Membership Pamphlet

Wear The Green. Join Venturing. Find us at: Northeastern Pennsylvania Voa.nepabsa.org Council 570-207-1227 Venturing [email protected] Association

VENTURING There are four Nova awards for Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. Each award covers one component of STEM—science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Venturer Scout Nova awards include: Launch!, Power Up, Hang On!, and Numbers Don't Lie. For their first Nova award, Scouts earn the NEPA BSA VOA distinctive Nova amwoarredNpoavtcaha. wA1fa9terdrst,heaat,cah Scout can earn three one recognized with a separate pi (π) pin-on device that attaches to the patch. The patch and the three devices represent each of the four STEM topics—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Supernova awards have more rigorous requirements than the Nova awards. The requirements and activities were designed to motivate youth and recognize more in-depth, advanced achievement in STEM-related activities. Venturing Supernova awards include: the Dr. Sally Ride Supernova Bronze Award, the Wright Brothers Supernova Silver Award, and the Dr. Albert Einstein Supernova Gold Award.2 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 19

S.T.E.M. IN What Is Venturing? STEM-stands for Science, Technology, Venturing is a co-ed high adventure program of Engineering and Mathematics. The BSA’s the Boy Scouts of America for ages 14 through 20. initiative to expand learning in these fields. To further this initiative, the BSA has created Venturing provides activities that help youth an awards system that rewards learning in pursue their special interests, become more these fields. These awards are the NOVA and mature, develop leadership skills, and become SuperNOVA awards. Requirements include better citizens. Venturing crews can specialize in a learning an demonstrating knowledge gained from a chosen topic under STEM. variety of vocations or hobby interests. Who Can Join? You can join, if you are 14 years old or are 13 and have completed 8th grade. You can stay in your crew until your 21st birthday!18 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 3

How to Find a Crew? Venturing Awards E-MAIL [email protected] The Venturing leadership award is presented on the Council, Area, Regional, and National Level to Venturers who have made CALL the Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts of America Council Office at (570) 207-1227 Or VISIT exceptional contributions to Venturing and who exemplify the voa.nepabsa.org Scout Oath and Law.. If you are outside of NEPA council, than you can visit You are encouraged to BeAScout.org to find a crew near you. refer to the Venturing Connect with us: handbook and scouting.org/venturing for Like” us on facebook.com/NEPA- Council-Venturing Officers the most up-to-date Association information on the Venturing recognition “Follow” us on Twitter@NEPABSAVOA system. “Subscribe” to us on YouTube and QUEST Award-Athletic award, must have find us on Tumblr at NEPA BSA VOA completed sports bronze, along with additional requirements. Ranger Award-Outdoor skills award, must have completed Outdoor Bronze, along with additional requirements. Venturing Shooting Awards-point-based, derived from shooting sessions. Awards for shotgun, muzzle loading rifle, pistol, bow, air pistol and air rifle.4 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 17

Holiday Lock In Why Venturing? The purpose of our annual holiday Lock- In is to Venturing prepares you for life, leadership, and serve as an “open house” for prospective fun. In Venturing you will learn many useful life Venturers interested in joining the program to check out all of the fun and excitement that skills, such as First Aid skills, Communication Venturing has to offer. It also serves as a “home skills, Cooking skills and many others. Like many coming” for our Venturers returning from their other organizations you have Officers, you will busy college lives for the holidays. Come on out have the opportunity to run for a crew officer and experience the fun and fellowship for position. The leadership qualities you develop yourselves! are instrumental to your success later in life. But while doing all this you also get to have the time The Holiday Lock-in is always a night you will remember. A massive Catapult competition, of your life. Whether it is Camping, Fishing, presentation of Woodbadge Beads, Jeopardy, a Water Skiing, Horse Back riding, it’s up to you to LEGO (and gingerbread building) competition, and don't forget about the food, are just some of the pick what fun things you do! things we have had in the past!16 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 5

What do Vent Camp at GPSR Indoor Climbing The Venturing Staff will make this year the most diverse series of summer camps in the history of the Northeastern Scuba Pennsylvania Council, with camps for Boy Scouts and Canoeing Shot Gun, Rifle & Pistol Shooting Venturers. This milestone will be achieved by sound camp Archery management and the program being youth led. Black Powder Shooting Rock Climbing As Advisers of Crews and Ships, we allow our youth to lead our Horseback Riding units. GPSR-VC does the same. Venturing week will host five Fencing treks that have a wide range of appeal. Newly formed Crews Staffed Day Camp can focus on leadership and teamwork, Crews new to Scouting Staffed Resident Camp Acahela Rocks can take have a week dedicated to experiencing both COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) Northeastern Pennsylvania Council camp in our Camps Bowling Adventure, for those looking for more high adventure we are Water Skiing offering both out island and camping / hiking treks as well. Kayak Polo West Point Camporee Polar Bear Swimming Insomniacs Revenge Venturing Rendezvous The Venturing Lock-in Sign-ups for this program are made by contacting John Sepcoski @ 570-472-3253 or email [email protected] Please note: Youth can attend this Venture Camp as provisional's. The staff at GPSR and additional Venture Crew leaders will be on staff that week. Both male and female leadership have been secured. So even if you as a leader are not available to attend, the youth still can. Venturers can do6 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 15

