BurnsCrew440Advisor

Hi Mollie! I too am a rural Venturing Advisor. 1. Yes, Venturing is about the journey. The Crew learns the good he bad and the ugly of planning their own activities. For example if they plan a trip that is a distance away and everyone wants to go when it is being planned. But when the time comes to pay for them to go on their wonderful trip and they don't pay they don't go.If they pull it off by some miracleand go when they get home, they sit down and critque what went wrong and what went right for futue reference. 2.Venturing is Flexible in some areas.Bronze awards can be modified for you community. In Arts and Hobbies, it says to visit a drafting company the uses CAD Systems. In my town there is not drafting company. So one of my crew visited a Graphic artist instead. We don't have a gof driving range either so we substitute some thing else. You make use of the resources you have in your area. 3.My crew wear the green shirts for "Formal" wear( like Council meetings most of my crew is low income so we wear jeans with themsince the pants are so expensive.But we also wear t shirts and jeans. The crew designed their own and we are in the process of making our own shirts with a computer and iron on transfers. 4.The Silver is more the Venturing Eagle but you have been told that already. Being in a rural the Ethic in action is our hardest part.Since we don't have enough people to do a Ethical Controversy let two. We are hoping Council will help with this.Ranger is alot of hard work but if one buts their mind to it it can be done... 5.To recieve the Gold Award the Member has to go to a review committee made up 4 to 6 people including other Venturers and adults they have to review a written presentation, 3 letters of recommendation and give a interview of the Candidate.. One of the review committee asked my daughter what she did daily to live up to the Venturing Oath and Code. She told them tht as Crew President that she always looks for adventure and as a Pow wow Dancer she treasures her heritage. Mollie thee are lots of books and resources on the web, just look for them and make Venturing fun for the youth and the advisors too. It is amazing at the fun I have with these young adults. My child sees me in a different light and I see her growing up to be a responsible adult. Especially when she is teaching skills to a young Bear or Tiger Cub Scout!!

"I will get flamed for this one, but my view is strongly against co-ed scouting. Any organization in which a substantial portion of the activities include overnighters should not include young men and women. Such only invites sexual misconduct, and would leave the sponsoring organizations exposed to liability. I fail to see the wisdom in making it easy for young men to engage in sexual relations with young women. " Tortdog- you seen to think that all young men and women have sex on the mind. But guess what? They do they know how to control their urges.In all the activities I have done with teenage youth not once have I had to seperate and male and female. Why you ask? Because they have written their own By Laws. And as a Venturer they have a Oath to follow the Venturing code and their Bylaws.The Crew members monitor themselves and if they think there is a minute possiblity of anything happening or going to happen they take care of it theirselves before they have an Advisor deal with it. My crew knows that there are people like you that are waiting for their program to fail.And they are NOT going to let it happen. Scouting is Coeducational around the world." Of the 119 National Scout Organizations which belong only to WOSM, 91 are open to boys and girls in some or in all programme sections. 20 are only for boys. All 34 National Scout Organizations which belong both to WOSM and to WAGGGS are open to boys and to girls" Source: http://www.scout.org/satw/links.shtml I am sure that 91 countries are not having a "sexual misconduct" problem. Because the scouts spend time together they form a "family " and to quote my daugther" Eww! that would be like dating my brother! Gross!!" In my town, Girls Scouts goes thru the Junior Program after that the girls are lone scouts.They do not have any support unless it is from council in Boise- 190 miles away and a long distance call. My step daughter was in Juniors at her other house which is a bigger town. She called all excited because they were going camping which we do a lot here in the summer and it was at the beach.She called after she got back. Camping was staying in a hotel, she wasn't allowed to get dirty and she had to stay away from the tide pools.The next "camping" trip was to a lodge wear they stayed on the deck and watched birds all day.She didn't like the merit badges because they were sissy badges. Yes my daughter is a tom boy!! She rather go camping with the boy Scouts because "they get dirty and do fun things."I don't have anything against Girl Scouts I just think it has changed. I was a Cadette and we did fun things like hiking 50 miles down the Rogue River and Camping in Real tents cooking over open fires and making stuff to make camping more comfortable. Not staying in a motel, sounds more Like Trrop Beverly Hills to me. I personally see a coed Scouting program- yes it is still called Scouting a good thing. If resources are pooled there is more to learn and do.I have younger girls biting at the bit to join Crew so they can do the things that their brothers are doing instead of watching on the side lines. The girls are more involved in Venturing because they haven't done all the "Scouting things" like the boys. And in these days anything to keep a child active and not sitting inside is a good thing.I have one member that the only real adult contact during the week, she has is at Meetings because her mother works a graveyard shift (11pm to 8am). She keeps busy with crew and knows that she has some one to call if she needs at talk or someone to check those "I think someone is outside what do I do?"calls. My husband And I went down to her house and there was someone hanging around her house.She went home with us, after calling her mom and asking permission.She has stayed the night since then with my daughter the ony one allowed to stay on a school night.Scouting teaches to be independent but to know when to ask for help and if the youth is living the "Scout Law" all these other worries should be put to rest.

