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"They have asked me, since I am the experienced Scouter, to set up the necessary training (NLE and Youth Protection) and they are going to get as many club members as possible to take these." There is more to the 'necessary training' for Venturing then just NLE & YPT. They need to go thru Venturing Leader Specific Training AND there is a Venturing-specific YPT. Once they have done Venturing Fast Start, NLE, and Venturing Specific, they have complete Basic Training for Venturing Leaders.

In most countries the uniform (or atleast the colors) is different for each program: Cub, Boy, Senior, Rover, adult (or whatever these levels are called). And if you have Sea &/or Air scouts, they have different uniforms/colors as well.

"He mentioned something called a "brush" that one could get for a hat. He described it as a feather of different colors representing different positions or ranks. Its been a couple months, but I think he said scouts in other countries use, or have used these. Has anyone heard of this? I have done some web searches and cannot find anything. Maybe I am using incorrect terminology, but I would like to find them." The plumes indicated what program you were in (Cub, Boy, Senior) and if you were the primary leader, secondary, group, etc. They are pretty much only worn by adults. I believe the British Scout Association has a document at their website describing these. Here it is: http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs145002.pdf

"Keep in mind that all parts of the uniform, except the patches, can be gotten from other sources. You can get similar shirts, pants, etc. And it would be in keeping with B-P's original intent that the uniform be affordable and utilitarian. " Actually, not so. The BSA uniform parts are unique. its not just the colors they use, but how the clothing items are designed. While there are clothing items similiar, they are NOT a total match, and would be quite obvious as not being official. I have never seen any clothing items, in Wal-Mart or else where, that would be a perfect match. Also, other organizations mandate specifics for their uniforms in terms of colors, style, etc. Its NOT just a matter of getting 'blue pants'.

"I was wondering more on how does the organization and the way an Explorer Post is run differ from the way a Venturing Crew is run and is organized? I know how a Venturing Crew works but have no idea on the structure and the way an Explorer Post is run. " In terms of organization, there is NO difference between the two. Venturing really copied the then existing Exploring material in this regards. Literally. Keep in mind that the Venturing program was taken from the non-vocational units of the pre-1998 Exploring program. The difference between the two programs is NOT in how the units are run, but in the focus of the purpose for the program AND who is the chartering org. If the chartering org is a government body (and I include public schools in this), then they pretty much have to be an Explorer Post. If the purpose is vocational, then they really should be an Explorer Post. if the purpose is avocational, then they can be a Venturing Crew.

As others have pointed out, Exploring still exists under Learning for Life. As such, Exploring is not part of the BSA. The BSA 'owns' Learning for Life, but keeps the 2 programs separate. The only real similiarity between Venturing and Exploring is they focus on the same age group: 14-21 youth (boys and girls). The differences is that Exploring is a career orientation program (examples are Law Enforcement, Law, Fire, Engineering, Aviation, Health, etc), while Venturing is avocation based (Outdoor, religious Life, Sports, Arts & Hobbies, Sea Scouting). As noted, Venturing is NOT JUST Outdoors. While very popular, there are many other kinds of crews. Whether a group forms a Venturing Crew or Exploring Post can SOMETIME be dependent on the group and what THEY want. For instance, I have heard of Computer 'hobby' Venturing Crews. You might think 'hey, computers is a career', but these crews did NOT want to be moved out of the BSA, and so choice to be a Computer Hobby Venturing Crew and NOT an Computer Career Exploring Post. I have heard of Search & Rescue Venturing Crews chartered to volunteer groups, rather then Seach & Rescue Exploring Posts chartered to government bodies. (due to certain issues, government bodies are ONLY going to have Explorer Posts...). Now, is your group forming a 'classic car hobby' group, or a 'auto mechanice career' group? That will determine whether you should be thinking about a Venturing Crew or an Exploring Post. Hope this helps.

