Scout to Venturing Plan

[wagionvigil]

AS you can see SCouter01 there are som anti Venturing people on here also. It is a program of the BSA and if you cannot support the program ? Well? You figure out what I would say.

[ccjj]

Our new crew has 2 boys from a troop, and 3 girls. One was a member of a crew that folded, and the other 2 are sisters of current boy scouts. They have wanted to do scouting activities for a while now. We will have 2 more sisters after school is done this year, since they must complete 8th grade first.

So far, the youth are working well together. The oldest boy was elected crew president. He is currently a senior in high school. All of the youth are learning as they go, as are the adults. They will have elections again in the fall.

ccjj

[hops_scout]

One Venturing Advisor I know was saying how for awhile (and maybe still is) he was a hated person by many Scout leaders. According to them, he was "stealing the older boys." That crew currently has members from like 4 of the 5 districts in our council.

[jr56]

Actually, I also noticed that the girls seemed to do a better job of leadership in the Venture Crew. I believe at that age girls are generally more emotionally mature than boys.

[AquilaNegra]

A better idea, IMHO, than the forced push is Family Scouting. Cubs, Boy Scouts, AHG, and Venture Crew meeting at the same place on the same night.

An online friend from San Antonio wrote to me about this.

Eight years ago we started with about 25 kids: 2 Boy Scouts, 15 cubs and 7 Girl Scouts.

We had a little trouble recruiting due to the Girl Scout end of the program so for various reasons we switched from Girl Scouts to American Heritage Girls and our group doubled.

When our current Webelos move up in two weeks we'll have 35 Boy Scouts

Three years ago we started a Venturing program with 4 crew members and when our AHG girls move up in May we'll be somewhere around 20.

Now this is just my opinion:) When the whole family meets at the same time and location it's easy to keep them coming back. We have families like ourselves who drive more than an hour to get to scouts because we only have to go once for all the kids. We also have parents that volunteer to watch the younger siblings and toddlers that aren't in the national programs.

Most of our field trips/campouts and activities include the whole family in some way to help parents manage their time better:)

I think is a great model -- everything is a natural progression. Venturing becomes the "next step up".

[LSR]

A better idea, IMHO, than the forced push is Family Scouting. Cubs, Boy Scouts, AHG, and Venture Crew meeting at the same place on the same night.

An online friend from San Antonio wrote to me about this.

Eight years ago we started with about 25 kids: 2 Boy Scouts, 15 cubs and 7 Girl Scouts.

We had a little trouble recruiting due to the Girl Scout end of the program so for various reasons we switched from Girl Scouts to American Heritage Girls and our group doubled.

When our current Webelos move up in two weeks we'll have 35 Boy Scouts

Three years ago we started a Venturing program with 4 crew members and when our AHG girls move up in May we'll be somewhere around 20.

Now this is just my opinion:) When the whole family meets at the same time and location it's easy to keep them coming back. We have families like ourselves who drive more than an hour to get to scouts because we only have to go once for all the kids. We also have parents that volunteer to watch the younger siblings and toddlers that aren't in the national programs.

Most of our field trips/campouts and activities include the whole family in some way to help parents manage their time better:)

I think is a great model -- everything is a natural progression. Venturing becomes the "next step up".

Bit off topic, but I'm not a fan of American Heritage Girls. I think the main problem with the GSUSA is that they a: don't realize that the girls want to do stuff (a common complaint from female Venturers & leaders) and b: their Public Affairs people have as tin an ear as the BSA's, but in a different direction. Our PA folks don't do such a great job in presenting us to the broader society, while theirs forgets that it isn't good to alienate your core constituency. Look at our website, look at the GSUSA's. Theirs is quite a bit "hipper". They do a much better job with external audiences and a much pooer job with internal ones. Were I in charge of the GSUSA, I'd change the emphasis to an outdoor program (which would do wonders for empowering girls, btw) and do some serious bridge mending with my traditional base. They badly bungled the changing of the Girl Scout Oath.

Why I'm not a big fan of the American Heritage Girls: "A Scout is reverent." The BSA got this one right. We don't specify just how that is expressed. Jew to Buddhist, all are welcome. IIRC, they even had Wiccan services at the last Jamboree. The Scouts, despite their reputation, have an easy going tolerance in this area that serves the boys well. By contrast, the AHG states that is is founded on "Judeo Christian principles" and then promptly leaves out the Judeo part. Their Statement of Faith is explicitly Christian.

[wagionvigil]

Remember a Crew is Totally different in operatio than a Troop. It does not meet weekly and in many cases they meet one a montha or Quarterly. Planning out their program sometimes over the entire year. ALso since the program is activity oriented and not Advancement oriented there is even less need for meetings.


If you try to operate a Crew like a troop It will Fail!

