Venturing Leader July 2017

Leader Leader July INSIDE THIS ISSUE \\ The Learning experience of a lifetime: 2017 NAYLE Sea Base 2017 2NEPA Council Venturing Officers Association Post Your Colors 3 72 Montage Mountain Road Moosic, PA 18507-1776 Jamboree 2017 3 voa.nepabsa.org [email protected] Summit: the Community’s view 4/5 570-207-1227 Insomniacs Revenge 2017 6/7 Venturing Resources 7 Insomniacs Revenge 2017 8 The Venturing App® 8 Calendar 9 voa.nepabsa.org [email protected] 570-207-1227President’s CornerI hope the beginning of everyone’s summer has been fantastic. It’s a great honor to serve you again as the VOA President duringthe 2017 – 2018 term. This summer, the VOA decided that we’d try something new; a scavenger hunt. Now, this isn’t your normalscavenger hunt, where you go out and find hidden things, but rather where you go out and do fun things. Who knows, maybe you’llfind something hidden about yourself along the way.There are 12 items on the list. If you complete every item and provide a photo as proof for every item, you can enter to win a bigprize. Every person who enters with the full list wins a NEPA T-Shirt. All items must be completed by September 6th and sent inwith the photos and your name in one email to [email protected]. (deadline September 6th at midnight)The list is as follows: 1. Try a New food 2. Visit a historical landmark/Memorial 3. Go boating/swimming/kayaking/paddle Boarding 4. Go to a state or national park 5. Go to a picnic 6. Do something Scouting Related 7. Be a part of some community service 8. Go see a movie 9. Try a new hobby 10. Eat potatoes (Yes, We’re serious) 11. Go hiking 12. Dress up as a Vampire or WerewolfI hope everyone has a great rest of your summer. I look forward to seeing some of the entries.Yours In Scouting,Joshua Sepcoski

Venturing Leader Page 2The Learning Experience of a Lifetime: NAYLE Sea Base 2017 By: Greta KetchnerIn the beginning of the summer I ventured down to Scout Key, FL to attend SeaBase National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience. NAYLE is a specialexperience in which youth are able to put the knowledge gained from NYLTinto action in a crew setting. The adventure began Saturday the 24th when Iarrived at Camp Sawyer. After settling in I realized we would be spending theweek in paradise. My tent was right next to the ocean and it was great (exceptfor when the fire ants came to visit me throughout the week)! The contingent ofNAYLE session 2 was composed of four different crews cleverly named afterthe history of Florida. My crew was Tequesta, after the group of NativeAmericans who lived in South Florida.I quickly met a lot of amazing and unique people who traveled from all over theU.S. and Germany. On the first day, we completed a challenge course andlearned about each other's strengths and weaknesses. There was also adevotional service next to the water which was beautiful. My crew spent theweek sharing duties of cooking, cleaning, and leading. Everyone had adifferent way to tackle the tasks which we were given. The diversity developedeach person into a stronger leader as the week progressed. On Tuesday night,there was a songfest and we shared our own twists on the songs from scouting.Throughout the week everyone had the opportunity to practice servantleadership to others. One phrase which was emphasized through the week wasprimus inter pares. The Latin phrase translates to first among equals. In servantleadership, it is important to consider the needs of others before yourself. Eachday, we would have a session going beyond NYLT in which we would discussdifferent aspects of leadership and which stage of team development our crewwas in. This reflection time was important to me because it helped to buildstronger relationships with members of my crew.Throughout the week, we experienced the beauty of the Florida Keys. Most ofthe time I was wearing a bathing suit. Our water activities included snorkelingand kayaking on the ocean. We had a geocaching course which included onland and water caches. We were fortunate to have guest speakers who sharedtheir expertise on coral bleaching, marine sanctuaries and constellations. On aclear night, two members from the Southern Cross Astronomical Societybrought a telescope to look at the sky. One day we traveled to Key Westexploring the island. It was very different than Scout Key, where we spent themajority of our time. We also visited Bahia Honda state park.In an effort to give back to the community, we spent a morning mappingseagrass near the shore of Camp Sawyer. Seagrass has an important role in theocean environment to provide food and shelter for animals. It also secures thesand and coral to the ocean floor providing stability to reef environments. Withour reports scientists will be able to predict environmental changes andunderstand the ocean habitats around where we mapped. We also worked on aconservation project by pulling up invasive species from the camp grounds.I am glad I was able to experience NAYLE at Florida Sea Base. It was anexperience which I will never forget. Everything I have learned I will usethroughout life. If you are considering attending NAYLE, Go For It! You willnot regret it.