Not only are there cards, but there are large certificates for all the awards. You can get ALL the numbers from the National site here: http://www.scouting.org/venturing/support/resources/index.html But here are the numbers also: Bronze Award Certificate 33666 Bronze Award Pocket Card 33649 Also: Gold Award Certificate 33665 Gold Award Pocket Card 33648 Silver Award Certificate 33664 Silver Award Pocket Card 33647 Ranger Award Certificate 33663 Ranger Award Pocket Card 33646 Quest Award Certificate, No. 33651 Quest Award Pocket Card, No. 33650 TRUST Award Certificate, No. 32284 TRUST Award Pocket Card, No. 32285

"We played jeopardy too. Only problem was that several of the answers for the cub scout questions were wrong. For example one about the beltloops hadn't been updated to include the newer loops, but Wb staff (not recent cub leaders) wouldn't believe that this was the case! Actually we had some fun with this, "awarded" the new beltloops to them as "dangles" for their patrol flag in a little ceremony on the second weekend. " Same thing with my course, SORT OF. The problem is/was the syllabus has the old/wrong answers in it, and our course director wanted us to stick with those answers and we told this to the participants. Why we couldn't have just gone thru the game and updated/corrected it, I have no idea. It caused a few issues because of this.

I was first exposed to the "Win All You Can" game in the OA's National Leadership Seminar (WB picked it up from NLS). I found when I staffed WB, they seemed to present it a little different from what I had recalled from NLS. When I brought this up amoung the staff, the answer I got was "that's what we were told to do at WB CDC", so I dropped it. This bothered me later on, as I think most of the participants 'got it' at NLS, but there seemed to have been some confuse at WB. Not having access to an NLS syllabus, I have no way of knowing which was right.

Well, I can give you some of the events done at our Section Conference's Quest: 2004 events: Group Hug (get as many people as possible on a 3 ft square) Sand Ski Race Smoothie Delight (spin wheel to findout what 2 items will go in your smoothie) Mortar Madness (laugh items with slingshoot, must be caught by others) Labyrinth (blindfolded members with titled maze, another member gives verbal instructions) Gatorwalk Shake Rattle Roll Nerdling (4 members run course holding a 8 foot pole between legs) 2005 events Leaky bucket (fill bucket which has holes in it) Group Hug Spider's web (web of rope group must pass thru opening, only one opening may be used ever) Do a good turn daily (team stand on tarp, must flip tarp over without getting off it) Seminole run (relay run with secret word whispered to team members) Hope this helps

My dentist is an Eagle Scout. Somehow scouting came up, and when he found out I was involved in the program, pulled me into his office to show me a large shadow box (I want to say it was about 3 foot x 3 foot) that contained his boy scout shirt, explorer shirt (one was inside the other), his merit badge sash, (OA sash I think), and medals. Shirts were folded to fit in, but the main part of the shirts were visible.

"The National Scout Museum used to sell (It is not listed there now.) a documentary, "Scouts, Rise of the Scouting Movement" on VHS." This documentary was created over in Europe, hence most (if not all) of the clips are on B-P and european scouting. Great video. Wish it was out on DVD. Also wish the BSA would do a really great video (maybe for 2010?). Guess we'll have to see what pops up in 07.

First off, please use the correct terms. "Venture" and "Venturing" refer to separate BSA programs. We are discussing the Venturing program here, which have Venturing Crews. Please don't use the term 'venture' to refer to them. As others have pointed out, Firefighting (and search and rescue) are typically seen as careers, hence most units focused on firefighting and SAR are under LFL/Exploring. There ARE some SAR Venturing Crews, and I guess there could be fire service Venturing crews in rural areas. the only problem for such crews is all the program stuff is over with LFL. See this page: http://www.learning-for-life.org/exploring/fire/index.html for what I mean. There is a biannual Fire/Rescue Exploring Conference, for instance, and the like.

