Venturing Leader Fall 2018

Venturing Leader ~ Fall 2018 Edition Leader voa.nepabsa.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE [email protected] 2 #Campsgiving 3 570-207-1227 Scouting on your resume 4 FL Sea Base Trainings 5 \\ 2019 Winter Powder Horn 6 Order of the Arrow Changes 7 Venturing “Office Hours” 8 Scouts BSA 8 Venturing Leader Training 9 Council VLA’s 10 VOA Holiday Lock-in 10 Read Around the World CalendarPresident’s Corner – With Jason Phillips ~ Venturing Lock-InWell, it’s that time of year again, the leaves are falling of the trees and there is a little less daylight but there are a tonof things going on. As you know there are changes coming to our program. We are all members of the Boy Scoutsof America, and we are Preparing to be Scouts BSA. What an exciting time!But as normal no matter how much is changing, there is much more that is staying the same. The programs are thesame. The Venturing program is the same programing I’ve been enjoying for years.The other thing that is the same is the annual VOA Holiday Lock-in! This year it will be held on December 14thstarting at 7:00pm at the Scout Training and Service Center in Moosic. The cost is only $10 per person, includesyour annual dues, snacks, games, breakfast, movies, good times, and much more. See the flier in this newsletter.I’d also like to congratulate our two Venturing Leadership Award recipients. Our Immediate past president JoshSepcoski and Crew 461 Advisor Sheila Bender. Join me in giving them a big round of applause.Last, I’d like to congratulate the four Council Silver Beaver recipients for 2018. Congratulations to Ron Rogers,Sam Cox, Gwen Grier, and our very own associate advisor Janice Sepcoski on receiving the Silver Beaver Award.You all helped shape the lives of countless youth in so many positive ways it is impossible to express in words ourgratitude for your dedicated service.Yours in Scouting,Jason PhillipsVOA President

Venturing Leader Page 2#Campsgiving: How to join this new Thanksgiving tradition with your familySteaming plates of food on the table, pro football on the TV and tryptophan-induced naps on the couch. Thanksgiving is stuffedwith some pretty great traditions. This year, Scouting families can add one more to the mix. It’s called #Campsgiving. The BoyScouts of America first served up the idea of #Campsgiving last year, but many Scout units have beenconducting Thanksgiving-inspired events for years. The basic concept goes like this: Every Thanksgiving season — either onturkey day itself or a nearby day — find a reason to head outside with family, friends or your Scout unit.Go for a hike. Make a Thanksgiving meal outside (Dutch oven turkey, anyone?). Instead of setting up your tents outside theelectronics store, stake your claim at a campground. Put the leftovers in the fridge — or pack them in a cooler and bring themalong. Whatever you do, don’t forget to snap photos to show everyone how you celebrate #Campsgiving.Why the hashtag?#Campsgiving has its roots on social media. The hashtag is a reminder to post photos of your outdoor celebrations, campoutpreparations and Dutch oven creations. If you use the #Campsgiving hashtag when sharing on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook,you’ll be automatically entered to win a #Campsgiving shirt or hat. The BSA is giving away five shirts and hats each week untilThanksgiving.Enter to win big!Need even more incentive to join the #Campsgiving movement? The Scout Shop is giving away a #Campsgiving grand prizepackage that includes cookware, a charcoal chimney, a cookbook and more. You can enter once a day until the giveaway ends onNov. 22, 2018. Go here and scroll to “grand prize giveaway” to enter or see the official rules. Read what one major university said about Scouting in an acceptance letter We’ve all heard that Scouting experience will give a young person a leg up at a college, university or trade school. But it’s always nice to see tangible proof that this is still the case. The latest example comes from Andrew, an Eagle Scout from Texas. His proud grandfather, Randy Konkel, noticed that the young man’s acceptance letter from the University of Oklahoma specifically called out Andrew’s Scouting experience. “While reading your application, we noticed you are an Eagle Scout,” the letter states. “Your commitment and perseverance are to be commended.” Next, the letter-writer outlines the many ways Andrew can get involved as an OU undergrad. He could participate in student government, volunteer to help others or join a student group. Andrew is told these opportunities are perfect because they will “further develop your already strong aptitude to lead.” To this admissions counselor, the words “Eagle Scout” represent leadership. True, the letter from the highly regarded institution in Norman, Okla., doesn’t say that Andrew was accepted solely because he’s an Eagle Scout. His academic record, test scores and involvement in other extracurriculars were big factors, too. But read the full letter below, and you’ll notice that “Eagle Scout” is the only one of these résumé-builders that’s called out by name. It was important enough to mention specifically, making it clear to Andrew that the time he spent in Scouting mattered.

