Venturing is an inclusive program through the Boy Scouts of America for males and females aged 14-21 (or 13 and completed the 8th grade). It's operated through Venturing Crews, units of youth and advisors that meet on set schedules and plan activities and events for youth like you! To find a crew near you and join the fun, visit "Be A Scout"!
The Venturing program aims to enable young adults to:
- Experience a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure.
- Acquire skills in the area of their crew's specialty.
- Become a skilled training and program resource for other youth groups.
- Experience positive leadership from adult and youth leaders and be given opportunities to take on leadership roles.
- Learn to make ethical choices throughout their lives by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
- Have a chance to learn and grow in a supportive, caring, and fun environment.
The Venturing program emphasizes four main areas known as the A-L-P-S model:
- Adventure - Mentoring, leading, and participating in crew-led adventures.
- Leadership - Ongoing leadership development through training, mentoring, and hands-on leadership.
- Personal Growth - Goal-setting in support of personal growth.
- Service - Leading and participating in community service.
The Boy Scouts of America aims to build character, develop citizenship and foster personal fitness. The Venturing program uses the components listed below to meet our needs and the goals of the Boy Scouts of America:
- Leadership and Mentoring - Venturers are given opportunities to learn and apply proven leadership skills. A Venturing crew is led by youth officers. Training courses, such as the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews, uses experiential learning to teach Venturers how to lead effectively. Once Venturers have led several activities, they are asked to then mentor the other leaders in their crew.
- Group Activities and Adventure - Venturers work with teams on everything they do. Their success is dependent on the interaction and cooperation of all, preparing Venturers for their future careers and paths.
- Recognition - Venturing includes an optional awards program that acknowledges and recognizes our youth for their progress through Venturing's four main areas of emphasis (ALPS).
- Adult Association - Adults serve to advise the youth as they plan events and make decisions, while ensuring the program remains youth-inspired and youth-led. This partnership provides our youth with essential connections and lessons that will prove useful in their future paths.
- Ideals - Venturers are expected to know and live by the Scout Oath and Law, ideals of Scouting created to inspire a culture of servant leadership, both inside and outside of Venturing.
- Group Identity - Venturers are not asked to conform to a set uniform. Instead, they have the opportunity to create their own standards for attire at their events and meetings, as they see fit.
- Service - Venturers serve their local and distant communities through personal and group service as the crew plans activities and individuals make progress through the Venturing awards program.
Our Ideals
The Venturing Motto:
Lead the Adventure
The Scout Oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
And to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and morally straight.
The Scout Law:
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
All information provided directly from http://www.venturing.org/learn-more.html