Page 3 Venturing Leader Post Page 3 Your Colors! Jamboree 2017Want to show your appreciation for Scouting and share that The 2017 National Scout Jamboree will be held from Julyexcitement with others? Mark your calendars for July 5 to 23 so 19 to July 28, 2017.you can Post Your Colors! THE JAMBOREE’S PERMANENT HOMEPost Your Colors is a first-of-its-kind social media event for In 2009, the BSA purchased 10,600 acres of propertyScouting, giving you the power to share your Scouting passion adjacent to West Virginia’s New River Gorge Nationalwith your social network. Your participation in Post Your River area in order to create the Summit Bechtel FamilyColors will help demonstrate the power of Scouting, enable you to National Scout Reserve. The Summit is the new home ofreconnect with friends from your Scouting experience, and help achievement, adventure, and innovation in Scouting. Withreach more families so they can benefit from Scouting, too. world-class facilities and a focus on outdoor action sports, the Summit welcomed Scouts to a whole new jamboreeWhen we join together for Post Your Colors, we show our support experience in summer 2013. 2017 is the next nationalfor Scouts everywhere, encourage alumni to stay connected and jamboree and The Summit will also be hosting the 2019invite more families to get involved for the first time. World JamboreeVisit www.postyourcolors.org to participate. . VISITING THE MOUNTAINSFollow the 4 easy steps on www.postyourcolors.org and share There are incredible side trips that Scouts and families canyour love of scouting with others! take on their way to and from the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. A tour of Washington, D.C., is only a fewThere are also prizes to win! hours’ drive away, and the entire region surrounding the Summit is filled with some of the most beautifulWhat You Can Win If You Post Your Colors: mountains in the country. The Blue Ridge is just to the  VIP Family Tour of the BSA High-Adventure base of south, and the Shenandoah Valley is a short drive to the your choice east. That’s not to mention all of the incredibly scenic  BSA High-Adventure Base Campership – Winner must areas in West Virginia itself. be a registered youth participant of the BSA and at least 14-years-old at the time of prize selection. ADVENTURE  BSA Foundation 2018 World Jamboree The excitement of the jamboree isn’t limited to Scouts. VIP Experience (for 2) The Summit features a large visitor area, where day-  BSA Foundation 2018 Indy 500 VIP Experience (for users can try out some of the activities that the Scouts 2) are doing around other parts of the Summit. Also, 2013 was the first year that Venturers, a branch of the BSA #PostYourColors that includes young women, were part of the jamboree. Whitewater rafting and kayaking, rock climbing and bouldering, and mountain biking are just a few of the activities offered at the Summit. There’s also skateboarding, BMX, shooting sports, and zip-line challenge courses. And that’s just the beginning. For more information and to register go to: http://www.summitbsa.org/events/jamboree/overview/

