Venturers

Coast Guard Auxiliary Best Practices

 * Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) -- Introduce Venturers to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy
 * Canoeing and Kayaking
 * Coast Guard Auxiliary Boater Education for Scouts
 * Eagle and Quartermaster Recognition
 * Preparing for a Trip to the Florida Sea Base
 * Preserve America's Waterways -- Develop a joint waterway conservation project with a Venturing Crew
 * U.S. Coast Guard Academy Admissions Partners
 * University Programs

Methods and Ideals
The Methods of Venturing are:
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * Recognition Recognition comes through the Venturing advancement program and through the acknowledgement of a youth's competence and ability by peers and adults.
 * The Ideals Venturers are expected to know and live by the Venturing Oath and Code. They promise to their duty to God, help strengthen America, to help others, and to seek truth and fairness.
 * High Adventure and Sports Venturing's emphasis on high adventure and sports helps provide team-building opportunities, new meaningful experiences, practical leadership application, and lifelong memories to young adults.
 * 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.

The Ideals of Venturing are expressed in the Venturing Oath and Code:
 * 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.


 * The Venturing Sign
 * A raised right hand with the palm open, upper arm held horizontally and the forearm vertically. The right thumb is held slightly open, creating a "V."''


 * The Venturing Hand Salute
 * A full-hand salute, with the pointer touching the forehead or hat brim.''

Organization
The Venturing crew is chartered by a community organization such as a business, service organization, school, labor group or religious organization (church). The chartered organization is responsible for selecting leadership, providing a meeting place and promoting a good program. The chartered organization representative is the liaison between the crew, the chartered organization, and the BSA. The crew may elect to be all-male, all-female or co-ed.

The crew committee is a group of adults, led by the crew committee chair, who guide the crew program and activities and manage record keeping, finance, leadership recruitment and registration. The crew must have a minimum of five adults registered with the crew to become registered. The crew is led by youth who are elected to the positions of president, one or more vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, quartermaster, guide and historian. Other positions in the Venturing crew may exist, such as activity chair. The adult advisor and associate advisors provide guidance while allowing the youth to lead the crew.

Youth advancement
A Bronze Award may be earned for each category of arts and hobbies, outdoors, religious and community life, sea scouting, and sports. After earning at least one Bronze Award and meeting tenure, leadership, personal growth, and other requirements the Venturer may earn the Gold Award. To earn the Silver Award, the Venturer must earn the Gold Award, earn first aid and CPR certifications, show leadership, and participate in ethics training.

Venturers may also earn expert awards that build on one of the focus areas of the Bronze Awards. These include the Venturing Ranger Award (Outdoors); the TRUST Award (Religious and Community Life); the Quest Award (Sports); and the Sea Scouting Quartermaster Award (Sea Scout).

Male members under the age of 18 may also earn the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks from the Boy Scouting program if they have earned at least First Class rank in a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team.

Other youth awards
In addition to these awards, there are others, such as the Venturing Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement Award and the Venturing World Conservation Award. Venturers may also earn other awards common to the Scouting program such as the William T. Hornaday Awards. Venturers may also be recognized for their "excellent achievements and service to their community, state and nation" with the Young American Award.

Adult leader recognition
Venturing adult leaders who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements are recognized by a system of awards. The Venturing Leader's Training Award is available to any leader, while the Venturing Advisor's Key and Venturing Advisor Award of Merit< are only available to the Advisor.

Scouts & Auxiliary work together

 * Coast Guard Auxiliary -- BSA discussion list

=External links=


 * Find a Venturing Crew
 * Boy Scouts of America
 * Find your local Scout Council
 * What is Venturing?
 * Venturing Advancement at usscouts.org provides a huge list of resources for Venturers and leaders.
 * National Venturing Youth Cabinet site
 * Un-official Venturing Discussion List
 * Scouting magazine
 * Guide to Safe Scouting
 * Good Turn for America
 * Colorado Scouting Venture Crews participate in local Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Fire Safety Event, Columbine Courier, July 4, 2012