[AquilaNegra]

Why I'm not a big fan of the American Heritage Girls: "A Scout is reverent." The BSA got this one right. We don't specify just how that is expressed. Jew to Buddhist, all are welcome. IIRC, they even had Wiccan services at the last Jamboree. The Scouts, despite their reputation, have an easy going tolerance in this area that serves the boys well. By contrast, the AHG states that is is founded on "Judeo Christian principles" and then promptly leaves out the Judeo part. Their Statement of Faith is explicitly Christian.

Yes, it is. They're upfront about it. All girls are welcomed, but the leadership must adhere to a statement of faith. If the people in your area are better served by the GSUSA, you'd want to substitute that.

The point is that parents with children of varying ages need only take them to one Scout night at one location. Scouts who age-out or are underserved in BSA and AHG/GSUSA logically move to Venturing. It's as big and small a step as Webelos to Scouts. And with Family Scouting, the progression is natural. Instead of being seen as a competitor to Scouts, Venturing is then embraced as the next step. I think it would benefit BOTH the Venturing program and the Scouts.

[VenturingL]

How can it be "the next step"? The 2 (Scouts & Venturing) currently have a significant overlap in age group. Does that mean Venturing starts at 18? A BAD idea - we have members who have gone to out-of-town college after H.S. They make it back for campouts frequently, but can't make the regular meetings. Do scouts have to choose at 14 which to do? We have a few scouts who are in our crew & a troop. It is by their choice. One has his Eagle & his troop is not that active, 2 are working toward Eagle & come from 2 other troops. We have met with great resistance from 1 of the troops (put downs would be a better phrase). One of the other troops is very supportive of us.
Others have made the point that Venturing is run differently than Boy Scouts. Patrol method with strong adult leadership vs. more of corporate board feel with adults advising. This, I think, is another reason troops don't understand Venturing (and may think it's "wrong"). But what a way to prepare these Venturers for the real world!
Having all groups meet the same night & place? If you say it works, OK, but I would question how. Adults pulled in more than one direction? Youth having to choose a single group? The more going on, frequently the less focus is attainable.

[ThunderingWind]

Interesting concept. I can see it working in some places and failing or not doing so well in others.

I would like to see the BSA and GSUSA try it on a council level (pick a district in each BSA and GSUSA council) and try it.

I would not go so far as to say you must do this but rather ask the units to consider the question "Waht is best for the children we serve, their families and those we are trying to reach?"

I think the church CO that has our Pack/Troop/Crew also has a Girl Scout Troop of some level (younger ones, maybe Brwonies).

AquilaNegra: Do you any PowerPoints from the CO you work with that is using this type of program? I would like to review it, modify it an try to present it to one of our units (with all the proper permissions of course).

[wagionvigil]

A crew operates more like the OA than a troop

[AquilaNegra]

Thundering, for some reason I can't PM you with the information. If you email me at aquilanegra (at) gmail.com, I'll give you the contact info, etc.

[wagionvigil]

PM is disabled on the forum.

[ThunderingWind]

Shameless bump....

Has any Council NOT turned in their plan to the Region and actually have Region hand them one?

I would like to see what is being handed down if nothing is offered up.

[ThunderingWind]

Shameless bump....

Has any Council NOT turned in their plan to the Region and actually have Region hand them one?

I would like to see what is being handed down if nothing is offered up.

[wagionvigil]

I am sure there were a f"ew" that did. But now with noone knowing what is happening with Venturing that is all a mute point. National Must Immediately decide what is going to Happen with the Program.

[biglou]

Are they going to rehash the Venturing program? I remember when the change was made from Exploring to Venturing. I think the Venturing program is completely underused and underserved. It seems to me that the Venturing program is treated as a step-child to the Cub Scout and Boy Scout program.

[wagionvigil]

Are they going to rehash the Venturing program? I remember when the change was made from Exploring to Venturing. I think the Venturing program is completely underused and underserved. It seems to me that the Venturing program is treated as a step-child to the Cub Scout and Boy Scout program.

DOn't Know And Bingo on the Last!

[biglou]

Are they going to rehash the Venturing program? I remember when the change was made from Exploring to Venturing. I think the Venturing program is completely underused and underserved. It seems to me that the Venturing program is treated as a step-child to the Cub Scout and Boy Scout program.

DOn't Know And Bingo on the Last!

Here is my two cents worth. If the other programs were neglected like the Venturing program, would we have the Scouting program we know and love now? I highly doubt it. Venturing needs to be promoted and utilized. Look at the history of the older Boy Scout programs. At one time their was Senior Scouting, then Exploring, and the most recent incarnation is Venturing. Instead of waisting tons of money reinventing the program, why not spend that money supporting the program. I wonder what would happen if other programs were treated the same way. I was going to name a particular honor organization but will refrain at this time.

[koholintscout]

Why don't you just make Venturing something people want to do on their own instead of forcing this on people who, in pro-Venturer's opinion, "don't understand" the program?

Just a thought.