Option 1: Incorporating Venturing into Existing Operating Committees Many guidebooks designed for council and district committees recommend organizing committees on the basis of function. For example, advancement committees handle all advancement-related activities for all Scouting units; activities committees plan and run council or district activities to help supplement what Scouting units offer. This is the recommended approach for districts: supporting Venturing through your normal district operations. A good reason for this approach at the district level is numbers. Most districts don’t have enough available staff members, volunteers, or energy to run separate district-level committees. Therefore, volunteers are recruited to represent Venturing on each of the standing committees at the district level: Advancement and recognition Camping and other activities Marketing Commissioner service Training Finance Membership A concern associated with this option is that Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting, which may be the strongest areas of your Scouting program and have the most membership, could take all the attention of the committee members and resources of the council or district, leaving Venturing shortchanged. People you have recruited for Venturing could become discouraged and quit. Two keys to avoiding this issue will be to have a chair who personally gives attention to all three areas and to recruit members who can effectively support Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. Option 2: Stand-Alone Venturing Committee A stand-alone Venturing committee might have the same functions as outlined above (advancement and recognition, camping/activities, marketing, commissioner service, training, finance, and membership), but at your committee meetings, you would discuss only Venturing. Many councils have found this method attractive for council-level support. The stand-alone committee usually cover all the functions of other council committees except unit service, which is best covered by the commissioner service. There are pros and cons with this option. An advantage is that volunteers are immersed in Venturing and all their energies go to that one area. One report or action easily leads into another, creating continuity. But a disadvantage is that Venturing may be seen as essentially separate and different from Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting, and the three areas may not interact; such interaction can benefit everyone. Spend some time discussing what could be the challenges or roadblocks to supporting Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing equally. At the council level, the size of your Venturing committee depends on the number of districts and
Appendix 3. Council Venturing Interest Survey This document can be adapted to suit local needs. It can be administered in a paper format or shared online. The Venturing program gives your crew the flexibility and resources to follow your passions, discover new interests and Lead the Adventure. We need your help in order to deliver exactly what YOU want in this program. Please complete the following questions to help your Council Venturing Officers Association (VOA) obtain a better understanding of you and your crew’s interests. Council:________________________ Unit No:_______________________ Name:_________________________ Generally how involved are you in your council’s VOA activities? I actively participate in/help plan events. I attend events. I am not currently involved but would like to be. I do not know if our council has events/activities. I do not attend or participate in events. Our council does not have a VOA that I know of. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: I am satisfied with the number of programs offered during the summer (June-August). Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neutral Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree N/A I am satisfied with the number of programs offered during the school year (September-May). Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neutral Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree N/A What is the main type of activity or focus of your crew? High adventure Camp staff Order of the Arrow School club Other:_________________________________ The Venturing program focuses itself around four categories: Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth, and Service (ALPS model). Please indicate the activities that are of interest to you and your crew. These can be activities your crew has done and would like to see more of, or simply activities you want to see. Please feel free to suggest other ideas as well. Adventure __ Backpacking super activity __ Intercrew beach party __ Intercrew bowling event __ Camping super activity __ Intercrew canoeing event __ Intercrew CPR course