Scouter who's son has out scouted his own scouting experience

[JosephMD]

Obligatory, I'm new to this forum.  I've been around other scout forums on the Internet, always looking for that next good idea. 

 

I was quite active as a scout in my youth, between the troop, the post, & the OA, there were times when I'd be camping three weekends per month!  I came up short earning Eagle, I blame all the fun I was having, then that 17 year old version of myself that had a few better things to do and poof, I was 18. 

 

I don't think my oldest scout will have that problem, he's 14 and Life, working on Eagle, with his goal to earn it in time to have his Eagle Court of Honor before he attends the 2017 National Jamboree.  He is also in the OA, just joined a Venture crew, is an NYLT graduate and staffing as a troop guide this summer.  This summer, NAYLE, NYLT Staff, summer camp 1, OA Summit Experience, & summer camp 2.  I had to tell him no when he wanted to sign up for yet another week of camp!

 

My younger scout recently earned his Webelos badge.  A busy summer for a cub, Day Camp by choice, resident family camp & resident webelos camp because his parents think it is good for him, and cub scouts in general, also, his mother is the pack committee chair trying to put some more outing in cub scouting and better prepare the pack's webelos for boy scouts. 

 

Me, I think the scouting program, its aims and methods are awesome, and a very worthwhile cause for my time and treasure.  I'm not in it for my children, but for all scouts.  My troop role is as a member of the troop's committee handling advancement.  I also camp with the troop when an extra adult is needed.  I am also the district's OA chapter adviser, a job I really like.  I knew I wouldn't be a good cub scout leader, and even some of the first year boy scouts I find it very difficult to work with, it's not them, its me, but after they've been doing it for a few years, get some experience and get elected to the OA, they are usually at a level I can handle.

 

Oh, my youngest scout is a girl, she is a brownie, or she just bridged to a junior, but for camp this summer, she is still considered a brownie, we double and triple checked, so, well, next fall, she will definitely be a junior.

 

When it comes to forums and internet conversation, I come and go.  For some reason I'm craving information right now, just can't get enough, especially about venturing, I wasn't paying attention much and it seems like the whole program has gone and reinvented itself, or is it just explorers without the law enforcement posts? 

[desertrat77]

Joseph, welcome to the campfire!

 

I too am learning about Venturing.   My daughter joined a crew and is having a blast.   From what little I know, there are still LE Explorer posts.   They are career-focused.  

 

Venture crews (like my daughter's) spend a great deal of time backpacking and camping.   They have much more flexibility than a traditional scout troop, and this is a boon for many.   However, I've noticed that some scouters do not quite know what to make of Venture crews.   For a variety of reasons--the coed structure, the options (such as uniforming) that scout troops don't have, etc.

 

We have many experts here at scouter.com who know much more than I do on the subject.   If what I've shared is wrong, please let me know.

 

Joseph, I look forward to your insights and experiences along the way.   Best wishes and have a good evening.

Edited May 10, 2016 by desertrat77

[qwazse]

Welcome! Venturing is best described as a group of youth reinventing themselves to meet the unique goals and aspirations of the youth in their community. So the venturing crews in your district should be like a variety box of chocolates!

 

Advising O/A demands pretty much the same skill set as advising a crew. So, you should be able to relate well to some of the advisors in your district. Obviously, your son's advisor would be a good start!

[Beavah]

Yah, welcome, eh!

 

You're right that Venturing has recently re-invented itself a bit, at least advancement-wise.   The old bronze-silver award just wasn't seein' much uptake.   Actually, advancement in Venturing often doesn't get much traction.  Kids by that age are more mature, and goin' after awards is more an elementary/middle school thing, eh?  So I'm one of da skeptics in terms of whether the new Venturing advancement stuff will get much more traction, though I do think it's better.

 

As @@qwazse says, Venturing is also pretty adaptable to specialties and kids' interests, and done well it feels a lot like OA.  From what yeh describe, you'd like it!  

 

Career Explorin' has been a separate division of Learnin' for Life for quite a while now.  Old Explorers died back when Venturing was started.   The outdoors and ministry related groups became Venturing crews, and the pre-career stuff became the new Exploring program.

 

Beavah

[JosephMD]

@@Beavah - your style is going to take some getting used to. 

 

I'm going to let my son do venturing without me, completely, I'm already on his troop's committee and his chapter adviser.  His crew is focused on shooting sports, which is an activity he enjoys.  He is already looking at the ranger award and advancement thing, he's also interested in the Venturing Officers Association thing, because, he can't get enough leadership.  But yeah, my post as a youth was basically, more camping, and probably, some sort of trick to get us boys to help girls with their girl scout gold and silver projects.

 

J