Venture Crew Leaders

Your organization wins:

Venturing will work with any existing youth program structure. It does not require starting another program. Any youth group can incorporate Venturing into its program.

Venturing will help keep your youth closer to your organization’s beliefs and expectations while connecting youth to the right people. 

Venturing provides a “package” (wholesome, fun activities and recognition) that you can use to hold on to your existing youth and to attract new youth into your organization. 

The religious awards program will help create an arena in which young adults can interact with religious leaders.

The adult staff and volunteers win:

         Volunteers and your staff receive specific program plans that can be tailored to the needs of your youth group. 
Opportunity for greater community involvement is provided
Communication, planning, and program development skills are enhanced
A greater commitment to service results through the program

Venturing’s Methods

• Leadership

All Venturers are given opportunities to learn and apply proven leadership skills. A Venturing crew is led by elected crew officers. The Venturing Leadership Skills Course is designed for all Venturers and helps teach in an active way to effectively lead.

• Group activities
Venturing activities are interdependent group experiences in which success depends on the cooperation of all. Learning by doing in a group setting provides opportunities for developing new skills.

• Positive adult association

• The ideals

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.

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.

Adult Leadership Roles 

Crew Committee Chair

Conducts monthly committee meetings, coordinates crew efforts, delegates responsibilities and pushes initiates from the Chartered Organization. Approves procedures for allocation of funds and crew Bi-laws 

Committee Members

Assist youth activities by accomplishing tasks that youth cannot do on their own. By interacting with the crew providing technical expertise, special skills, equipment, facilities, or community contacts related to the planned activities of the Venture Crew

Chartered Organization Representative

Help select the right leadership for the unit.  Promote well-planned unit programs.  Serve as a liaison between the units and the organization.  Promote the recruiting of new members.  Help with the charter renewal.  Suggest Projects for the organization to be completed by Crew members.  Encourage the Crew committee to hold meetings.  Cultivate organization leaders.

Adult Advisor

Volunteer age 21 or older Who is selected by the chartered organization and
has responsibility for: attending crew meetings, training youth officers to plan and coordinate the program,  conducting the program capability inventory,  helping youth plan and implement activities.

Youth Officers (peer elected leadership positions)

Crew President

The president is the key youth leader and works closely with the Advisor and leadership team to plan crew and crew officers’ meetings. The president presides at crew meetings, delegates responsibilities, keeps members accountable for their assigned tasks.

Crew Program VP

The secretary keeps records, takes meeting minutes and handles correspondence. 

The youth activity chair is appointed by the crew president to chair a crew activity or project. Each chair serves through completion of his or her appointed task and is then reappointed to chair or assigned to work on upcoming crew activities.

Venturing Recruiting Hints

The Recruiting Event Planning   (expandable box)

• Set a date for the open house (best in mid-September through late October) 45 to 60 days in advance. Secure names of prospective members from student-interest surveys, friends of Venturers, etc.

• Check for community and school conflicts with the selected date.

• Concentrate on making it fun.

• Is your start time conducive to travel needs, meal times, a teenager’s schedule?

• Plan a gathering time activity or have a handout (anything beats staring at the wall).

• Plan each part of the open house; give assignments, and be sure it is youth run.

• Mail open house invitation letters, including an RSVP card and crew three month calendar 10 to14 days in advance.

• The day before the event make last-minute phone calls to former members.  Using the survey list, make reminder phone calls to prospective new members.

• Plan an event to take place soon after the open house.

The Meeting (expandable box)

• The young people like to be called young adults or students, not kids.

• Have the students sign in on a roster as they are arriving.

• Avoid language that is too technical and be careful to not “Venturing-Speak” before they know enough about the crew or    Venturing to process the information.

• Present a crew three-month calendar to students during the meeting.

• Promote attendance at the crew event happening in the next few weeks.

The Follow-Up (expandable box)

• Use the roster from the sign-in as a follow-up list to contact.

• Send thank-you letters to everyone that helped make the evening successful.

• Complete the registration of new youth and adults in a timely manner.

Tips for an Invitation Letter  (expandable box)

    1.   Personalized

    2.  Comes from youth

    3.  First paragraph paints the Picture of what the potential members can do

    4.  Emphasizes: one hour meeting, time, place, bring friends and family, bringing registration money

    5.  Briefly explains who we are and what we do

    6.  Invites them to visit crew Web site (Facebook pages work the best and cheapest)

    7.  Enclose detailed map and Venturing brochure

    8.  Gives source to get more information

    9.  Emphasizes friends some more

   10.  Sent with stamp – never bulk

First Meeting

 Sample Agenda (expandable box)

1.        Greetings and welcome. (Crew Committee Members) Greet the young people at the door, welcome them, hand out name tags.

2.        Introductions and welcome. (Crew Committee Chair)

3.        Greetings from the host (Head of Chartered Organization) Express the chartered organization's interest in youth and enthusiasm for Venturing. It is important to coach this individual in the use of proper Venturing terms and not to say "Venturer Scout," etc.

4.        What is Venturing (Venturing Officer, Association Chair, or Representative) Have youth speak to youth about Venturing—the best way to get across the meaning of the program.

5.        Crew committee support. (Crew Committee Chair) Explain how the Crew committee supports the Crew program)

6.        Description of the program and activities planned for the next six meetings. (Skipper) Give out copies of the program outline; explain how officers will be elected from membership. Briefly describe the duties of officers.

7.        A hands-on activity in which everyone can participate

8.        Question and answer session. ( Crew Committee) Divide young adults into groups of eight or 10. Assign each group an adult committee member who is prepared to answer questions about Sea Scouting and the chartered organization.

9.        Reassemble small groups. (Skipper) Explain the national registration fee, which includes participation in local and national Venturing activities. Have copies of the Sea Scout Manual for display or purchase.

10.     Invitation to join. Hand each person a membership application; collect fees from those wishing to join tonight; ask others to bring application and fee to next meeting.

11.     Closing comments (Crew Committee Chair) Be sure everyone knows date, place, time, and program for next Crew meeting.

12.     Refreshments and fellowship