Venture Patrol Patches

[Eighth Lock]

In my troop we have a mix between a venture patrol and a venturing crew. For the most part we are the normal venture patrol (you have to be registered in the troop, 14, and star) but we have too many kids that are ventures to actually fit us into one separate patrol. For the most part this isn't an issue, but we elected a "president" as a leader, and now are wondering whether a patrol patch should be worn, even though the boy is not the leader of the mixed age patrol that he is in, or should the Venturing President patch should be worn even though it would be on a BSA uniform.

 

Any thoughts?

[FScouter]

I'd say since you don't have a real Venturing Crew, make up some other title for the leader, perhaps Exalted Ruler or Supreme Potentate.

 

[John-in-KC]

< Shouts from the rooftops >

 

UNIFORMING IS NOT A METHOD OF VENTURING.

 

< / Shout >

 

If those who are chartered in the Venturing Crew as Primary Memberships, or who are solely chartered in the Venturing Crew, so desire, they may choose a uniform. It may be anything from a T-shirt to coat and tie. It all depends on them.

 

If they choose to wear BSA Supply Division uniforms, they should wear them with pride. I do know Crews who have opted for different pants than BSA supplies, citing quality, fit, and finish challenges.

 

Don't mix and match Venturing articles of uniform with the Boy Scout uniform.

[Eighth Lock]

The problem is we are not a venturing crew. We are registered with the boy scouts, wear our BSA uniforms, and are first and foremost Boy Scouts. We have a venture patrol, but it is not a separate patrol (members of the venture patrol are members of other mixed age patrols). We can't make a single Venture patrol because there are simply too many boys eligible to make a single exclusively Venture patrol. The question is what should the leader of the Venture Patrol be called (since he is not the patrol leader of his mixed age patrol), and what patch should be worn to signify his position?

[sheldonsmom]

Do they wear the venture strip over the right pocket? We have our boys do that instead of a separate patrol patch.

[John-in-KC]

Let me make this simple:

 

Venturing is a different program and a different program division from Boy Scouts. The Methods are different, representing further growth in a youth's ages and stages. The uniform is different. The degree of independence afforded youth is different. Oh by the way, Venturing can be co-ed.

 

It's even separately chartered from a Boy Scout Troop. It has an Advisor vice a Scoutmaster, and it has a President and operating officers.

 

The premise of Venturing is yet further independence from older adults ... as young adults start operating independently of Mom, Dad, and others.

 

A VENTURE patrol is an internal operation of a Scout Troop. It is not Venturing. If you have too many older youth for one Venture Patrol, open a second. It's that simple.

 

Don't confuse the two. If you want Venturing, create a Venturing Crew!

[OldGreyEagle]

As far as I know, although I've never seen the BSA Rules and Regulations. (sic) , there is no prohibition of having two (2) count them 2 or more Venture Patrols. You then have an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader responsible for Venture Patrols, that can be the leader

 

Keep Venturing and their uniform parts out of it to confuse the issues

[emb021]

As others have pointed out:

 

* do not confuse Venture with Venturing.

 

* you can have more then one Venture Patrol. Venture patrols are noted by the venture strip, not patrol medallions. (wonder why?)

 

Also the leader of a Venture patrol is a patrol leader, not a president.

 

 

[Lisabob]

Just a side-thought for you, if you have that many boys who want to be in the venture patrol, maybe your troop needs to re-examine the older boy program? Perhaps you need more high-adventure and more challenging opportunities for the older boys (there seem to be a lot of them if you could fill more than a patrol with 14+/star+ scouts). Perhaps, instead of worrying about how to get them all into one or more venture patrols, you should alter the program of the troop to keep them happy in their regular patrols.

[gaucho]

Yes, they only wear the VENTURE strip, use the red shoulder loops and are called a Venture Patrol led by a patrol leader.

 

If you have enough boys and or want to incorporate girls (if the chartered organization allows), you may want to consider chartering a Venturing Crew, where they can keep working towards eagle (if they are already 1st class) and also work towards the Silver award and Ranger award. They can elect to wear the green venturing uniform or anything else if they choose. Just not a regular scout uniform with the green tabs, because that is incorrect uniforming.

[Bob White]

TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING

 

You are neither a Venturing Crew, or a Venture Patrol. Until you choose one or the other nobody can help you gey back on track. Two things that might help, A venture patrol cannot earn Venturing awards. What gave anyone the idea that you could only have one Venture Patrol?

 

 

[emb021]

"What gave anyone the idea that you could only have one Venture Patrol?"

 

Well, part of the problem is the lack of much info on the Venture Patrol and how to properly run it.

 

I agree with the admonition of training, but afaik, there is very little training on how to use the Venture program. This lack of clear understanding of it has been a major problem with it almost from the begining, and not helped in the last few years with even less information.

 

 

[Bob White]

Venture patrols operate no differently from an Experienced patrol they simply work at higher adventure and skill levels.