
VENTURE/EXPLORERS
SCOUTING
History
The
Venturing Oath
As a Venturer,
I promise to do my duty to God and help strengthen America, to help
others, and to seek truth, fairness, and adventure in our world.
The
Venturing Code
As a Venturer,
I believe that America's strength lies in our trust in God and in the
courage, strength, and traditions of our people.
I will, therefore,
be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense
of honor in my own life.
I will treasure
my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it.
I will recognize
the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill
in my daily life.
I will acquire
the Venturing attitude that seeks truth in all things and adventure
on the frontiers of our changing world.
What
Is Venturing?
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, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good
citizens.
Venturing crews
can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby interests.
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 them in an active way to lead effectively.
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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, help others, and 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 lifelong 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 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.