Effort!

[wagionvigil]

If councils and ntional would put 1/2 the effort into Venturuing as they do for Cub SCouts we would have a better quality program and more youth involved. Actually if they woiuyld just Stop the Tigers and put tha in Venturing we would see a great improvement at the Top end and that is wqhere it counts high school kids.

[jr56]

Venturing is definately a underutilized part of the Scouting program, with much potential for growth.

[Chief J]

Venturing is extremely misunderstood. Most Scoutmasters think Venturing will take kids from the Troop. Most statistics I have heard is that if the kids are involved in Venturing, they stay in the Troop and are a much greater asset.

I know in my district in Greater Pittsburgh Council, there are only 2 active Venture crews and neither one is very strong.

I agree Councils need to work with Troops and identify where Venture Crews make sense.

Chief J

[scoutaholic]

It is the general policy of the LDS church that every local congregation sponsors a Pack, a Troop, a Team, AND a Crew.

That being the case, there are hundreds of thousands of registered Venture youth in the church, and thousands of 'volunteer' Venture leaders.

I think the biggest problem is that most don't know what the Venture program is about, and therefore, don't do the program. There is little or no Venture leader training or Venture activities available in our Council. This leaves 10,000+ Venturers with little council support, and wondering what they are supposed to be doing.


Chief J - In the LDS Church, Venturing doesn't take kids from the Troop. Church policy removed boys from the Troop on their 14th birthday and puts them in the Team, then moves them to Venturing on their 16th birthday.


wagionvigil - As far as I know, our council puts little effort into Venturing or Tiger Cubs. The LDS Church won't sponsor tigers, so there are only 154 in the council. There are over 10,000 Venture youth registered, but that doesn't mean they understand or are doing the program. While I agree that the Venture program needs to reach more high school kids, I don't believe it should be at the expense of the tigers. Tigers is a good program too.

[wagionvigil]

the point is Venturing, not venture is a program that councils do not put any effort into. Unless they are a metro council. Venturing in non LDS areas is not pushed. Yes there are Crews on paper but they do not do a whole lot.
VEnturing is much like the OA the Youth are in total control. The adults are only there to Advise. The problem is that Scouters try to operate a crew like a troop. IT WILL NOT WORK. The crews plan and carry out their program. Uniforms are not required and the crew is the only part of the BSA that can say Hey we will wear the Venturing Shirt with Tye Dyed Shorts! Perfectly legal. most Scouters cannot handle that.Advisors work best that are willing to take Powder Horn training, that have little BSA back ground ( unless willing to adapt). Here is a big one That is willing to learn and change with the program.