What Is Venturing?
Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of
America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade)
through 20 years of age.
Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help
young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship
between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. Local
community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and
program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result
is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their
special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens.
Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or
hobby interests.
Goals
Young adults involved in Venturing will:
- Learn to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by
instilling the values in the Venturing Oath and Code.
- Experience a program that is fun and full of challenge
and adventure.
- Become a skilled training and program resource for Cub
Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other groups.
- Acquire skills in the areas of high adventure, sports,
arts and hobbies, religious life, or Sea Scouting.
- Experience positive leadership from adult and youth
leaders and be given opportunities to take on leadership roles.
- Have a chance to learn and grow in a supportive, caring,
and fun environment.
Methods
The aims of the Boy Scouts of America are to build character,
develop citizenship, and foster personal fitness. The Venturing methods listed
below have been carefully designed to achieve the aims of the Boy Scouts of
America and meet the needs of young adults.
- Leadership. All
Venturers are given opportunities to learn and apply proven leadership
skills. A Venturing crew is led by elected crew officers. The Venturing
Leadership Skills Course is designed for all Venturers and helps teach them
in an active way to lead effectively.
- Group Activities.
Venturing activities are interdependent group experiences in which success
is dependent on the cooperation of all. Learning by "doing" in a group
setting provides opportunities for developing new skills.
- Adult Association.
The youth officers lead the crew. The officers and activity chairs
work closely with adult Advisors and other adult leaders in a spirit of
partnership. The adults serve in a "shadow" leader capacity.
- Recognition.
Recognition comes through the Venturing advancement program and through the
acknowledgement of a youth's competence and ability by peers and adults.
- The Ideals.
Venturers are expected to know and live by the
Venturing
Oath and Code. They promise to be faithful in religious duties, treasure
their American heritage, help others, and seek truth and fairness.
- High Adventure.
Venturing's emphasis on high adventure helps provide team-building
opportunities, new meaningful experiences, practical leadership application,
and lifelong memories to young adults.
- Teaching Others.
All of the Venturing awards require Venturers to teach what they have
learned to others. When they teach others often, Venturers are better
able to retain the skill or knowledge taught, they gain confidence in their
ability to speak and relate to others, and they acquire skills that can
benefit them for the rest of their lives as a hobby or occupation.
Ethics in Action
An important goal of Venturing is to help young adults be
responsible and caring persons, both now and in the future. Venturing uses
"ethical controversies" to help young adults develop the ability to make
responsible choices that reflect their concern for what is a risk and how it
will affect others involved. Because an ethical controversy is a problem-solving
situation, leaders expect young adults to employ empathy, invention, and
selection when they think through their position and work toward a solution.
Venturing Awards
Achievement Awards
A variety of awards are available to Venturers who accomplish
specific achievements. These awards include:
Other awards designed to provide recognition for youth and
adults include: