Venturing is for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years old, or who are 13 and have completed the eighth grade. It offers young people adventure with a purpose that serves to build character, promote citizenship, and develop physical and mental fitness. The experience helps participants mature into responsible, caring, and dependable leaders for tomorrow. Each Venturing crew is responsible for achieving these aims by designing a program that appeals to its members. Thus, Venturing is a catalyst: It brings together adults and young people, and incredible things happen. It is all about asking themselves and one another what is possible, and then setting out to plan and execute toward fulfillment.
4.3.0.1 Venturing Areas of Emphasis
The four areas of emphasis in Venturing are described as the ALPS model:
Adventure. Mentoring, leading, and participating in crew-led activities.
Leadership. Ongoing development through training, mentoring, and hands-on experience in leading others.
Personal Growth. Goal setting to help youth develop their skills and character.
Service. Leading and participating in community service.
Each of the requirements for the Venturing advancement awards falls under one of these areas of emphasis.
4.3.1.0 Advancement in Venturing
The purpose of the Venturing awards program is to provide a pathway for accomplishment in the ALPS model. Advancement is accomplished when an active program emphasizes and pays attention to the four steps in the process: preparation, learning, qualification, and recognition. Four awards make up the Venturing advancement track: Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, and Summit, but others also are described below. Venturers have until their 21st birthday to complete their awards.
For detailed requirements and more information on Venturing advancement or recognition, see the Handbook for Venturers, No. 33494; Venturing Awards and Requirements, No. 34784; and the Venturing Advisor Guidebook, No. 34655. Each award is progressively more challenging, designed to help Venturers learn and practice new skills and to track their success. Each challenge met puts Venturers closer to the next award, providing a well-rounded program and a path forward as they progress.
Unless otherwise stated, requirements for the Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, and Summit awards and other Venturing recognitions may be completed at any time after joining a crew. Venturing awards and recognition are available only to registered Venturers.
Note that boards of review are involved with only the Discovery, Pathfinder, and Summit awards. See “Venturing Boards of Review,” 8.0.5.0
4.3.1.1 The Venturing Awards
Venturing Award. This is the beginning of the Venturing experience. The new member learns about the program, what a crew does, what to expect from the experience and the adventures, and makes a commitment to the principles of Venturing. No board of review is involved.
Discovery Award. Participation and preparing for leadership are the key elements here. The Discovery Award encourages members to design and lead an active program of continuous adventure and service. Venturers who achieve the Discovery Award will have taken part in two crew activities, and as they become more active, they discover talents and learn skills that will help them lead and serve others. In doing so, personal growth will result, and they will gradually recognize the wide variety of opportunities awaiting them.
Pathfinder Award. In earning the Pathfinder Award, a Venturer should begin to establish a reputation as a skilled leader. The award seeks to engage Venturers more deeply in the program by delivering further on the ALPS model. One of the key requirements involves leading a crew adventure. The type of adventure—whether an extended bicycle or canoe trip, or even 10 days visiting the museums of Washington, D.C.—is up to the award candidate and the crew. The value in the adventure comes from learning how to lead and demonstrate skills through action. Pathfinder candidates will also continue to deliver service to others and to their own crew, ensuring it remains a strong and viable team. Goals set and achieved will continue to help the Venturer grow as an individual.
Summit Award. While the Pathfinder Award requires a member to lead an adventure, the Summit Award—Venturing’s highest—moves a young person into the role of servant leader. The Venturer will serve the crew as a leader—both formally and informally—and become a mentor to others. Additionally, Summit candidates are challenged to carry out a significant and valuable service project, where they will apply many of the lessons they have learned along the way. A crew’s program should be built upon a program of continuous, youth-led adventure, leadership, service, and personal growth. Each award level challenges Venturers to dig deeper into the question of who they are in order to truly develop and enhance their skills and confidence to complete the requirements. To the Summit Award recipient, servant leadership and community service are the cornerstones.
Ranger Award. High adventure and the outdoors have always been emphasized in the Boy Scouts of America, and Venturing is no different. The Ranger Award encourages a high level of achievement and proficiency in outdoor skills. It exemplifies challenge. Eight core requirements and at least four of the 18 electives must be completed. The crew Advisor or preapproved consultant must initial and date a Venturer’s Venturing Awards and Requirements book, No. 34784, when a requirement has been completed.
Quest Award. The Quest Award is about fitness and sports. Candidates learn about nutrition, exercise plans, and what is required for a healthy life. They may be introduced to an enjoyable sport helpful toward that end. As with other Venturing awards, members share with others what they have learned. This can be done through presentations or even sports clinics. Five core requirements and at least one of the five electives must be completed. The crew Advisor or preapproved consultant must initial and date a Venturer’s Venturing Awards and Requirementsbook, No. 34784, when a requirement has been completed.
TRUST Award. The TRUST (Tending, Respecting, Understanding, Serving, Transforming) Award helps Venturers learn about themselves, their communities, and religion and culture. It recognizes that trust is an essential part of relationships; that learning to trust is the challenge; and that learning to understand one another—especially those from different backgrounds and nationalities—represents a good start. The five core requirements are Tending Your Faith, Respecting the Beliefs of Others, Understanding Other Cultures, Serving Your Community, and Transforming Our Society. There are also 11 essential requirements of which nine must be completed. The crew Advisor or preapproved consultant must initial and date a Venturer’s Venturing Awards and Requirements book, No. 34784, when a requirement has been completed.
For complete information on Venturing Advancement click on the BSA link. Venturing Advancement