January 2015

Leader INSIDE THIS ISSUENEPA Council Venturing Officers Association 1 A Double Award Recipient 72 Montage Mountain Road 2 Winter Lock-In Recap Moosic, PA 18507-1776 3 Winter Fun Day voa.nepabsa.org 3 Insomniac’s Revenge Recap [email protected] 4 Venturing FAQs 570-207-1227 5 Venturing FAQs 6 The new Tier s I – II -III 7 Year In Review 8 Looking Forward Have a happy New Year!Bridget McGowan: A Double AwardRecipient By Sydnee CurranBridget McGowan showed exemplary participation as a Mike Lolli and Rick Stritzinger, two of theVenturer, and it was proven when she received the advisors for the Council VOA, receive theVenturing Leadership Award. Not only has Bridget been Silver Beaver Award. The Silver Beaveran active participant in the past, but she will remain one Award is the council-level distinguishedfor years to come. service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are adult leadersAs of January 1, 2015, the Venturing Leadership Award who have made an impact on the lives ofwill be for Youth Nominees only. The award is youth through service given to the council.presented by councils, areas, regions, and the BSANational Council to Venturers who are just as active asBridget.In addition, Bridget received the James West Award.This award is not given by completing a set ofrequirements or after a given amount of time. It’s givento a Scout who either has donated $1,000 or who has$1,000 donated in their name. She won’t be a Venturerforever, but she will be helping Venturers in the futurefrom the $1,000 donated to the council endowmentfund. This money will raise interest and help pay formany things for future Venturers.Other VOA sponsored James E. West awards included,Cara Sepcoski, Donnie Stephens, Rick Stritzinger andJohn Sepcoski.

VenturingLeader Page 2Holiday Lock-In Recap By Matt Gramala The 1980’s Pacand Claudia Shandra The ManThe annual Winter Lock-In was a huge success.The theme this 2000’s The 1980’syear was Through the Decades, with the night running through Parachute Berlin Wallthe 1950’s up through the 2000’s. Before the Lock-In even Thebegan however, the building was host to another Venturing 1980’s Lightfunction. The Silver award ceremonies for Tyler Sepcoski, Saber Makingformer Area 5 President, and currently Area 5 Vice President ofAdministration, and Sarah Gromala, current Area 5 Presidentwere held.Up until December 31st, the Silver Award was the highestaward in Venturing, now replaced with the Summit Award.Tyler and Sarah have both helped Venturing, in this council,and as a national program, immeasurably, and the council VOAcongratulates them on this honor.Back to the Lock-In, the night began with various initiative Thegames to get everyone familiar with each other. The first 1960’sdecade up was the 1950’s, overseen by Sarah Gromala. TwisterActivities like hula-hoop competition, bingo and decorating amay pole were held. There were also duck and cover drills tothe sound of an air-raid siren.The night moved on into the 1960’s, run by Claudia Shandra, TheVOA Vice President of Communications, and had a slideshow 1950’srunning through important parts of the 1960’s. Some activitiesincluded Batmobile making, Beatles Charades, Twister, and Hulu-origami stars. Josh Sepcoski handled the 1980’s, with apresentation, a replica of the Berlin Wall made of boxes (with a Hoopingbreaking down of it!), charades, Pac Man, making lightsabers,and a Rubik’s cube competition. Then the ‘90’s rolled in,overseen by Matt Gromala. Included was a video on the ‘90’s,musical chairs with period music, a game of Guess Who, SegaGenesis console and Make-A-Video with a VHS camera.After the 90’s, everyone was given a bit of a rest, with moviesbeing shown, and sleep being optional. The next morningkicked off with some breakfast, followed by the last hurrah inthe form of the 2000’s, run by Emily Anderson. There was aslideshow for the decade, as well as karaoke, parachute game,decorating clothes and more. A year-in-review VOA meetingwas held immediately following the close of the Holiday Lock-In.Sarah Gromala from Crew 3701 and Chris Curtis from Area 5both won the costume contest for being the best dressed. MattGromala was named Venturer of the Year for his outstandingparticipation as a Venturer.We hope to see you next year at the Winter Lock-In. This yearwas truly a blast from the past!

