Comments for Troop 1 Blog http://bsatroop1.us/wordpress The Web Blog of Boy Scout Troop 1 Jeffersonville, Indiana Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:42:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Looking Ahead – How About A New Venture? by Adam Villanova http://bsatroop1.us/wordpress/?p=168&cpage=1#comment-610 Adam Villanova Thu, 30 Dec 2010 02:42:27 +0000 http://bsatroop1.us/wordpress/?p=168#comment-610 Hey, guys! I'm Adam Villanova, and I am the Council Venturing Officers Association Administrative Vice President, and I just wanted to give a little personal testimony to the benefits of being in a Crew. I have been in Scouting my whole life, and with each achievement, there has been another level of Scouting to keep my interest. First was Tiger, then the rest of Cub Scouts. When I became of age, I went became a Webelo, earning my Arrow of Light. After crossing over to the Boy Scouts, I began the trail to Eagle. By the age of 16, I came to the end of that Trail, and accomplished my goal, but what now? I was old enough to drive, I had a girlfriend, and I had accomplished the highest rank of Boy Scouts offered. What could I do? The answer came when I applied for a job working at Camp Crooked Creek. To be a staff member, you have to be a part of Venture Crew 11, the Staff Crew. With a little research, and through meeting other Venturers, I found out that there was this whole branch of Scouting that was devoted to older Scouts who were interested in High Adventure, like Rock Climbing, Rapelling, and C.O.P.E. I was hooked. As soon as I found a local Crew, I signed up, and started working on advancement. Advancement is a little different in Venturing than in Boy Scouts. Instead of earning Merit Badges and achieving rank, Crew Members work toward Awards. The first level of award are known as Bronze Awards. As of right now, there are 5: Arts and Hobbies, Sports, Religious Life, Outdoor, and Sea Scout. Each Crew may choose to specialize in one Bronze Award, or can work together to earn them all, if that's the direction you want to go. My Crew has mainly focused on the Outdoor Bronze, but some of us, such as myself, have earned others. I am working on my fourth Bronze award at them moment. After you earn at least one Bronze Award, you are eligible to start working on the Gold Award. This is more focused on the community, and your involvment in it. After earning the Gold Award, a Venturer is eligible to earn the Silver Award, which is the Venturing equivalent of the Eagle Scout. It is very prestigious. There are also Expert level awards in Venturing. After earning a Bronze Award, other than the Arts and Hobbies, you are able to work toward an Expert Award. They are very difficult to achieve, but are very rewarding. These awards are associated with a Bronze Award, and they are: -Sports Bronze ---> Quest Award -Religious Life Bronze ---> T.R.U.S.T. Award -Sea Scout Bronze ---> Quartermaster Award (Sea Scout equivalent of Eagle) -Outdoor Bronze ---> Ranger Award If you have any questions, look me up on FaceBook - Adam Villanova - or email me at amvill04@louisville.edu, and I will be happy to answer any questions you have. Hey, guys! I’m Adam Villanova, and I am the Council Venturing Officers Association Administrative Vice President, and I just wanted to give a little personal testimony to the benefits of being in a Crew.

I have been in Scouting my whole life, and with each achievement, there has been another level of Scouting to keep my interest. First was Tiger, then the rest of Cub Scouts. When I became of age, I went became a Webelo, earning my Arrow of Light. After crossing over to the Boy Scouts, I began the trail to Eagle. By the age of 16, I came to the end of that Trail, and accomplished my goal, but what now? I was old enough to drive, I had a girlfriend, and I had accomplished the highest rank of Boy Scouts offered. What could I do?

The answer came when I applied for a job working at Camp Crooked Creek. To be a staff member, you have to be a part of Venture Crew 11, the Staff Crew. With a little research, and through meeting other Venturers, I found out that there was this whole branch of Scouting that was devoted to older Scouts who were interested in High Adventure, like Rock Climbing, Rapelling, and C.O.P.E.

I was hooked. As soon as I found a local Crew, I signed up, and started working on advancement.

Advancement is a little different in Venturing than in Boy Scouts. Instead of earning Merit Badges and achieving rank, Crew Members work toward Awards. The first level of award are known as Bronze Awards. As of right now, there are 5: Arts and Hobbies, Sports, Religious Life, Outdoor, and Sea Scout. Each Crew may choose to specialize in one Bronze Award, or can work together to earn them all, if that’s the direction you want to go. My Crew has mainly focused on the Outdoor Bronze, but some of us, such as myself, have earned others. I am working on my fourth Bronze award at them moment.

After you earn at least one Bronze Award, you are eligible to start working on the Gold Award. This is more focused on the community, and your involvment in it.

After earning the Gold Award, a Venturer is eligible to earn the Silver Award, which is the Venturing equivalent of the Eagle Scout. It is very prestigious.

There are also Expert level awards in Venturing. After earning a Bronze Award, other than the Arts and Hobbies, you are able to work toward an Expert Award. They are very difficult to achieve, but are very rewarding.

These awards are associated with a Bronze Award, and they are:
-Sports Bronze —> Quest Award
-Religious Life Bronze —> T.R.U.S.T. Award
-Sea Scout Bronze —> Quartermaster Award (Sea Scout equivalent of Eagle)
-Outdoor Bronze —> Ranger Award

If you have any questions, look me up on FaceBook – Adam Villanova – or email me at amvill04@louisville.edu, and I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

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