Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age.

Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.

Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. Local community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens.

Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby interests.

Venturing is a new "old" program of the Boy Scouts of America. Originally part of the Exploring Division, it finally came into its own in 1998. It has become the fastest growing program of the BSA. Young adults have found through the Venturing program the outlet they have been looking for in their age group.

It has been an exciting time of fast growth and great learning experiences. The Venturing youth cabinet is in a unique position to promote this exciting program through their active involvement in their regions and throughout the United States.

There are continued misconceptions about what Venturing is all about. Venturing is not for young boys and girls but rather for young adults. They are able to do more and go further as a Venturer or Sea Scout in a Venturing crew or Sea Scout ship.

Venturing provides positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing provides the skills needed for young adults to make ethical choices, experience a fun program full of adventure and challenges, acquire leadership skills, and to take advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life, and Sea Scouting.

As part of the national Venturing youth cabinet, you will be able to help advance Venturing as well as promote the idea that the Venturing program is for YOUNG ADULTS who want a broader experience in leadership, vocations, and hobbies. (See age and gender charts in your materials.)

When Did Venturing Begin?

Venturing was officially created by the Boy Scouts of America's executive board on February 9, 1998. However, if you ask Venturing Associate Director Bill Evans, who was there that day and helped create Venturing, he would expand a little.

In 1995, the Outdoor Exploring Committee chaired by Dr. Dick Miller of Waynesboro, Virginia, met in Long Key, Florida. The primary purpose of the meeting was to address the issue of how to support and sustain the amazing growth that outdoor Exploring was enjoying. During a five-year period in the early 1990s, outdoor Exploring had grown 94 percent to almost 100,000 members. When the committee would come up with an idea, it would sound familiar. Then they would refer to a 1950 edition of the Exploring Handbook and find their idea had already been applied years ago. So, if you are a history buff and have an early edition of the Exploring Handbook, you can see the many similarities between the early days of Exploring and today's Venturing.

If you really want to trace the roots of Venturing, you have to go way back. The need for a senior Boy Scout program probably surfaced the second day after Scouting started in the United States in 1910. Actually, in the very first National Executive Board meeting report, there is a discussion about losing older boys. It was no surprise to our founders that older boys needed an age-specific program with challenges appropriate for them. Older boy programs cropped up across the country during those early years, causing the need for national action. In 1935, the BSA created Senior Scouting, publishing the Guide to Senior Scouting. There were several options, including Explorers, Sea Scouts, and Air Scouts. In 1949, the BSA consolidated the senior programs, with the exception of Sea Scouts, into Explorer Scouts. At that time, a boy could be an Explorer in the troop or in a stand-alone unit called the Explorer post. The Explorer advancement program included the Bronze Award, the Gold Award, and the Silver Award. Sound familiar? The last Silver Awards were earned in 1966 as Exploring began to turn more toward career emphasis. That is until the new Venturing Silver Award was reintroduced in August 1998. The new Venturing advancement award medals are very similar in design to their predecessors of the 1940s and 1950s.

What was true in 1920 is true today: Older teens need a program specific to their needs and abilities. How old are our Venturers, anyway? Our age chart is almost a perfect bell curve with 17 being the highest point. Eighteen is next, followed by 16. There are actually more 19-year-olds than 14-year-olds. Because Venturing is very challenging and usually involves ambitious travel, it lends itself more to older teens.

When Associate Director Evans looks back over Venturing's last seven years, he points out that the most enjoyable moments of the development are not related to the phenomenal growth. They are moments when he heard Eagle Scouts stand before a group and talk about how Venturing has allowed them a place to be an Eagle Scout and to continue to learn and grow. Moments when a young lady stands before a group to tell how she finally had a place to be a Scout along with her mom, dad, and brothers. Venturing does change lives.

The Venturing Oath

As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty to God and help strengthen America, to help others, and to seek truth, fairness, and adventure in our world.

The Venturing Code

As a Venturer, I believe that America's strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strength, and traditions of our people.

I will, therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life.

I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it.

I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life.

I will acquire the Venturing attitude that seeks truth in all things and adventure on the frontiers of our changing world.