Page 3 Venturing Leader VenturingLeader Page 3Winter Fun Day By Claudia Shandra and Joshua SepcoskiThe New Year kicked off with the Winter Fun Daythat was held by the Two Mountains District. Forthe Cub Scouts there were numerous stations,some including pictures with Olaf and Tux, fromthe WSB Penguins! The VOA ran stands and wasmore than happy to offer help and service. ManyVOA members were at the event to volunteer theirtime. The VOA ran the portable Gaga ball pit, andfishing area. Crew 3701 ran the disabilitiesawareness station, Crew 2025 ran archery andOlaf, and Crew 3110 ran dodgeball. We hope youhad a great time while you were there!Insomniac’s Revenge This past November, The council VOA held its annual Insomniac’sRecap By Matt Gramala Revenge. While usually held in September, and at Goose Pond Scout Reservation, due to unforeseen circumstances the event had to be rescheduled to November and moved to Camp Acahela, the council’s Cub Scout camp. This year’s theme was STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Activities ranged from the ever-popular shooting and climbing, to theme-based such as Electricity, Tesla Coils, and even a 3-D printing machine for the Venturers and Scouts to use. The campfire on Saturday night was held inside due to the cold, with many hilarious skits, classic camping songs and awards from the weekend given out. A special pinewood derby for participants was also held, giving a taste of childhood back to the participants, in an event normally reserved for Cub Scouts. Venturer Rachael Stark, a Sally Ride SuperNOVA award recipient, taught a session that educated participants on the NOVA awards, and how they can begin working on them. The NOVA awards are the Boy Scouts of America’s STEM-based awards available to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts and Venturers (different sets of requirements for each level of Scouting). The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Venturing Officers Association would like to thank everyone who braved the cold and came out to Insomniac’s Revenge, both the participants and leaders, as well as everyone who volunteered their time and resources to lead sessions. The VOA is already hard at work to make next year’s Insomniac’s even bigger and better.

VenturingLeader Page 4 Question Venturing FAQ’s AnswerApproximately how long will the Mentoring training The Mentoring training will run approximately 2last? hours.Until the Project Management training is released, if a Youth can begin working on the Summit Awardyouth has all of the requirements completed for the requirements that don’t specifically state that thePathfinder Award, except for the Project Managementtraining, can they go ahead and start working on the Pathfinder Award must have been earned.Summit Award requirements? It is understood that theyouth has not completed/earned the Pathfinder Awarduntil they go back and complete the training.We currently wear medals, such as the ones for The placement of these devices will not change. YouPowder Horn and Kodiak Challenge, may wear both the patch sewn on tohanging from the left breast pocket. With the new the left breast pocket and a medal hanging from theawards being sewn on the left left breast pocket at the same time.breast pocket, will the placement of these deviceschange?If a Venturer took ILST with their troop, can they Yes, they can use ILST.double count the requirement for the Discovery Requirement #3 says that they must complete ILSC orAward? If they can, do they have to have been a an equivalent course.Venturer at the time of the course?To clarify, if someone completes a requirement (for If they are leading the adventure to completeexample, leading a Tier II adventure) as a Boy Scout something in the Troop then ‘No’. The requirement(i.e. with/for their Troop), they can double count the reads that the adventure should be for the crew,requirement so long as the requirement was completed district, council, area, region, or national level.while they were a registered Venturer, correct? However, if the Crew Advisor and Scoutmasters agree to allow the Venturer to lead the troop in an adventure they may.Now that all programs use the same Scout Oath and Both. Both. Each program can be identified by its unique name, but we are all members not only of theLaw, are members of all programs referred to as BSA, but also members of WOSM (World‘Scouts’ or will they still be distinguished? Organization of the Scouting Movement). It is completely appropriate to refer to any of us as Scouts.

