Venturing Leader March 2017

Leader Leader March INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 \\ National Park Service 2017 The Trail to Summit 2NEPA Council Venturing Officers Association Crew Spotlight 3 72 Montage Mountain Road Tips on Membership Recruitment 3 Moosic, PA 18507-1776 Special Needs Scouting Award 4 voa.nepabsa.org [email protected] 2017 NEPA Polar Bear 4 570-207-1227 2017 Puerto Rico Venturee 5 2017 Spring Fling Campore 6 Balancing School & Scouts 7 Calendar 8 voa.nepabsa.org [email protected] 570-207-1227President’s CornerDear Venturers,I hope everyone has had an amazing beginning months of the year.The VOA has been working hard to come up with something exciting foryou to enjoy. As you will see in later in this newsletter, we are going back tothe NEPA VOA roots, and running a spring event for the first time in 5years.We have created a concoction of old and new formulas to ensure that youwill have the time of your lives at this event. The Spring Fling is guaranteedto be a blast.Themed to Mission”s” Impossible, you will be emerged into the world ofcovert operations. You will sneak past guards, speak in code, learn thesecrets of enemy embattlements, and have all the makings of a covertoperative by the end of the Spring Fling.See you there!Yours in Scouting,Joshua Sepcoski.

Venturing Leader Page 2 National Park Service and The Summit By: Sarah Gromala not already done so, to find the park which inspires you, and make an effort to visit it at some point in your lifetime. “My” Park is Redwood National and State Park. The redwood trees are gigantic. The unique attraction in the park is a tree which you can actually walk or drive through. It is colossal! This past summer, I visited the National Mall memorials in Washington D.C. which is maintained by the NPS.In 2016, The National Park Service celebrated its According to an article posted by Bryan WendellCentennial! The 100th year commemorative bash was “2017 National Jamboree sub-camps will be namedcelebrated all year long, increasing awareness for after national parks”, It has been decided that theAmerica’s rich history and the National Parks which camps which scouts stay while attending the 2017seek to protect the great lands which we are fortunate to National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve will belive in. National parks are scattered across our country. themed to honor the National Park Service Centennial!According to The National Park Service, there are This is exciting news, and will bring about awarenesscurrently 417 national park areas in the United States. to the NPS. According to the article, there will beSome are closer than you may think. Scranton’s patches available for purchase, corresponding to eachSteamtown National Historic Site is just a short drive. camp's park. The National Park Service’s inclusion inPhiladelphia's Independence National Historical Park the BSA National Jamboree will make this year ofand Gettysburg National Military Park are few park Jamboree an unforgettable experience, one which youareas which are a day trip away! do not want to miss!On the NPS website, www.nps.gov , there is an option I hope that you will take on the challenge to find yourto “Find Your Park”. I encourage everyone, if you have national park, and come to love the National Park Service as much as I do. One of my goals is to visit at least one national park area each summer. Trail to Summit By: Megan SchusterAfter earning my Pathfinder award, I immediately keeping all of the younger scouts on task but instarted to work towards earning my Summit Award. the end I was able to pull everything together.As someone who had always been a fairly quietperson, I knew that becoming a leader and Now, the only thing left for me to do to achievecompleting the service project was going to be a my summit award is to be a part of an advisorlittle challenging for me, but since I completed the conference, and a board of review after that. Iother awards I knew I could do it. hope to be completing my board of review and obtaining my Summit Award shortly.I worked with my advisor and other scouts toachieve the required goal for the Summit Award. Ialso was elected crew president by my peers. Aftercompleting all of the other requirements, all thatwas left was to plan and carry out my serviceproject. For my service project, I chose to do acleanup project at a Rails and Trails near a localriver. The trail had excessive amounts of litter andlarge sections of fencing along the trail was indisrepair after a flood in 2011. The project as awhole went fairly well. There were somechallenging moments during the project, like