Page 4A Summit Project from the Community’s view Sarah Gromala's Venturing Summit Award Project will make a difference in the lives of these children. They will have a duffle bag or backpack with some essential as well as \"comfort\" items, such as a coloring book, when they are removed from their homes. This will not only impact in a positive way a child's life, at a most stressful time, but will also make the caseworker's job just a bit easier in that he/she will have supplies on hand and ready when needed. The foster parents who welcome the child into their home will appreciate the toiletry kit, especially the hygiene supplies. The backpacks that were provided can be used when the children are enrolled in a new school.Sarah Gromala has completed NEPA Council’s Third It is often easy to take for granted these basic things,Summit Project! Sarah called her project “A Sense of and forget that for some having a backpack is aHome”. luxury. Sarah's project, in which she and others so generously gave of their time and effort, will make soShe arranged a donation drive and fund raiser for many children feel that someone cares. We are veryduffle bags, personal care and comfort items to give appreciative of her efforts”.to Youth entering the Foster program. Please read asa Juanita Krieger, a Social Worker in the Foster Care Sarah got the idea from an adult in her Scouting unitsystem explains the value of this project: family at Queen of the Apostles Church, Lisa Zurek, who was in the foster care program herself. Lisa toldImagine being a child and suddenly you are pulled us her story of how she was ushered into the Fosterout of your home by a stranger, often with police Youth program and the importance of having a bag topresent, and taken away from your parents. You are transport your belongings.only able to grab a few of your most valuedpossessions- some clothes, maybe a stuffed animal,and you toss them in a trash bag and leave behind allthat is familiar to go to the home of strangers.This is something children who are taken via ShelterCare experience. They are frightened, crying, andhave no idea what will happen next. Putting your fewprecious possessions in a garbage bag can make youfeel that it represents how others see you-as trash.These children go to a foster home where they knowno one, and are often afraid to ask for something theyneed, such as a toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, etc.These placements sometimes take place in the middleof the night, and running to a store is not always anoption. Sometimes children have to move from onefoster home to another, and yet again toss theirbelongings into a trash bag.

Page 5 Venturing LeaderA Summit Project from the Community’s view. ContinuPaegde .5 “It was the summer of 1992 and the month was August. I was nine years old and counting down the months to my tenth birthday because after all double digits was a big deal for a kid my age. I was at my grandmother’s house when there was a knock on the door and when I opened it I saw a very well dressed lady in a business jacket and matching skirt with a policeman behind her. She asked if there was anyone home besides me and of course I called for my grandmother. She identified herself as a caseworker for Children and Youth and ironically her name was Lisa. All I was told at the time was that my mother was very sick and since no one but her had legal custody of me I was to go into foster care until she became well enough to take care of me again. I can’t even remember my grandmother being in the room because at that point I could not think or move. I was scared, confused, and the presence of a police officer was terrifying for me.Lisa continued to explain that I will be staying with a foster family and that it was only temporary and she askedme where I would like to live and if I would love to be around kids my age. I answered her questions feeling alittle flattered that she would care about what my preferences were but I could not help but feel paralyzed thewhole time. To be honest I don’t remember breathing. After a few more questions I was told to gather the fewthings that I had with me and I was to leave with my caseworker. Luckily, I was staying for the weekend at mygrandmother’s so I had my Care Bear suitcase with me. My other belongings, I accumulated while there, had togo into a trash bag that Lisa brought with her.There is not a word that I can think of that is able to sum upeverything that I was feeling as I began to pack. Displaced, wouldbe a good choice, but trash would be more accurate. My littleworld of a few stuffed animals and well-worn items of clothingwere placed into the bag and I do not recall a single word beingsaid from anyone there. The embarrassment I felt did not hit meuntil after I was shown to my room in my foster home and wasleft alone to unpack. I considered everything that I took out asthings and not as pieces of who I was as a person. I stillremember a few articles of clothing that were in that bag. I canstill feel the thinness of the plastic as I tore a hole into it because Icould not untie the knot.I am a survivor and I count my blessings for the lessons that I have learned and for everything that I have. Thejourney that I had to undertake was not an easy one but it made me a strong person. Foster youth should not beconsidered statistics and should not be treated as another casefile added to the mountain of manila folders on thedesk of an already overworked and underpaid social worker. Foster children are taken out of the familiar, nomatter how turbulent that place of familiarity is, and thrust into the unknown where it is luck of the draw to seehow stable and emotionally secure their new home environment will be.We, yes I still consider myself part of the foster youth family, are extremely gracious for what others may justdeem as a small token of appreciation. These bags are more than just a “thing” to put our belongings into. Theyare a statement telling us that no matter what may be ahead that we are good, we are wanted, and we are worthy”.