I have a coed Crew that also is close to our troop. And we have the same CO and most of our committee members are the same. When we have monthly committee meetings we are on the troop's agenda. The crew helps out with training since most of the troop is 1st or 2nd yr scouts. The 1st yr scouts came to Council Jamborall last October. They stayed in our camp. The oldest scout in the troop is the SPL and is 16 and is also a crew member. Do you have Crew Leadership in place? I know you said that the crew is small. We are small to but we have a President who is also the Admin. VP. A Program VP, Treasurer and Secretary. Everyone is on the activity team.We also did a VLSC shortly after we started. So everyone was trained. We even had a Eagle do the training and he said it was different from JLT. You also need to have By-Laws, there are many examples online. The Crew used one and made it their own. They have sections on Public Displays of affection , how camps should be set up ( boys on one side and girls on the other with adults in the middle), and youth protection, they also have a a clause about buddy system because we had a girl who used to wander off by herself. We do have our own calender that has our activities planned out, which we share with the committee so that Troop and Crew activities don't overlap. Talk to your Council and find out who is your Venturing Teen Leadership Council and ask them about council activities. Our TLC is sponsoring a Ranger Qwest at our Council camp in June. They also had a winter campout at the same place. My Crew taught a class on Community Venturing Crews at Scout University in January, they met a lot of members of other crews and are setting up activities with them. We live on the edge of the council and the closest crew is about 3 hours away. Our President was told to make their own program. So they have a trip to go fishing at the lake one day,they have done an Land navagation day,which filled the requirement for Ranger.They are planning a rafting trip and are inviting the 13 yr olds to come along. They have other things planned but they haven't told me yet...

Last Eagle COH went to was cool, one of our Crew , Toby, was recieving his Eagle. The family planned it at the Scout Cabin about 12 miles out of town. All the scouts love going there they have their own campsites a way from the cabin. The Crew helped serve hamburgers and hotdogs on the deck of the cabin. There was a table with all his scarves from Cub Scouts, pictures of all his scout activities from Tiger thru his Eagle Project, his mom put out his patch collection and all the projects that he had made while earning Merit Badges.She also had a scrapbook with letters from all the people who were important in his life congratulating him on his Eagle. Some of the letters were from people who where scouts with him,his friends that were away at college,plus letters from the boys that looked up to him in the Troop some were funny and some were tear jerkers. After we ate, we all walked down to the Campfire bowl at dusk and all sat on the bleachers for the ceremony.There was everyone from Tiger Scouts up to past Scoutmasters, and all his friends and family.The ceremony was wonderful,the fire was lit in the background,all the people involved in the ceremony were special to Toby from the youngest scout, to the Eagle Scout who lit the candles.His Dad and the Scoutmaster read the charge.When it was the time for people to come up and tell about Toby. There was a lot of laughter (stories of his mis adventures)and a bunch of tears (he was leaving for the Air Force soon). Lots of pictures were taken and when it was all over his Mom pulled out the fixin's for S'mores. All the kids still talk about that ceremony. Toby will be home from the Air Force in a few weeks and he is going to presented a scrap book of that day so he can take the memories and pictures with him to his new Duty Station.

The troop my son is in has a young man who bridged over with the Webelos after getting their AOL.He was in 1st year patrol and the patrol leader. His dad who was a ASM told him that he got Eagle by the time he was 13 he'd take him to World Jamboree. He went to summer camp and got some of his merit badges last summer 3 months ago he turned 12. Last week he has his BOR for Life.At his SMC the SM ( who also does the Eagle support) told him (with his Dad and the Advancement chair--me )present that he is not to do a Eagle project until he turns 13 and to enjoy being a Scout instead of running thru the ranks. The boy and his dad already have a project picked and planned out.They have had it since he was a Webelo. It is my opinion that a young man at 12 or 13 has not had the opportunity to enjoy the Scouting experience if he is busy rushing thru the rank system.