Page 3 Venturing Leader Crew Spotlight: Crew 1600 Page 3 Venturing Crew 1600 is an active group of coed ventures with interest in fun and adventure. We meet every second and fourth Sunday of the month, from 3 to 5pm at Hickory Street Presbyterian Church. The Crew has been active since 2010 and currently has 13 coed ventures and 7 adult leaders. Throughout 2016, Crew 1600 has participated in a variety of activities, some of which included a C.O.P.E weekend; 13 mile canoe trip down the Delaware River and a trip to Philadelphia.Throughout the years we have staffed many District and Council events like DayCamp, Parent and Pal, and the BB range at Harvestfest. While our adult leadershipprovided service, at the VOA's Insomniacs Revenge and Rendezvous asconsultants, many of our ventures attended and participated in the many activitiesat each event.As we get out into our community, Crew 1600 sponsored a trunk at Elm ParkUnited Methodist Church for their free community Trunk or Treat, contributed tothe Steamtown Railfest with a flag ceremony and provided a coffee break toholiday travelers on Interstate-84. Crew 1600 had a pumpkin pie fundraiser andcontinues to support NEPA Council with popcorn and camp card sales. Crew1600's future plans include: attending venturing week at Goose Pond; visitingWashington D.C., a 2018 trip to Florida Sea Base, and attending NationalJamboree in July, 2017. Crew 1600 is moving forward and adding to the agendashooting sports weekends, a hunting program and training on first aid andwilderness survival.If you looking for fun and adventure, Crew 1600 is waiting to hear from you! Tips on Membership Recruitment By: Claudia ShandraRecruiting new members for Venturing is nothing short of challenging. Here are5 easy ways to get new members without the frustrations:1. Ask your friends and family to join - I became involved in Venturingbecause one of my close friends asked me to join. It’s been a wonderfulexperience since!2. Ask your family to join -- This past year, I asked my own cousin to joinVenturing. Not only do we get to see each other more often, but we now sharemore common interests and have tons of fun while doing it.3. Plan events that attract others -- Big events might intimidate a new recruit,so a Tier I event would be sufficient to give them a taste of what Venturing isabout and if it’s right for them.4. Advertise both on and off social media -- Facebook posts are undeniably avery effective way to get information about your event out to the world. Inaddition, emails and printed flyers are also helpful.5. Use a reward system. -- Ask a Venturer to bring a friend and use theincentive of a prize to give reason behind bringing a non-venturer.

Venturing Leader Page 4 The Special Needs Scouting Service Award both volunteers and professional Scouters.The Special Needs Scouting Service Award, The new award will share a newly-designed squareproposed by the National Disabilities Awareness knot (above) with the Whitney M. Young Award, theSubcommittee, was submitted and approved by the iScouting, Vale la Pena! award, the Asian AmericanAwards & Recognitions Task Force on April 29, Scouting Spirit Award and the American Indian2016. Scouting Association’s Grey Wolf award. Additionally, a unique device to signify the SpecialThis award differs from the Torch of Gold and the Needs Scouting Service Award on the square knot, aWoods Services Award in that those awards are made certificate, a lapel pin, and a medal were approved foronly to nominees. The Special Needs Scouting recognition for this award. The recognition regalia isService Award must be earned, and can be earned by currently being designed by a task force of the National Disabilities Awareness Subcommittee. The requirements for the Special Needs Scouting Service Award will be posted on Awards Central, along with an application form to be completed.2017 NEPA Polar Bear Experience ~ Through the eyes of a Venturer and their egg. By: Teagan StaudenmeierI was unaware that we would be caring for an egg I was so upset when I watched him get thrown. Iall day when I signed up for polar bear. I had no thought of him as my own child. Timothy wasidea what kind of emotional rollercoaster I was more than just an egg to the crew, he was OURabout to ride. I was the one who named the egg Timothy.Timothy when we received him. I was the one whowas in charge of his care while the sled full of gearwas pushed harshly around. I became veryattached. I loved Timothy. I called him \"Tim\" and\"Timmy\" with the rest of the crew. We all werevery attached. When we were done with eventsTimmy was always checked on. I feltoverwhelming fear whenever Timmy was dropped.Megan, our crew president, was also very attached.She cared for him in the after noon and didn't puthim down once. She even gave him a face andtattoos. So you could imagine the horror we facedwhen we learned Timmy would have to strappedup with the items we were givenand dropped from a ladder. We watched in terroras he passed each test, until the end. Timothy wasstrong and didn't break until he was whipped at awall. He was a good egg and didn't deserved to besmashed in such a barbaric way.

