Venturing
Venturing Officers Association
We are hoping to use the month of September to reestablish the Venturing Officers Association or VOA. This will not be a fast process but an attempt to give the youth members of Venturing a chance to learn and understand how this program should be run and how they can use it to have more fun and adventures in their lives.
If you would like to get involved in this process please contact Nate Bacon ([email protected]) or myself ([email protected]). We are looking for activities you would to participate in, Days of the week that you are available to meet and most important that you are interested in being part of the fastest growing program of the BSA.
If any adults interested in being advisors are also encouraged to contact Nate or myself.
Scott Paddack
Venturing Staff Advisor
If you would like to get involved in this process please contact Nate Bacon ([email protected]) or myself ([email protected]). We are looking for activities you would to participate in, Days of the week that you are available to meet and most important that you are interested in being part of the fastest growing program of the BSA.
If any adults interested in being advisors are also encouraged to contact Nate or myself.
Scott Paddack
Venturing Staff Advisor
Venture Crackerbarrel: Roundtable For Venture Adults
YOUR INPUT is NEEDED Venture adults have so often said…you have Crackerbarrel on the Wrong Night.
I scheduled nothing this year, so YOU could decide when you want to meet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Call me at 717-762-0964 or e-mail me at [email protected]
This is, or can be, the greatest opportunity and tool for you so please plug yourself in…
Nate Bacon
I scheduled nothing this year, so YOU could decide when you want to meet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Call me at 717-762-0964 or e-mail me at [email protected]
This is, or can be, the greatest opportunity and tool for you so please plug yourself in…
Nate Bacon
Fun At Funcastle For Venturers
Here Ye, Here Ye…
All Venturers stay tuned we’re kicking off the fall season of Council wide Venturing events at Funcastle in Shady Grove, PA
If you’re not familiar with Funcastle it offers Go-Karting, Minature Golf, Batting Cages and Arcade Games.
It is located on Route 16 midway between Greencastle and Waynesboro just East of Shady Grove.
The date, cost and details will be posted on the Mason-Dixon Facebook page and sent out by e-mail
This is a Great opportunity for your Crew to have a fun time, and while you’re at it meet up with other Venturers from the area.
PS: this is the first of a series of ‘fun’ things that you and your Crew can plug into to add to your activity schedule. AND there is a purpose to this, we hope that be having these events you’ll get to meet other Venturers in our Council, and you will plan your activities and our Venture Officers Association will have new vigor injected into it.
Remember Venturing is “a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure”
Hope to see you there!
All Venturers stay tuned we’re kicking off the fall season of Council wide Venturing events at Funcastle in Shady Grove, PA
If you’re not familiar with Funcastle it offers Go-Karting, Minature Golf, Batting Cages and Arcade Games.
It is located on Route 16 midway between Greencastle and Waynesboro just East of Shady Grove.
The date, cost and details will be posted on the Mason-Dixon Facebook page and sent out by e-mail
This is a Great opportunity for your Crew to have a fun time, and while you’re at it meet up with other Venturers from the area.
PS: this is the first of a series of ‘fun’ things that you and your Crew can plug into to add to your activity schedule. AND there is a purpose to this, we hope that be having these events you’ll get to meet other Venturers in our Council, and you will plan your activities and our Venture Officers Association will have new vigor injected into it.
Remember Venturing is “a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure”
Hope to see you there!
Training For Venture Crews And Their Leaders
-- Intro to Leadership Skills for Crews –
Have you been trained?
Have your Crew officers been trained?
If not, we have a training opportunity for you!
I.L.S.C. is being offered Friday evening November 22 to noon on Saturday.
You DO need to pre-register by registering on-line via the council website at http://www.mason-dixon-bsa.org/event/1225387 OR calling 301-791-1211
We typically do a ‘field trip’ to Krumpies after Friday nights training, if you are so inclined to share in this bring some $$$. We also serve breakfast on Saturday and this will cost $5.00.
Other details will be e-mailed to you when you register.
Questions: Nate Bacon 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
Venture Training For Adult Leaders & Committee
-- Venture Leader Specific Training –
- VLSC -
Have you been trained?
Has your committee members been trained?
If not, we have a training opportunity for you!
In order to be trained in Venturing you need several training and this is one of them. More importantly, this is a good opportunity to sit down with other Venture leaders, network and be trained!
We are offering this very important training on Wednesday evening November 6th from 6:00 – 10:00 pm.
You DO need to pre-register by calling the Council office at 301-739-1211
Other details will be e-mailed to you when you register.
Questions: Nate Bacon 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
- VLSC -
Have you been trained?