The Crew that I am Advisor to went to our Council's Jamborall last October. We choose to camp in the family camp area.Because we had better access to the bathrooms. We are a co ed crew and the plan of action for camping is the girls on one side of the camp and the boys on the other with adults in between. We had the new Scout patrol come over the day after us and they set up camp on the opposite side of the camp cook area. So they kids where in a triangle configuation,with adults in between. The crew and Boy Scouts did not go over to the "Troop Area" with out an adult.But they all did go up to the activity area. The other Crews camp seperately-the OA dance team slept in tepees at the actvity area and the other crew slept by the main gate since they were security.We all seem to have the same idea males on one side and females on the other with adults in the center. All youth protection in place.-- Our crew has zero tolerance for inapprorate behavior- it's in their bylaws. Especially since they do lot of activities for the younger scouts and Cub scouts.And they know that they are the role models for these young men. They really want to show them that girls and boys can work together without being "romantically involved." (We do have one couple in our crew but you would have a hard time telling unless you know them. They act more like brother and sister than girlfriend boyfriend.)One of the Cub scouts saw them in town and asked the young man why was he holding his sisters hand!!

A girl can not recieve the Eagle. But they can recieve all the other awards. The system starts with Bronze in several areas, then it goes to Gold and then the Silver which by the way has a eagle on it. There are also two other award programs, one is Ranger which is outdoor skills, with a basic core group if you do half of the core requirements, you recieve your Outdoor Bronze.Then there are electives to do for the Ranger. Rangers have been known to help out troops and packs with programs. The other award is Quest which is a sport based award. I haven't had much experience with it yet, one of my crew members just bought the book. Female crew members are not able to join Order of the Arrow either. But my Daughter is on the OA Dance team. Because they are a Crew. If your daughter is still interested in Crew when she is old enough. Let her join up!!! The girls do extremely well in the Crew enviroment. They are great at running the program. My crew is about 80% female. YIV, Lana

nldscout, The Chartering Organization is the Latter Day Saints , ( Mormon's). My Council is mostly Mormon. We spent most of our Council Jamborall telling people that my Crew had girls in it and yes they were allowed to do activities. We did sleep in the Family Camp area, just to help keep the peace. YIS Lana

The troop that my son belongs to would be in big trouble with out women. Our CC is a woman as is 3 of the committee members. At most of the troop meetings there are more moms helping out than dads. There are at least 5 single moms who jump right in and help including myself. We usually help with the younger boys. Unfortunately, we have only one older boy ( high school age)the SPL- the next oldest boys are the 2 7th graders, one is a Star and the other is almost a Star. So 3 boys with 20 newer scouts. So the parents check in with the SPL and he tells us where we can help.Our troop is boy ran, the PLC meeting is where things are planned and the boys do have a say. Campouts are open to all adults that want to go. The more adults the more transportation and supervision.But the adult is not to help the patrol that their son is in.This includes the Scoutmaster, the ASM works with his son's patrol.

My son is dual registered but so is all the troop. We combined with the LDS troop because of there were not that many boys participating. The boys are all dual registered so if one kid rides with another troops car on the trip permit, he is covered. When the boys went to Summer camp 220 miles away the boys went as one troop even though they were from 2 saved the kids money since there were enough boys to fill their camp site. And they all had a blast.The LDS troop has their own Committee but so do we. Town troop Committee is more active working with the boys, but the Church boys parents take on Transportation. The SPL is a member of 2 troops and 2 Crews. He decided which Crew activity he wants to go one. He went Snowboarding a couple weeks ago with the Church kids. And next week he is doing the Blue and Gold as a SPL and Town Crew Member. After he completes his Eagle he'll still stay connected to the Troops but will only be active in the Town Crew. He likes the girls doing most of the planning!!

We just went to University Of Scouting this last weekend. One of the things we hear over and over. Use your resources!! And a Eagle Scout is a big resource no matter what the age. The Troop here has a SM that hasn't had a son in a troop for over 25 years. In fact alot of the committee don't have sons in the troop. But they are great resources and living in a small town far from the Council we use what we have. One thing for sure, we never have to worry about 2 deep leadership!!

