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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, to grow,
to develop leadership skills, and to become good citizens.
Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby
interests.
- The Passport to High Adventure is a publication of the Boy
Scouts of America meant to help Venturing leaders put together
great, safe, high adventure outings. There is an
outline of this publication now available online.
- Need more information on the Venturing program? Take a look
at the
U.S. Scouting Service Project Venturing pages.
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, youth ministries, 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.
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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 in an active way to effectively lead.
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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.
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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.
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Recognition. Recognition
comes through the Venturing advancement program and through the
acknowledgement of a youth's competence and ability by peers and
adults.
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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, to help others and to seek truth and
fairness.
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High Adventure. Venturing's
emphasis on high adventure helps provide; team-building
opportunities, new meaningful experiences, practical leadership
application, and life-long memories to young adults.
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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 they 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 of an
ethical controversy.
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