Has your committee members been trained?
If not, we have a training opportunity for you!
In order to be trained in Venturing you need several training and this is one of them. More importantly, this is a good opportunity to sit down with other Venture leaders, network and be trained!
We are offering this very important training on Wednesday evening November 6th from 6:00 – 10:00 pm.
You DO need to pre-register by calling the Council office at 301-739-1211
Other details will be e-mailed to you when you register.
Questions: Nate Bacon 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
Venture Crew Training Date Change
Into to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) training is being held ONE week later.
The NEW date is April 12 - April 13
This training though intended for Crew Officers is in reality GREAT training for all Crew members! You can do it at the unit level, but when we do it at the council level it offers you an opportunity to meet fellow Venturers and here what they do and have tried...networking 101!
We start on Friday evening and end on Saturday at lunch time. This is an overnight event and a small fee is charged for breakfast and snacks.
More details...
Contact Nate Bacon at 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
Sign Up...
You must sign up by Monday April 1st 4:00 call council at 301-739-1211
The NEW date is April 12 - April 13
This training though intended for Crew Officers is in reality GREAT training for all Crew members! You can do it at the unit level, but when we do it at the council level it offers you an opportunity to meet fellow Venturers and here what they do and have tried...networking 101!
We start on Friday evening and end on Saturday at lunch time. This is an overnight event and a small fee is charged for breakfast and snacks.
More details...
Contact Nate Bacon at 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
Sign Up...
You must sign up by Monday April 1st 4:00 call council at 301-739-1211
Venture Leader Training For Adults
Venture Leader Specific Training is scheduled for Wednesday April 24th from 6:00 - 10:00 at council.
This training is a must for any actively involved Venturing adult (committee chair, advisor and assistant advisor), but in reality any adult interested in Venturing (committee and other adults) are encouraged to attend. The course is very fast moving as we compress a full day class into one evening!
More details...
contact Nate Bacon at 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
Sign Up...
You must sign up by Monday April 19th 4:00 call council at 301-739-1211
This training is a must for any actively involved Venturing adult (committee chair, advisor and assistant advisor), but in reality any adult interested in Venturing (committee and other adults) are encouraged to attend. The course is very fast moving as we compress a full day class into one evening!
More details...
contact Nate Bacon at 717-762-0964 or [email protected]
Sign Up...
You must sign up by Monday April 19th 4:00 call council at 301-739-1211
Your Help Needed!
April 26-28 the Mason-Dixon council will be hosting the area 6 venturing event "THE WESTERN PHENOMENON". This is a large event and in order to pull his off well we will NEED your help. If interested in possibly being on staff for this event please contact me via email at [email protected] or personal message me as we are putting an interest list together.
Venture Crew Jamboree News
A new feature of the 2013 National Jamboree is that venturing crew members are eligible to participate. There will even be special Venturer only activities at the jamboree. The Mason-Dixon Council is putting together a Venturing crew patrol to attend the 2013 National Jamboree in addition to a scout troop. Spaces are limited to 8 youth and two Venture crew leaders. To qualify crew members must meet the following criteria:
There are still Venture Crew spots available but they are filling up fast. Venturers and Venturing Advisors that would like to attend this historic Jamboree should apply ASAP at the official Jamboree website:
https://summit.scouting.org/en/Jamboree2013.
- Must have a current BSA membership with a Venturing crew.
- Must have graduated the 8th grade or be at least 14 years of age by the first day of the jamboree, but have not reached their 21st birthday by the last day of the jamboree.
- Be approved by the unit leader and local council.
There are still Venture Crew spots available but they are filling up fast. Venturers and Venturing Advisors that would like to attend this historic Jamboree should apply ASAP at the official Jamboree website:
https://summit.scouting.org/en/Jamboree2013.
Venturing Basics: A Comparison To Other Programs For Boy Scout Leaders
Venturing Crew: a traditional unit of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Members are “Venturers”, are aged 14-20 (completed 8th grade), and may be male or female (although many Crews are not co-ed).
- Adults are “Venturing Advisors (and Associate Advisors)”, are aged 21+, and may be male or female (called “Skippers” and “Mates” in Sea Scouting).
- Membership and Leadership requirements are set by the BSA and the Chartering Organization of the Crew (“Ship” in Sea Scouting).
- Unique advancement/recognition program: Bronze/Gold/Silver for all, “Ranger” for Outdoor, “Quest” for Sports, “Trust” for Religious & Community Life, “Quartermaster” for Sea Scouts, and “Eagle” for Scouts which have already earned 1st Class.