Page 3 Venturing Leader In January 2019, fly south to the Florida Sea BasePage 3 for a volunteer development conferenceEscape the chill of winter while acquiring the latest tools to DIVERSEability and DisABILITY: How to Apply Properhelp your Scout unit succeed. Methods in Scouting With Special NeedsThat’s the promise of a volunteer training conference at Who: Scouters, professionals and parents who have a passionthe Florida Sea Base. Pick from five weeklong conferences, for helping Scouts with disAbilities become involved in all thateach held in January 2019 at the BSA’s Florida home. Scouting has to offer.During your week in the Keys, you’ll learn new things and What: This course will help you to start or strengthen ameet new people. The subject matter is excellent. The setting? Disabilities Awareness Committee within your council andNot too bad, either. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the show Scout leaders proper procedures, modifications,beauty of this area and soak up the mid-January highs of 72 resources and supports that can help our Scouts with specialand lows of 65. needs experience the outing in Scouting. See how you can help Scouts advance at all levels, experience programming, and feelWhich conference will you choose? Here’s a look at each one. included and empowered to make a difference in the lives ofWhen you’re ready, go here to register. others along with helping their communities.Week 1: Jan. 13 to 19, 2019 Week 2: Jan. 20 to 26, 2019The Council/District Training Committee Conference on Education for Advancement Administrators (CEAA)Who: Members of the district training committee and counciltraining committee and trainers Who: Council and district volunteers and professionals whoWhat: The latest tools, techniques and best practices to help have some background in advancementyou increase the number of trained leaders while building a and want to take their game to a new level.successful and sustainable training program. Additional topics What: Participants will receive lots of updates and changes toinclude creative ways to reach the untrained leader; how to share with others, but of significance is that they will reviewutilize unit trainers; and methods to recruit, train, and and participate in the update or completion of advancementstrengthen the district training team. Participants will also learn education tools that are used by units, districts, or councilswhere to find, interpret, and act on council training data. The across the country. Conferences will view and discuss variousmost current information on new and/or revised syllabuses for existing advancement materials and make recommendationsvolunteer training courses will be shared. for tools that should be developed for the future. Participants will begin to use some of those tools during this conference.Second Century Service This is your opportunity to be on the cutting edge of materials development and advance your education by learning throughWho: Anyone who serves a unit or serves as a roundtable or doing.an administrative commissioner. How much? How do I register?What: The conference will enable participants to strengthenthe relationship between unit service and district operations The course costs $495 for participants and $350 for spouseswhile strengthening unit key 3 relationships. The conference who aren’t attending the conference. The fee includeswill also provide ways for commissioners to extract data from housing, meals, snacks, bedding and towels, course materials,Commissioner Tools and turn it into actionable information and a sunset cruise if weather permits.which will be the basis of the unit service plan. You will gaina better understanding of the methods commissioners use to Register at this link. You must register no later than Dec. 15,help units better serve more youth through Scouting. 2018.