Page 5 Venturing LeaderVenturingLeader Venturing FAQ’s Page 5 Question AnswerFrom what I understand, the Venturing participants 18- The registration and rechartering process is evolving.20 years need to use the adult Here are some guidelines for the next few months.form to register and have completed Youth Protection For current Venturers: recharter as always, since theytraining. remain participants For new Venturers (any age): register as always, usingHow are they supposed to annotate the form to ensure a youth/participant application form, since they arethey are registered with the crew as a program participants.participant? In either case: no position code is needed since they are_________________________________________ not leaders in the unit - they are participants. Looking ahead: updates will be shared before the endThere is no Unit Position Code to reflect Venturing of the calendar year and will offerParticipant. We have started to talk about rechartering clarifications on re-registering current (18-20 year old)and need to know what is expected with this group. and registering new (18-20 year old) Venturers. Look for the new process to be fully activeAny assistance will be greatly appreciated. next year, probably around March. The new process will only require additional information for documenting adult-level youth protection training and additional information needed to support a criminal background check. Bottom line: until you hear something different, recharter as with current practiceHow can we apply previous Venturing experiences to If a registered Venturer met the requirement, asthe new Summit award written, he or she may apply it toward therecognition system? Summit Award system. Here are the requirements that are open to past credit if these requirements were completed as a Venturer prior to June 1, 2014: Discovery: A Venturer may receive credit for requirements 1 - 3, 5 - 6. Pathfinder: A Venturer may receive credit for requirements 1, 3-6, and 8. The \"Since earning the Discovery Award\" portion of requirements 3 and 4a will be waived for Venturers who completed these requirements prior to June 1, 2014. Summit: A Venturer may receive credit for requirements 1, 4, and 8. The \"Since earning the Pathfinder Award\" portion of requirement 4a will be waived for Venturers who completed these requirements prior to June 1, 2014. All other requirements must be complete after June 1, 2014. Additional FAQ’s can be found on our website voa.nepabsa.org

VenturingLeader Page 6The descriptions for Tiers of Adventure are provided Your crew will invest considerable time and energy inin the youth and advisor handbooks. Below is an preparing and carrying out a Tier III adventure.extract from the Handbook for Venturers: Examples include a 50-mile backpacking trip, planning and directing a science themed Cub ScoutThree Tiers of Adventure day camp, trip to a weeklong arts festival, New York City museum tour, organizing a sports camp forVenturing’s three levels of adventure are designed to disabled youth, participating in an internationalchallenge and engage crew members to experience Scouting event, and organizing and participating inadventure. Each level provides crew members with programming at a BSA high-adventure base.opportunity for leadership personal growth, and skilldevelopment. While Tier I activities are fairly basic, Your Advisor should be consulted to confirm the tierthey provide a preparation for the greater challenges of adventure being implemented. He or she will haveand opportunities involved in Tier II and Tier III the final word, for example, as to whether a single-dayactivities. A well-balanced crew activity program will organization-intensive activity meets the expectationsinclude activities and adventures in all tiers. for a Tier II or Tier III adventure.Tier I adventure—Little preparation or planning; little Tiers of Adventuresor no prior skill development; less than one dayduration (not overnight); not far outside comfort zone. The notion of tiers of adventure is designed toTypically, these adventures are good crew fun or challenge you and the members of your crew to takerecruiting activities and easily accommodate guests. on new challenges and provide you with experiences that you would not have otherwise encountered. TheExamples include bowling night, watch-and-learn use of Tier II and Tier III adventures is importantSTEM night, a trip to a natural history museum, and a because of the degree of planning and preparationclimbing wall activity. required to organize and carry them out. These adventures are real tests of your growth as a leader.Tier I adventures may be stepping stones that lead toimplementing a Tier II or Tier III adventure. Differentiating Tier II from IIITier II adventure—Some planning or preparation is The fundamental difference is in the level ofrequired; some prior skill development may be preparation, planning, and gathering resources to carrydesirable or even required; less than four days; outside out the adventure. Generally, a Tier II adventure laststhe standard range of activities. Examples include from two to four days duration and a Tier IIIorganizing and running a Special Olympics event, adventure lasts for four days or more. When an eventstaging a music and dance event for a nursing home, a of fewer than four days is considered a Tier IIIweekend canoe trip or camping trip, and a three-day adventure, it should reflect these criteria:crew road rally. § The planning needed to carry out a shorter event isTier II adventures can serve as shakedown events that comparable to that of a longer event.lead to Tier III adventure. § The preparation needed to implement the activity isTier III adventure—Extensive planning, preparation, similar to the preparation needed to implement aand skill development required prior to participation; longer event.at least four days duration; mentally and physicallychallenging. Tier III adventures are highlights of the § The opportunity to challenge the activity chair andprogram year, and may take place once or twice the members of the crew is similar as to what wouldannually. take place during an activity of longer duration.