All- An update on my comments about 2007/2008 after learning more from those 'in the know'. 2007- 2 OA things going on: 2 "mini-NOACs" (poor term, actually), one east, one west, to prepare Lodges for the 2008 Service Project. Calling them 'mini-NOACs' is probably poor, because these will NOT be open to all members of a lodge, but only to certain key members, due to its purpose. There is apparently planning for some kind of 'OA Gathering' at the World Scout Jamboree. I have NO idea what this will be, who will be involved, etc. [i am going to assume we'll learn more about both of these at the 2006 NOAC] 2008- The service projects will at National Forests in CA, UT, MO, WY and VA. [i think they said what NFs at the Jamboree, but I didn t note them].

Red berets... ugh. My troop had red berets when I was a kid (still have mine in my collection). While one might think they would look cool, the problem with them was: * the design of the berets made it near impossible to wear them like the military does. Thus, everyone looked a little different, and more didn't look that good. * they are hot. We're in Florida. A cap with a brim would have been better. A wide brimmed hat even better. What killed any enthusiasm for the hat was seeing a female scouter wear a red beret perched on the back of her head like a french beret. (Note, yes, if you can find the official BSA red berets you can still wear them. I still see kids wear the old 'overseas cap' as well. I wish the BSA would bring that hat back in the current colors, as there seems to be an interest in them.) Personally, I now adays wear caps, usually a lodge cap or OA one.

the Wood Badge site (www.woodbadge.org) has a directory of upcoming courses (if people submit it, and the maintainer uploads the info...). This would be the place to go to find a week-long course. I have heard of kosher courses in some regions. There have been other group courses, like certain ethnic groups. I believe my council had a group of Vietnemese scouters who came and ran their own WB course at our council camp. All the food was ethnic, no english, etc. I heard from some local scouters who helped out that some of the participants were tired of all the ethnic food and wanted some hamburgers or hot dogs.

"Herms, I guess I didn't realize that the boys could wear those (expensive!) red jackets. I think I may wait until I'm pretty sure my son won't outgrow it in 2 months before buying one of those, but it would be neat to have a little ways down the road." Yes. Look in the BSA catalog. You'll see pictures of the boys wearing the jackets. There is also a red nylon jacket that is less expensive then the wool. You can also keep an eye on eBay to get a good deal on the wool jackets. Be adviced that these red jackets should really NOT be turned into 'patch jackets'. You are really only supposed to put on a few patches on the official red jacket: * generic red BSA jacket patch on left pocket (or in that location) * ONE large 'jacket patch' centered on back of jacket (OA, Jamboree, high adventure base, etc) * ONE of the special high adventure base patches above the left pocket (Philmont Bull, Sea Base Shell or Shark, Northern Tier Loon) IF 'earned' * ONE high adventure or similiar patch on right pocket. I recently obtained a red wool jacket off eBay, and that is all I put on it. (generic patch, philmont bull, OA jacket patch, florida sea base patch with segments) I've seen people use the red nylon jacket for patch jackets. Most look pretty...ridiculous.

"There is a district committee training. In our council it is offered once a year just after all the elections are held. It is combined with a council wide coordinated meeting usably held all day Saturday." Ditto down here. Did that some time last year. Also, most people on a district committee have a certain area of responsibility: activities, training, etc. so taking all the position-specific training isn't really necessary for someone on the district committee. As someone mentioned, get the "Highlights" booklet for your specific position (if it exists, doesn't for my position), and if it exists the large committee book for your position.

First I've heard of another NLS. This would mean 5 years between NOACs! (only about 3 people from each lodge would go to the NLS). My understanding is the following: 2006- NOAC at Michigan State University 2007- lodge training at the region(?) levels for 08 Service Event 2008- National Service Event (they showed info on this at Jambo. Its less like the Southern Region One Day of Service and MORE like Trail Crew/Wilderness Voyage/OAOA at 5 different National Parks/Forests around the country) 2009- NOAC 2010- 100th Anniversary Jamboree 2011,2013- NOAC 2015- 100th Anniversary of OA NOAC Now, something that some of us have suggested is another 'Indian Summer'. Someone at OA National said basically there is no need for one, as we do the same sort of things at NOAC. Sorry, but as a member of AIA (American Indian Activities) staff both at Indian Summer and the past NOAC (when we incorporated a lot of the craft stuff we did at IS), I can say there is NO comparison. As an AIA staffer, I found Indian Summer a VERY fun experience, even with all the stuff I had to do. NOAC 2004 was very exhausing for me and many other staffers as we were overtaxed to do all the sessions, and had little-no free time to enjoy the rest of NOAC. (sorry, had to vent a little ).