Venturing Summer urers Do? Goose Pond Venturing Week Florida Sea Base It is with great pleasure that the Northeastern Deep Sea Fishing Pennsylvania Council, BSA holds a Nationally Camping Accreded Venturing canp at Goose Pond Scout Mile Swim at Summer Camp Reservation. We ahve been running a Venturing Hanging out with friends Week at GPSR for over 5 years. The Northeastern Sword Fighting Pennsylvania Council is dedicating a week of Attend National Jamboree summer camp for those of us that wear \"green;\" Staffed National Jamboree As a Venture Crew Adviser, I know firsthand the Participated in National Youth Leadership Training importance of having a camp designed for our Staffed National Youth Leadership Training Hiking Venturing units. Service projects Ethic discussion/ debates Goose Pond Scout Reservation staff is chartered Religious awards Venture Crew 720, for the Northeastern Emergency preparedness First aide training Pennsylvania Council, and we take great pride in Living history our ability to have the finest Scouts and Ventures' Theater on staff. There is no finer summer camp staff in the Northeast Region. Since Scouting began 100 Almost Anything! years ago, the summer camp experience has been the cornerstone of learning, fellowship and fun. Goose Pond Scout Reservation mission is to continue that tradition.14 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 7

What Is A Revenge The Venturing Officers’ Association (VOA) of the Scouts arrive at camp on Friday evening and Northeastern Pennsylvania Council was created in 2010 jump headfirst into an intense, high- adventure and serves the purpose of running the Venturing program program spanning 36 hours straight to Sunday in the council. Run exclusively by youth, the meetings act morning. With all that said, we just have one as a forum for the youth officers of all the crews in the council to gather, discuss the program, plan for events, question: are you ready? and receive training and other information to aid them in 3:2 their home crew. The next step up is the Area VOA, which is comprised of the council VOA’s. This council is in Area 5 Venturing, which includes Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Europe and North Africa. Above Area is Region, of which we are in the Northeast Region. And finally above region is National.8 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 13

Insomniacs VOA? Insomniacs Revenge is the biggest event for the NEPA Council. It consists of 36 straight hours of program, every year is a different theme. This year it was a spy theme called “Into the darkness and through the night .” There are so many cool sessions you can attend like Judo or Medical. Then there are open sessions like C.O.P.E(Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) or Geocaching. Sleep is optional at the Venturing Insomniacs Revenge as this event is famous for its unique all night programming.9 NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 12

Youth Training Adult TrainingILSC Venturing Advisor Training The purpose of the Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews course is to This course is designed for Venturing teach crew members with leadership positions about their new roles and Advisers. It is different from other BSA how to most effectively reach success in that role. Introduction to courses because it acts as an introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews is the first course in the series of leadership the responsibilities, opportunities, and training offered to Venturers. Completion of Introduction to Leadership Skills resources that will ensure a successful for Crews is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced Venturing Adviser experience. leadership courses National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) and the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). It is also required Crew Committee Training for Kodiak. This course is designed for Venturing CrewNYLT Committee members. It is different from other BSA courses because it acts as an National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting, action-packed program introduction to the responsibilities, designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and opportunities, and resources that will ensure a experience they can use in their home troops and in other situations successful Venturing Crew Committee. demanding leadership of self and others. Powderhorn The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what they must KNOW, and what they must DO. The key elements are then taught Venturers can attend Powder Horn as soon as they with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the join a Crew. This enhances all the Scouting patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership. NYLT is a six-day course. programs, since Powder Horn also enrolls Boy Scout and Varsity Scout leaders and not just Venturing Advisors. For a full list of the current Powderhorn Courses in the Northeast Region Area 5, please contact the Area 5 Venturign President at [email protected] Woodbadge Venturers can attend Woodbadge as soon as they reach the age of 18. Woodbadge is consitered the primer training of the Boy Scouts of America, and all adult leaders are encouraged to take the course. For a full list of the current Powderhorn Courses in the Northeast Region Area 5, please contact the Area 5 Venturign President at [email protected] NEPA BSA VOA NEPA BSA VOA 11