Page 5 Venturing Leader 2017 Puerto Rico Venturee By: Sarah GProamgalea 5The Northeast Region Area 5 Venturing Officers I was given the chance to interview their Vice PresidentAssociation had the wonderful opportunity to go of Communication, VP to VP. Being miles and milesdown to Puerto Rico, to attend the Puerto Rico away in different councils you would think we hadCouncil’s Venturing Officers Association’s different experiences and tasks, but you would beVentuoree at Camp Gujataka in San Sebastian, wrong. We were doing a lot of the similar work andPuerto Rico. having some of the same issues. His name is Manuel Perez and just like Angiemar, and the rest of her cabinet,As a part of being in the NER Area 5 VOA, our is so passionate and enthusiastic about venturing andown Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Scouting as a whole. When I asked him why he gotVenturing Officers Association’s President Joshua involved in the CVOA, he said “why not!”. One of theSepcoski, Vice President of Administration Sarah things that I found out was that much like the AreaGromala, Venturing Advisor Josh Sepcoski and a VOA, they work with conference calls too. With theircommittee member Cara Sepcoski had the great Council VOA Cabinet spread out throughout the island,chance to attend! We left Friday morning at 8:30 it makes in person meetings a little difficult. They alsoam and landed in Puerto Rico around 1 p.m. We rely heavily on their District VOA’s to personallyhad great tour guides who graciously picked us up contact the crews just because it is easier for them toat the airport, Jose and Don. We toured Old San make contact with the districts being spread out acrossJuan and was given the great privilege to enjoy a the island. The PR VOA is very similar as the NEPAnew culture and new food. We ate at Raicés VOA in the aspect of registration to Council Events. ARestaurant and experienced new food that we week before the event, they only had 80 people registernever thought we would eat! and during that week before and the day of the event they had a 200+ people registered.We were then welcomed at the camp with openarms by the Puerto Rico Council VOA’s The biggest thing that I found incredibly amazing, wasPresident, Angiemar Perez. Then throughout that the PR CVOA wasn’t a thing a year ago. In May,Saturday, we got to participate in program which Angiemar and her team built the CVOA back up from ais a huge change from being the ones who run the non-existent VOA. The year prior, they spent timeevents. We were also given opportunities to be focusing and building up the DVOA’s. For having theincluded in some of the events that were put on in issues that were presented to them with re-building athe role of judge. We were asked to have one VOA and planning the Venturoree, they did avolunteer judge their iron chef competition and phenomenal job planning and executing the event.one to judge their talent show as well Myself, Chris Wells, the NER A5 VOA president, the rest of his cabinet and the Advisors were very impressed with the PR CVOA. I hope that they were able to get all their questions answered and now will not hesitate to ask them in future! I had interviewed Angiemar and asked one important question, which was; what was her number one favorite thing about Venturing, and she had to think about it so I asked her and then got the answer two days later. Her favorite thing about Venturing is the family aspect that Venturing. Puerto Rico is the perfect example of the family aspect to Venturing! Thank you for having us at your Venturoree! Continued on the next page of the Venturing Leader!

