Boy Scout Troops

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Boy Scout Troops

Venturing Crews
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Why Should a Troop Consider a Venturing Crew?

• The Venturing program complements the Boy Scout
  troop. It adds exciting new advancement and
  leadership opportunities for your older boys.
• It allows flexibility, so boys can participate in
  both programs.
• Venturing can help solve many of the
  Scoutmasters challenges. Keeps older boys in
  Scouting!
• It meets the wants and needs of 14 to 21 year old
  young men.
• It provides a scouting program for daughters of
  scouting families.

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Scoutmaster Challenges

• Keeping 14 to 18 year old Boy Scouts engaged in
  the troop.
• Challenging older Boy Scouts, while at the same
  time, trying to attract and retain younger Boy
  Scouts.
• Competing with older Boy Scouts interests cars,
  girls, high school.
• Providing leadership/role model opportunities to
  all older Boy Scouts.
• Giving younger Boy Scouts something to anticipate
  beyond the troop
• Consistently offering exciting program.

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National BSA Statistics

• Average Boy Scout is 14 years and 1 month old
• Average Eagle Scout is 16 years and 2 months old
• Average Boy Scout attendance at summer camp is
  2.8 years

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Ages of VenturersNational 2004by age groups
Total Venturers 280,584
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Venturing Gender ChartNational 2004(Excludes
LDS)
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What Does Venturing Offer Older Boy Scouts In A
Troop?

• New advancement opportunities for boys interested
  in progressing beyond Eagle.
• New, exciting awards and recognition for boys out
  of the advancement loop.

• Activities with boys and girls their own age.
• New leadership skills training for all members.
• Venturers give leadership to the troop through
  the Ranger program, etc.
• A place to be an Eagle

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How Does a Troop and a Crew Work Together?

• Boy Scouts ages 14 to 18 and adult leaders can be
  members of both units primary registration in
  the troop and multiple in the crew.
• The crew meets separately from the troop twice
  each month and has occasional activities with the
  troop and many on their own.
• Venturers in the troop, (especially troop
  leaders) are expected to participate in both
  units.
• Venturers teach and provide program.
• One committee
• One calendar
• A crew should not appear to be competing with a
  troop!

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Continued...

• Recruit an Assistant Scoutmaster or committee
  member to serve as Crew Advisor.
• Utilize existing merit badge counselors as
  consultants for the Ranger award vice versa.
• Utilize troop advancement chair to help conduct
  crew reviews for the Gold and Silver Awards.
• Venturers can wear distinctive uniforming and
  maintain the same unit .
• Younger Boy Scouts think of the crew as extension
  of the troop. Something to aspire to!
• Place for daughters and sisters to be active in
  scouting.

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Co-education fosters mature, responsible and
respectful relationships.
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Character, Citizenship, FitnessThe aims of the
BSAs 3 Programs

• Boy Scout Methods
• Patrol Method
• Adult Association
• Leadership
• Scouting Ideals
• Outdoors
• Advancement
• Personal Growth
• Uniform

• Venturing Methods
• Group Activities
• Adult Association
• Leadership
• Scouting Ideals
• High Adventure
• Recognition
• Teaching Others

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Can a Venturer earn Eagle? YES-once a Boy Scout
  has earned First Class and is eligible to join a
  Crew, he can join a Crew, earn merit badges and
  ranks in the Crew.
• Does a Venturer who is working on Eagle have to
  be multiply registered? NO he can earn it
  exclusively in the Crew.
• Why is silver higher than gold? BSA Tradition,
  Bronze, Gold and Silver

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• Where do I find advancement requirements? The
  Venturing, Ranger, Trust and Quest Handbooks for
  Venturing awards, The Boy Scout Requirements
  Book for Boy Scout Ranks and Merit Badges.
• What is the difference between VENTURE and
  VENTURING? VENTURE is a patrol program within a
  Boy Scout Troop, with Boy Scout program
  advancement, methods, and guidelines. Venture
  Patrol members may not earn Venturing awards
  unless they are also registered in a Crew, and
  receive the awards through the Crew.
  VENTURING is a separate, distinct program with
  its own recognition, methods, and guidelines

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• What is Venturings official uniform? There is
  no official uniform for Venturing. The uniform,
  if any, is the choice of the Crew. There is a
  Green Venturing shirt available from BSA supply
  that may be chosen.
• Can a Venturer get past credit and multiple
  credit? Venturers do not get any credit for
  activities done prior to joining a Crew, except
  for Certifications such as Lifeguard, First Aid,
  etc. Once they join a Crew, all activities may
  be counted towards both their Venturing and Boy
  Scout recognitions/awards/ advancement.

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Points To Remember-

• Scoutmasters created senior scouting as a way to
  keep older boys in the program back in the 20s.
• That same need is still here and the answer is
  Venturing, a program that traces its roots back
  to the senior scouting program of the 20s.
• How can Venturing steal your older boys if the
  crew and the troop are partners?
• Have one committee. One calendar.
• Do things together.