"I don't see a Reference for it in the Insignia Guide, but I've seen them worn on the back of the merit badge sash. Frankly, I think it cheapens the look of the sash and makes it look like crap. " Its in there. can't tell you where off the top of my head. However, a fairly active scout will get a lot more patches then could be put on the sash. Plus you only wear the sash at formal events, so why bother in the first place?

"The word is adviser; "advisor" is just a misspelling" "Advisor" is NOT a misspelling. My dictionary on my desk gives both adviser and advisor as correct terms. Advisor is the term that is used in Venturing (and used in Exploring previously) and by other organizations. Why the OA useds the 'er' spelling and Exploring choice the 'or' spelling, I have no idea.

"I think the Cub Scout WCA and the Boy Scout WCA, i.e. the "Panda" badge are slightly different. For Cub Scouts, the badge is ringed in purple. For Boy Scouts, the badge is ringed in tan. I even think there is a Venture version ringed in green." Sorry, but there is no Venture version. There is, however, a Venturing version. It has a yellow background and green border. "Don't forget that temporary badges may also be worn on the back of a Boy Scout's merit badge sash too. " Boy Scout badges, but not Cub badges. Also, if you have questions about were something goes on the uniform, get a copy of the "Insignia Guide". Any well stocked Scout Store will have one, or you can order it from National Supply.

"I'm trying now to remember all the ones who fall under the Distinctive Dress policy....my Wood Badge patrol project was on the history of Uniforms in Scouting and I can't for the life of me find the files now that I had saved in doing the research for it..what I'm think I remember though are not only Venturing and Sea Scouts, but Varsity and especially the Learning for Life programs. Since the later is more career oriented, it allows them to adopt something suitable for their own branch." The only program within the BSA that has the concept of "distinctive dress identity" is Venturing. The green/gray is recommended, not required. In Sea Scouting, the traditional naval-style uniform is recommended (BUT required at regional/national events). Varsity Scouts have their uniform, which is the Boy Scout uniform with blaze orange loops. This uniform is required. They do not have the concept of DDI. Varsity Scouts follow the same methods of Boy Scouting, which includes uniforming. Learning for Life is not part of the BSA. Exploring is part of LfL. They continue to follow the idea of DDI, with their law enforcement explorer uniforms, fire/rescue explorer uniforms, etc.

"Invite? Did you have to be invited in the old days?" YES. When I did Boy Scout Leader Wood Badge back in the late 80s, it was by invitation. Cub Scout Trainer Wood Badge of the same time was also by invitation only (which made sense, as that was a region-run course for council-level cub scout trainers). However, I know in my council that if you wanted an invitation, you could ask (and would probably get one). Today, they say the course is by invitation only, but also make it clear if you want an invite, you can ask and get one. Frankly, since most councils are doing 1-2 courses a year and are trying to fill the courses, I don't know why they even both saying its 'by invitation only'.

"Amazing how different courses/course directors do business. Our troop had ticket approval authority delegated to the Guides! Made life on Sunday much easier. " Ditto. That's how we did it. The Troop Guides are the Ticket Counselors. My understanding is that under the 21CWB, that's how its supposed to be. The TCs should be separate people from the TGs. (in fact, this had an affect on patrol organization and TG assignments, by grouping people in patrols who were in the same geographic area, including the TG). And it is my understanding that the ticket is between the participant and Guide. Now, this made in important that the TGs were knowledgable on the process. Difficult for me, as I came from the old BSLWB. (tho we did get training on the process as part of staff development). Someone on this forum said their course had developed sample Tickets for different types of leaders as a guide/sample. Wish I could get those, would really help people in the future.