Ages 14-20. The last overhaul of the Venturing program was in 2020 when the 4 core recognitions were renamed as ranks. The last major overhaul of the program was done in 2014.
Ranks
The 1st Venturing rank is meant to be earned shortly after joining. The Discovery and Pathfinder ranks are next and the Summit rank is earned last.
- Venturing
- Discovery
- Requires two Tier II or III adventures.
- Pathfinder
- Requires an additional two (total of four) Tier II or III adventures.
- Summit
- Requires an additional three (total of seven) Tier II or III adventures.
Special Awards
- Ranger
- Quest
- TRUST
- Nova/Supernova
- Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement
- World Conservation
- Journey to Excellence (JTE)
- Misc. Other Scouting America Awards
Leadership Awards
Basic History
1935 – Started as Senior Scouts for ages 15 and older. There were several sub sections, including Sea Scouts, Air Scouts, Explorer Scouts (an advanced outdoor program), and Rover Scouts.
1949 – Lowered age to join to 14 and became the Explorer Program with sub sections of Sea Explorers, Air Explorers, and Explorer Scouts (broader program of all the other sub sections instead of just outdoor focused).
1959 – Renamed Explorer Program to Exploring program. Advancement was dropped in Explorer Scouts.
1964 – Air Explorers were dropped and Sea Explorer program was updated.
1969 – Young women ages 14-20 were allowed to join. Explorers focused more on career but still had outdoor and sports.
1971 – Young women were allowed full membership in Exploring and the upper age for both genders was raised to 21.
1981 – Career Awareness Explorer posts were created.
1991 – Learning for Life took over Career Awareness Explorer posts as High School Career Awareness groups.
1998 – Renamed to Venturing with outdoor activities and the old BSA Explorer program and Learning for Life was renamed Exploring. Sea Exploring was renamed Sea Scouting under the Venturing program. Venturing was still the forest green uniform of Exploring. The new Venturing Silver Award (inspired by the old Exploring Silver Award) and a Gold with 5 Bronze Awards were introduced. The Venturing Ranger Award was created.
2003 – The Venturing Quest Award was created.
2004 – The Venturing TRUST Award was created.
2014 – ALPS program model was established with new recognitions (Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, Summit). The new motto was “Lead the Adventure” and adopted traditional Scout Oath, Law, and Salute. The Bronze, Gold, and Silver Awards were discontinued, but Ranger, Quest, and TRUST were kept.
2016 – Sea Scouts became a separate division from Venturing. The first VenturingFest and Venturing Blast! were held.
2018 – The CSVE Award was redesigned and named the JTE Award.
2020 – The 4 core recognitions (Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, Summit) we renamed as Ranks.
References:
- History (2024) About Venturing. Available at: https://www.scouting.org/programs/venturing/about-venturing/history/ (Accessed: 22 December 2024).
- Mission & Vision (2019) Scouting America. Available at: https://www.scouting.org/legal/mission/ (Accessed: 22 December 2024).
- The National and World Jamborees in Pictures. New York: Boy Scouts of America. 1937. p. 131.
- Townley, Alvin (2007). Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America’s Eagle Scouts. New York: St. Martin’s Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-0312366537. Archived from the original on May 29, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- Venturing (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venturing (Accessed: 22 December 2024).
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