Our Committee Chair came into my work today and asked me if the Crew members are to be registered as Troop members. I told her no-except for her son who is the PLC of the Troop. I also told her that the Crew except for,her son and one other boy,are girls and they can not be registered in a Boy Scout Troop. She also asked me if I knew or could find out the BSA policy on family members going on Boy Scout activites with the Scoutmaster. (ie, family members- the whole family wife and 2 girls a sophmore in HS and a 5th grader and now a 3rd girl who is a senior. and not just one or two campouts a year but every campout and activity.)The wife is a committee member and she does help at campouts and activities. The sophmore was registered as a crew member but this fall she informed the crew that she only registered so she could camping with the troop.The girl who was in crew helps out and helps teach things to the new scouts. But the 5th grader wants to do what the boys are doing and if she isn't allowed to do it or if her sister isn't watching her she'll take off by herself and do what she wants. The Scoutmaster has been with our troop for just over a year.He told the old Scoutmaster that he wanted his job. So he was given it with all the proper training. We have combined the our troop with the LDS troop and committees because of low membership.Some of the committee members have asked him to not take the family with him on most activities but he is fighting it.He has once did a campout without the "girls" and his son had a wonderful time.The boys had a blast doing "boy" things.And we had some of the older boys go on that campout. Is there any BSA rules being broken. The mom is there so YP is covered.If you were the Committee Chair what would you do?

Hi All! My Name is Lana. I"m the Advisor of Crew 440 from Burns,Oregon. We are in the western most part of the 7 Rivers District of the Ore-Ida Council. I was also the Advancement Chair for our town Troop 440. I was supposed to be the Assistant Advisor when we started talking about putting a Crew together for the Scout's Sisters. I went to our Council Pow Wow/Scout University to get more info on Venturing and Advancement. But by the time we drove home the 3 hours home the Crew was the Troop's treasurer's and my Crew. Her son, Toby, had just finished his Eagle Review and was getting ready to turn 18.And my daughter, Brandi snagged everything I had on Venturing. A week later we had our Charter signed and started meetings.Brandi worked hard to get everything started. Toby helped as much as he could around work, Senior Project and being ASM. We started with 4 youth and now we are up to 9 with Toby just finishing Air Force Basic and will drop membership next month. In the past year the Crew has all except the 3 new members thru VLSC ( training) and all the Adults trained. We have more adults than kids right now including Committee and Consultants. They helped run the Pack's Blue and Gold Banquet, did a Cub Scout Olympics,taught Knot tying at our County's 4H Camp,set up and ran the Scout booth at the County Fair which they won First place for design and information, and help decorated and rode on a float for the Christmas Parade. They also did 2 fundraisers and attended our Council's Jamborall a 190 miles away.And repeatly answered "Yes!! There are Girls in Venturing!" We have 2 boys right now. Plus they were given the honor of doing a Skit with the 2nd year Webelos from our Pack for the first campfire of the Jamborall!! At the end of the month we will be helping our District Exec. do a class on Running a Community Crew at Council Pow wow/Scout University. Our District Exec says we are the most active Crew in the Council,but they don't think that way -They were having Fun! Nice to meet everyone! YIS, Lana

My daughter, Brandi,who happens to be the Crew President is getting ready for her Crew Review for her Gold Award. (She got her Bronze last month but we haven't given it to her yet.) Some of the committee members of the Crew would like for her to be awarded it at the Blue and Gold Banquet. Last year it was our first activity as a Crew.This years banquet is going to be a combination of Pack, Troop and Crew. And our District Exec. and various other dignitaries will be there.Which is fine with Brandi since she has been active in Committee meetings and worked with both the Cubs and Troop and the District Exec. over the past year. Our problem is that we found one ceremony for Gold award and she is a little uncomfortable with it since the building we will be using doesn't allow candles and this ceremony uses candles.And we don't have a lot of members. We are a relativly new Crew so Brandi is our First Gold Award. Can anyone help her with some ideas or who she can get some ideas from?? We live a long ways from other Crews and our Council office. She has worked really hard to get this award and I would like it to be special. Any input would be greatly appreciated. We have about a month to get this all planned out. >We would like to thank any one with any ideas! Lana(This message has been edited by BurnsCrew440Advisor)

The Crew I advise is Coed. We started out in February with 5 girls and 1 boy, who was a Senior and just got his Eagle and turned 18.Our Officers except the Treasurer were and still are all girls. These young women have done a wonderful job. The young man has just left for the Air Force.And we now have 8 girls and 2 boys, one is the ASM of the Troop who pops his head in to meeting so see if he needs to know anything. Since the Troop meetings are the same time as Crew. The President of the Crew has just got her Religous Bronze and has qualified for her Gold Award in February.Up until the beginning of this School year all the Crew had their VLSC and the new members are working on theirs now. Girls seem to do all the planning and the boys follow.. Hope this helps. And by the way we live in a very rural area with a High school population of 160 kids.