- Five general subsets: Outdoors, Arts & Hobbies, Sports, Religious & Community Life, and Sea Scouts, but individual Crews can define themselves and their programs with great flexibility.
- Standard uniform (spruce/slate) optional, custom uniform (i.e. Crew T-Shirt) optional. The Boy Scout uniform (tan/khaki) w/green shoulder loops is not allowed at present.
- Has Crew Officers. Does not have patrols. Leadership is shared by having “activity chairs.”
Venture Patrol: a special patrol within a Boy Scout Troop (not a separate unit).
- Members are “Boy Scouts”, aged 13-17, who join a special Patrol in their troop.
- An assistant Scoutmaster is assigned to the Venture Patrol.
- Members can also be members of regular patrols within the troop.
- Boy Scout uniform (tan/khaki w/red shoulder loops) with “Venture” strip over the right pocket standard.
- Boy Scout advancement program.
Varsity Team: a traditional unit of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Members are “Varsity Scouts” w/ the same membership requirements as Boy Scouts but must be 14-17.
- Adults are “Team Coaches” and have the same leadership requirements as Boy Scouts.
- A high adventure and sports program, predominantly used today by the LDS Scouting program.
- Boy Scout uniform (tan/khaki w/blaze shoulder loops) with “Varsity” strip over the right pocket standard.
- Boy Scout advancement program plus optional Varsity Letter (for sports or high adventure) and Denali
- Award (for advancement and leadership).
- May conduct Order of the Arrow elections.
- Hybrid leadership structure. Boys are still in small groups called squads, but also have program managers (similar to Venturing activity chairs), over each field of emphasis: Advancement, High Adventure/Sports, Personal Development, Service, and Special Programs & Events.
- In the current organizational scheme, a Varsity Team is essentially a special kind of Boy Scout Troop, just as a Sea Scout Ship is a special kind of Venturing Crew.
Exploring Post: a non-traditional unit of the BSA’s Learning for Life subsidiary.
- Part of the Learning for Life division primarily dedicated towards careers.
- Participants are “Explorers”, are aged 14-20, and may be male or female.
- Adults are “Exploring Advisors”, are aged 21+, and may be male or female.
- Participation and Leadership requirements are set solely by the sponsoring organization.
- No standard uniform, but some products and devices are available from National Supply.
- No standard advancement program, but units can adopt their own recognition systems.
- No mandated leadership structure, but a standard officer structure exists.
Historically, Exploring and Venturing were a combined program under the Exploring name and uniform. In mid-1998, Exploring separated from the traditional Scouting “family” and its High Adventure, Church-based, Troop affiliated, and Sea Scouting units formed the new Venturing Program. Career-based units remained as Exploring Posts. Arts, Hobby, and Sports based units elected to join either program.
Venturing Officers’ Association (VOA)
In the spring the Council Executive Board approved a restructuring of the council Venturing program under the new national suggestion for a Venturing Officers’ Association (VOA) under a new Venturing Standard Operations Procedures. The purpose of the Venturing Officers’ Association is to support and grow the venturing program in the council. The VOA Officers is comprised of four youth, five volunteer advisors, and a staff advisor. The Mason Dixon Council VOA is made up of:
Council Venturing President
Ben Hennberger [email protected]
Council Venturing Advisor
Seth Martin [email protected]
Venturing Staff Advisor
Scott Paddack
Vice president of Communication
Jessica Clipp
Associate Advisor of Communication
Thomas Radley
Vice President of Program
Alex Paddack
Associate Advisor of Program
Doug Hennberger
Associate Advisor of Training
Nate Bacon
Vice president of Administration
Kyle Zitttle
Associate Advisor of Administration
Doug Grove
The VOA has been working hard since the beginning of the summer on providing support for the crews in the council. Stay turn in the coming months for more information about new and exciting things happening in the venturing program. Also feel free to contact us with questions or suggestion on how we can help your crew.
Council Venturing President
Ben Hennberger [email protected]
Council Venturing Advisor
Seth Martin [email protected]
Venturing Staff Advisor
Scott Paddack
Vice president of Communication
Jessica Clipp
Associate Advisor of Communication
Thomas Radley
Vice President of Program
Alex Paddack
Associate Advisor of Program
Doug Hennberger
Associate Advisor of Training
Nate Bacon
Vice president of Administration
Kyle Zitttle
Associate Advisor of Administration
Doug Grove
The VOA has been working hard since the beginning of the summer on providing support for the crews in the council. Stay turn in the coming months for more information about new and exciting things happening in the venturing program. Also feel free to contact us with questions or suggestion on how we can help your crew.