Venturing Leader Page 4 2019 Winter Powder Horn Horn curriculum, there will be long, action-packed days and nights. Use your time effectively.Powder Horn is a resource course designed tointroduce Scouting’s adults and youth to the exciting The Powder Horn course is designed to help the troop,program possibilities for their unit. The course team, or crew by exposing older Scouts, Venturers,supports the mission of strengthening units so they and adult leaders to safely conducted outdoor/high-can achieve the mission of the Boy Scouts of America. adventure activities of a fun and challenging nature.One common denominator of successful courses isthat creativity and variety play a role in the delivery The course provides an introduction to the resourcesof the curriculum. needed to successfully lead youth through a program of outdoor adventure and is based upon givingEach course is somewhat different, and that is a good participants an exposure to some outdoor/high-thing. Some courses have had participants arrive by adventure activities. The course presenters are expertcanoe, horseback, or bike, or even on skis. Creativity consultants, from inside and outside of Scouting, inis fun, too! The ultimate goal is for the participants to each outdoor high adventure activity. It is not aleave the Powder Horn course with a list of ideas to certification event. It is for any youth or adulthelp their program, along with the contacts and interested in experiencing a unit-level, high-resources needed to implement them. This will lead to adventure program. The purpose of a Powder Horna more exciting and robust program, which in turn course includes:should lead to increased membership and a higherretention rate in our units. • Safe participation in fun and challenging outdoor activities.It is important to understand that Powder Horn is nota personal development course or a team-building • An introduction to resources, including expertexperience. Its purpose is to educate the youth and local consultants, that can improve a unit'sadult Scouting leaders about specific high-adventure program.skills, to connect them to resources to deliver thoseskills, and to get them excited about delivering those • Exposure to new and exciting high-adventureskills in an exciting, challenging way to youth. activities Award.Fight the urge to do what is done in other courses. • Help in delivering the promise at the unit level.Don’t design a patrol flag; don’t have patrol designand give a patrol yell. To cover the required Powder • Promoting youths' and adults' creativity when delivering high-adventure programs. Hurry! Register Soon only 16 Adult and 6 Youth spots available. By the time you read this there may be even fewer. Register Today @ https://nepabsa.org/training/online- registration/powder-horn-registration For additional Information go to: http://powderhorn.nepabsa.org/

Page 5 Venturing Leader Order of the Arrow Changes Page 5Q. Can I be elected into the OA if I am over the age of 18?Yes. As long as you are under the age of 21 at the time the election is held. If you are over 21, you will needto go through the adult selection process.Q. Will camping be counted retroactively for those currently in Venturing and Sea Scouts?Yes. Camping that has taken place within the two years immediately prior to the election will be countedbeginning February 1, 2019. This camping must have taken place while an individual was registered with theBSA as a program participant and must be while participating with a BSA Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship.

Venturing Leader Page 6 Venturing Office HoursOffice Hours returns for the 2018-2019 year. This respective fields of knowledge (stay tuned to find outThseessionnewxiltl fVoceusnotnuhriignhlgigFhteinsgtwwayisllyopurrocrvewectaon bemoerexatbroautsthpeme!c).iSaiml palyspwosteyocureqlueesbtioranstien ththe egrow, and sNhoarveembebsetrp2ra9cthticferosmfro72m-09aptcmhroCsAsTtnhtoencgioevut enytorruysr.arydwioislclfuasVnssiewonenrp.tourtrioinn gof.this Facebook event, and weJoin us onquestions answered!WVanet tno thuearrinwghaFt'es wstor2ki0ng1f8oricsreowps?eWnanttotorheeagr isteh7t/r?tepascd:t/i/vwVew_etwabn.f=atdcuiesbrcoeuosrkssi.oc,onSmc/eoveunttss/2,1a35n81d08a39d96u9l0t5howlFeaamdilyeSrcsouaticngroansdsStchouets,UB.SSA. Twhililssuspipxo-rdt ay high-adventure festival invitesyou? Want to shparae srutisctaiinpaablengtrsowtoth iedexasp? lTohernethtihs e best that SBR has to offer.is the event for you!TWhisefo'rreumtias elkntiinregly ornolicnek, socyloimu cbaninjogin,frsokmateboarding, BMX biking, water sports,athneywdishscheureossioinontthinpeowgrtoiorslndp!oofSitrmhtisps,lFyazpcioepsbtolyoioknueervqseun,et,sctainhodnaswilnelenge courses, and so much more.will answer. Each month, we will be hosting nation-wide online forums to discuss hot topics in Venturingand answer YOUR questions! Each event will alsofeature special guest hosts who are experts in their 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:

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Venturing Leader Page 7 Venturing Leadership Awards Venturing Leader Training Saturday, January 26, 2019The next VenturingFest will prove to be Scout Service & Training Centerextra special as we celebrate the 20th 8:30 am to 1:00 pm Anniversary of Venturing. CREW COMMITTEE CHALLENGE and VENTURING ADVISOR POSITION-SPECIFIC TRAININGVenturingFest 2018 is open to registered Basic training for Advisors & Assistants, Committee Chairs & Members, and CharteredVenturers, Scouts, and adult leaders Organization Reps in the Venturing Programacross the U.S. This six-day high- Understand Venturers, Crew organization,aCdonvgerantutlautereourfetwsotiVveantluriinngvLiteeadserpshaiprAtiwcairpd ants to leader responsibilities, awards &reecxippienlots.reOutrhImembedeiastet ptahstaptreSsiBdeRnt hJoashsSteopcooskffieanrd. recognition, Crew program planning, andCrew 461 Advisor Sheila Bender. Join me in giving them a much more!big round of applause - Well Deserved! Both new Venturing Leaders as well asWe're talking rock climbing, current leaders who wish to get up-to-dateskCJoaosuhtneacnbildVoMLarAsr.’dsBneinontdgetor,oaBrmeMaonuyXr pnebeowipeklseitnhraegvcie,peiwevnetarseotaefrntrheedspthios rts, with all the recent changes in the Venturingawsahrdoinootuinr cgousncpilo. Frtosr,a zfuipll lilsitnoef rse,cipciehnats,llpelenasge geo Program are welcome!to httpc://vooua.rnsepeasbs,aa.orng/dnewsos1/2m9-ucvclah more. Enables Venturing adult leaders to better \"Deliver the Promise\" to the Crew youth. You must pre-register... that means register online or fill in the tear off application form and return it with your payment to the Service Center. Once you have registered, be sure to mark your calendar! Pre-requisite for this course is “Venturing Youth Protection” (found online at my.scouting.org). Bring your Venturing Advisor Guidebook and Guide To Safe Scouting if you have one. The Scout Shop may have these materials available for sale in advance.Congratulations to Ron Rogers, Sam Cox, Gwen Wear your uniform if you have one (but comeSchaufler Grier, and our VOA’s very own associate anyway if you don't!!) Registrations must beadvisor Janice Sepcoski on receiving the Silver Beaver received no later than 5pm, Wednesday,Award. January 24, 2018, no walk-ins please.You all helped shape the lives of countless youth in so NOTE: Completion of Crew Committeemany positive ways it is impossible to express in words Challenge or Venturing Advisor Position-our gratitude for your dedicated service. Specific Training, plus Venturing Youth Protection, completes your BSA basic training as a Venturing Leader.

Page 9 Venturing Leader Page 9 2018 VOA Annual Holiday Lock-In • BRING THE UGLIEST CHRISTMAS December 14 - 15 SWEATER YOU CAN FIND!!! The person with 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the ugliest Christmas sweater will win a very special prize! 72 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic, PA 18507 • SnacksCost: (includes a VOA t-shirt) • Team Holiday Games for food and prizesEarly Bird: $10 before 12/10/2017 • Back by popular demand is the Lego buildingRegular: $15 - 12/10 through 12/14 competition. If you wish to donate some Legos to make this event even cooler, please bring them Registration Limited with you! to 25 Participants • NEW! Minute-to-win-it Games for prizes and Registration can be done fun. on-line or at the Council office. • Jeopardy for Fun and Prizes • Indoor Bowling • Make and Bake Cookies • Giant Connect Four • Make and take home a Yule Log • Bring whatever you have to add to the night (within reason). Card games / board games for some extra fun. • Bring sleeping stuff! A sleeping bag and a mat are highly suggested for those planning to sleep! • Movies on the big screens • Breakfast Ice breakers start promptly at 7:00pm. The earlier you arrive, the more you get to do.

Venturing Leader Page 10 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. 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.http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs6Lhb5hg-P6gOCCCsf2OXwhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/NEPA-Council-Venturing-Officers-Association/485868761534738 Upcomming Events / Important Dates November December January6th – Veterans Breakfast9th – Volunteer Recognition 2nd – 10th – Hanukkah 1st – New Year’s DayDinner 14th - 15th – VOA Lock-in at the 12th – TM Winter Funday15th – VOA cabinet meeting SSTC starts at 7:00pm 26th - Venturing Leader Training22nd - Thanksgiving Space limited to 25 participants29th - 7-9pm CT Office Hours 25th – Christmas