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Page 7 Venturing Leader Insomniacs Revenge 2017 – Vampires Vs. Werewolves Page 7NEPA Council’s Venturing Insomniacs Revenge is What: 2017 Insomniacs Revengefamous for its unique all night program. Scouts arrive Vampire's Vs. Werewolvesat camp on Friday evening and jump head first into anintense, high- adventure program. With all that said, Who: Any registered Venturer or Boy Scout over 13.we just have one question: are you ready for When: September 22 - 24, 2017Vampires Vs. Werewolves. Where: Goose Pond Scout Reservation 1047 Goose Pond Road Lake Ariel, PAThe Insomniacs Revenge is open to both crews AND Directions to camp can be found in our leaders’ guidetroops. Provisional participants are welcome as well.Some basic information about the event and event How much does it cost?registration can be found below. Early-Bird Registration is $40 per person After September 2nd —$45.Be sure to download our registration forms, fill them After September 16th —-$50.out, and send them to our council office with paymentat 72 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic, PA 18507. SIGN UP TODAY!You can also download our event save the date flyerand leaders’ guide for more information at You can contact us at [email protected] .voa.nepabsa.org. Thanks and we hope to see you and your crew at the 2017 Venturing Insomniacs Revenge! Looking for Venturing Resources No matter if you scan the QR Code, navigate to http://voa.nepabsa.org/bookshelves or go to our website you will find one of the best collections of Venturing resources available. Our bookshelves contain books for Advancement, Training, VOA operations, Program, Membership and of course our Newsletters. You can even find Summit Advancement Resources The Summit Fillable PDF Advancement Resources: Venturing Summit Award Service Project Workbook, No. 512-938 Venturing Summit Award Application, No. 512-941 The tracking spreadsheet for the awards is available here:

Venturing Leader Page 8 Introducing “The Venturing App” ® NEPA Council VOA Designs “The Venturing App” ® The Northeastern Pennsylvania VOA is proud to present “The Venturing App”. Depicted on this page are beta tabs/pages used in the App. It will debut during Insomniacs Revenge September 22nd 2018. These tabs include the Events, Maps, Photos, Videos, About, and Newsletter tabs. The Events page will show the upcoming events with their description, whether that be for Venturing nationally, or on the council level. The Maps tab will display maps for the Council Camps and will show the customized Event maps during events like the Insomniacs Revenge. The Photos tab will allow Ventures to post photos from their crew outings and such. Photos will be Moderated before posted.  What do the other Tabs contain?  What other tabs will there be?  What other resources will be made available within the app? You will just have to download the app and find out :). The Venturing App will be available in the Apple Store and Google Play Store in October, so be on the lookout! or you can download a FREE copy at Insomniacs Revenge.

Page 9 Venturing Leader How can YOU benefit from the NEPA VOA Page 9Why you should attend VOA Meetings  You help to determine the program for Council Venturing events.  The VOA is there to support its crews, so if you have any struggles, you can let us know so we could offer our help.  The VOA will aid in your campaigns for membership.  Networking with other crews in your area.  You help to determine the direction of NEPA council Venturing  You have access to all the VOA resources for recruitment and planning. Read Around the World! Northeastern Pennsylvania Council VOA Newsletter, The Venturing Leader is read around the world. Since going to our new format for our newsletter we are able to track where our newsletter is read. Not only are we read throughout the United States but we are also read in Italy, Australia, Kuwait, Croitia, Mexico, Lithuania, Netherlands, Philippines and Puerto Rico. https://twitter.com/NEPABSAVOA http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs6Lhb5hg-P6gOCCCsf2OXw https://www.facebook.com/pages/NEPA-Council-Venturing-Officers-Association/485868761534738 July Upcomming Events / Important Dates September August16th VOA Meeting @ Queenof the Apostles Church In 6th - 12th Venturing Week 10th VOA Meeting @ SSTC inAvoca @ 5PM @ Goose Pond Scout Reservation Moosic, PA @ 5pm 22nd - 24th Insomniacs Revenge @ GPSR