Venturing Leader Page 6 Missions that are Impossible

Page 7 Venturing Leader Balancing School and Venturing Page 7Venturing can take up a lot of your time throughout the week andit’s on you to balance the time between School and Venturing, inaddition to everything else going on in your life. I have had a lot oftrial and error as to what helps me, from reminders on my phone, totrying to keep an electronic calendar, and then using a planner. Tothis day the only thing I found to separate my time was to use aplanner, but it’s not that easy.When it comes to planning out the time you will spend onventuring a week, it can change from week to week or month tomonth or even term to term. I have found throughout holdingalmost all of the different positions in a VOA, or a crew that eachposition requires a different level of time commitment throughoutthe term. It doesn’t end there, on top of determining how muchtime it would require to commit to venturing, you then have to trim it to be realistic. I am a college student, whohas to make time for studying, friends, family, work and Venturing. Sometimes I feel like I’m being stretched into4 different ways, and that’s never fun.I spend one hour the last day of the month and see my tasks for the following month and plan out how much timeis needed to finish all my tasks, then I see how much time I have left after I schedule studying, friends, family andwork time. If I need to trim some of venturing time down, it’s okay. One thing I think is the most important thingsomeone in a crew needs to know is that it’s okay to not be able to be on a conference call or if your life is superhectic it’s okay to tell your crew that you will be off the grid for a little while. Just send a message to your crewletting them know what’s up and if there a deadline coming up if you can’t accomplish the task on time they willunderstand we are all only human. Just know that Venturing shouldn’t consume your life. Venturing should be funso try some trial and errors to manage your time so it stays fun! PR Venturee: Continued He replied. Last was myself, Sarah Gromala. My favorite things about coming down to Puerto Rico wasOver the course of the week I interviewed Mr. the energy and enthusiasm they all had, and howSepcoski, our Council’s VOA Advisor; Joshua welcoming and inviting the scouting community is,Sepcoski, CVOA President; and asked myself the from the moment we got off the plane we got nothingsame question. First was Mr. S, and I asked him but kindness.his favorite thing about coming down to PuertoRico. He said, “Touring Old San Juan and the We learned so much from our trip to Puerto Rico, fromamount of pride that everyone we met here in the sightseeing in Old San Juan to watching thePuerto Rico; their heritage, that they value their enthusiasm and kindness to seeing a whole differenthistory; and their desire to showcase who they are part of Venturing. Puerto Rico was truly an amazingas people in the humblest and unassuming way.” experience and I am very glad that I was able to be a part of it. Venturing as a whole has given me andNext was VOA President Josh Sepcoski. I asked many, many others some amazing experiences andhim as well, what was his favorite thing about Puerto Rico was just one of the many, but truly one ofcoming down to Puerto Rico. “The scenic views, the best. Thank you to the Puerto Rico Council and thefriendliness of the people, how structured their Area 5 Team for making this a wonderful learningVOA is, their enthusiasm, and becoming educated opportunity!in their culture and how different it is from mine,”

Venturing Leader How can YOU benefit from the NEPA VOAWhy 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.Adult Time Lord PatrolScouting volunteers aresome of the busiest humansaround.With all their different commitments,you’d think they’re time travelers.That explains the patrol name adopted National Office launched the NEW official Venturing website.by the adults in Troop 3 of Texarkana,Texas. They’re the Time Lords patrol.Read the rest of the article on:http://blog.scoutingmagazine.orghttps://twitter.com/NEPABSAVOA http://venturing.orghttp://nepabsavoa.tumblr.com/http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs6Lhb5hg-P6gOCCCsf2OXwhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/NEPA-Council-Venturing-Officers-Association/485868761534738 Upcomming Events / Important Dates April May June4/9/17 VOA Officers Meeting Saturday June 3rd into June 4th& can hand deliver 5/7/17 VOA Meeting @ SSTCapplications for 2017-2018VOA President VOA Spring Fling @ Camp4/29/27 TM District Derby – 5/26 – 5/28 Area 5 Rendezvous AcahelaVOA Food Stand June 11th NEPA BSA VOA Meeting @ 5:00pm @ the SSTC