Page 7 Venturing Leader VenturingLeader Page 7VOA Year in Review 2014 In May, Area 5 VOA ran the Venturing Rendezvous. In June, an election was held and Ryan Clarkson wasBy Joshua Sepcoski elected the new VOA president. His vice-presidents were Matt Gromala, Claudia Shandra, Sydnee Curran, andThe VOA has worked hard in the past year. From Emily Anderson. In August, the Venturing camp atplanning and hosting their own events and attending Goose Pond Scout Reservation. Participants from 3other events, to meetings and trainings. councils were part of two Kodiak treks.In the beginning of the year the VOA ran the Toward the end of the year, the Insomniac’s Revengeconcession stand at Winter Fun Day. The VOA built was held, the VOA gift wrapping at Barnes & Noble, andthree sheds and a Gaga ball pit for Camp Acahela. the Holiday Lock-in was held.The VOA built a Gaga ball pit for Goose Pond ScoutReservation, and helped run the district derby itselfand, by running the concession stand.

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VenturingLeader Page 10Inside our website you'll find information on the role of the VOA in our council, Venturing activitieswe're planning, training, and Venturing Crew support provided by the VOA. You can find all of ourprevious newsletters, our calendar, when our meetings are, who our officers are, and all of the newestventuring news. You can find our website at: http://voa.nepabsa.org Our Website By Joshua Sepcoski

Page 11 Venturing Leader VenturingLeader Page 112015 NEPA Council Venturer of the year Criteria Win $100 toward Venturing CampRules:1. Must be a registered Venturer for at least 6 months2. Must be a NEPA Council VOA Member3. Must be a youth member through August 20164. Can not use an event for more than one criteria5. Pictures to be emailed to [email protected]. Delivered completed form on or before the Holiday lock-in 2015 during any VOA meeting or event.Get 1 point for each of the criteria. Person with most points wins. Ties get pulled out of a hat.1. Significantly Helped run a VOA event Event _______________ Signed by ______________2. Went to a 2015 Venturing Summer Camp Council ______________ Signed by ______________3. Staffed Summer camp Council ______________ Signed by ______________4. Participated in a NEPA Council VOA event Event _______________ Signed by ______________5. Participated in an Area VOA event Event _______________ Signed by ______________6. Recruited a person to join Venturing Name ____________________ Crew ____________7. Participated in a VOA fund raiser Event _______________ Signed by ______________8. Completed ILSC in 2015 When ________________ With Crew ____________9. Completed NYLT in 2015 When ________________ With Crew ____________10. Contributed to the VOA newsletter When ________________ Signed by ______________11. Participated in a VOA membership event Event _______________ Signed by ______________12. 20+ hours of community service What ________________ Signed by ______________(outside of any service used for rank advancement)13. Attended at least 5 NEPA VOA meetings Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Signed ______14. Emailed at least 10 pictures of different activities Number __________ Signed by ______________15. Earned a Discovery or Pathfinder in 2015 When ________________ Signed by ______________

VenturingLeader Page 12 Past NEPA VOA President goes National by Joshua Sepcoski Donnie is from NEPA Council Moosic, PA. He is an Eagle Scout, a Vigil Honor Member of Lawwapaneu, and a previous NEPA VOA President. He has been elected National Vice Chief of the Order of the arrow. He is currently Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 232 and youth member of crew 163 in Shavertown, PA. Donnie is the past Northeast Region Vice President of Program. He has received the Founder’s Award, the Council Venturing Leadership award and the James E. West Fellowship Award. Donnie received the second Council Venturing Leadership Award and second the James E. West Fellowship Award that the VOA provided. Donnie is studying economics at the College Holy Cross. https://twitter.com/NEPABSAVOA http://nepabsavoa.tumblr.com/ http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs6Lhb5hg-P6gOCCCsf2OXw https://www.facebook.com/pages/NEPA-Council-Venturing-Officers-Association/485868761534738