta ditto what Emb said. Exploring as part of LFL was the result of the Chicago lawsuit in 1997 or 1998, more than likely 1998 as Venturing seemed rather rushed out if you asked me.

[emb021 16]

Actually, Venturing was in the works for a couple of years before the split. But I think things were pushed out sooner due to the forced split.

 

Also, as I understood it, the first Venturing Director was apparently a bit of a control freak, and delayed the rollout of a lot of stuff that should have come out in August of 1998.

 

(Charles Holmes replaced him sometime in early 1999).

[Eagle92 110]

Well my first impression of Holmes' predecessor was not real encouraging. Met him the first time when he did the presentation on Venturing at PDL-1. Let's just say he ticked off 40+ Eagles when he said that the Silver Award is now Scouting's highest honor, supplanting Eagle. Sorry but Eagle is still the highest, with Quartermaster and Silver being EQUIVELENT to Eagle.

 

on another note, the predecssor was the one calling Venturing Crews "Venture Crews," but more on that tonite in the Venturing thread.

[emb021 16]

"he said that the Silver Award is now Scouting's highest honor, supplanting Eagle. Sorry but Eagle is still the highest, with Quartermaster and Silver being EQUIVELENT to Eagle."

 

Well, he's right and wrong.

 

None of them are 'scouting's highest honor'.

 

Eagle is the highest Boy Scout award

Silver is the highest Venturing award

Quartermaster is the highest Sea Scout award

 

IMO, its improper to claim that any of them is 'scouting's highest honor', because that diminishes the rest. Keep in mind if they are equivalent, then Eagle can't be THE highest.

 

I have a great scan of the cover of a scouting publication from the late 40s that shows the highest awards of the time (Ranger, Ace, Eagle, and Quartermaster), with the obvious message that ALL are the highest awards of scouting.

 

[Bolo 10]

My son joined a new Explorer Post last month and the DE has told them that Explorers will be back as part of the BSA beginning in January.