Venturing Portal

Venturing is for young men and women who are 13 and have completed the eighth grade, or be 14 years of age and not yet 21. The year-round program provides positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills.

Sea Scouting

Sea Scouts is a specialized segment of the Venturing program, which was organized to address members' boating skills and promote knowledge of our maritime heritage. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught with the ship by its officers.

• 50 Miler Award
• Amateur Radio Operator Rating Strip
• Boardsailing BSA
• BSA Lifeguard
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• Historic Trails Award
• International Activity Badge
• Interpreter Strip
• International Activity Badge
• Kayaking BSA
• Leave No Trace Award
• Mile Swim BSA
• NOVA Awards
• Physical Fitness Award
• Religious Emblems
• Scuba BSA
• Snorkeling BSA
• Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement
• William T. Hornaday awards
• World Conservation Award

Honor Awards

• Venturing Leadership Award
• Medal of Merit
• Heroism Award
• Honor Medal
• James E West Award

Qualified male Venturers who have achieved First Class as a Boy Scout or a Varsity Scout may earn all Boy Scout awards and Merit Badges until their 18th birthday.

List of all Scouting Awards

• Dec 2013: Boy Scout program and awards will be changed in 2016. Future program updates

• Dec 2013: Cub Scout program and awards will be changed in 2015. Future program updates

• Dec 2013: Venturing awards will be changed around the time of the BSA National Annual Meeting in May 2014. From then on, Venturing members may begin working on the new awards. The old awards will be discontinued Dec 31, 2014. 2014 Venturing Program Change Overview

• October 08: Public Law 110-363 requires the U.S. Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the Boy Scouts of America. Full Story

• September 9: Little Sioux Scout Ranch, Scouts and Leaders involved in the tornado tragedy received new award from the state of Nebraska. Full Story

July 4, 1911 – The Boy Scouts of America receives the design patent for the First Class badge that symbolizes Scouting in the USA.

July 29, 1907 – Sir Robert Baden-Powell founds the Boy Scouts with the first Scout camp at Brownsea Island. The encampment ran from August 1-9, 1907.

Venturing awards will begin to officially change around the time of the BSA National Annual Meeting, May 21-23, 2014. After that, Venturers may begin using the new awards. The current (soon to be old) awards will be discontinued Dec 31, 2014. Current Venturers, regardless of their current achievement level, should begin with level 2, the Discovery award. New Venturers should begin with level 1, the Venturing award. The awards are divided into four areas, Adventure, Leadership, Service, Personal Growth.

Old Awards

Venturing members must have earned these awards by Dec 31, 2014, at which point they will be discontinued.

Venturing Bronze Awards

• Sports
• Religious and Community Life
• Arts and Hobbies
• Outdoor
• Sea Scout

Venturing Gold Award
Venturing Silver Award

Expert-level awards:

• Quest Award
• TRUST Award
• Ranger Award

Sea Scouting
Scouter Awards

New Awards

Venturing members may begin working on these new awards (after they are formally released around the time of the BSA National Annual Meeting, May 21-23, 2014.

• Level 1 -- Venturing Award The first step in any journey is the courage to begin. At this level, the new crew member makes their commitment to join and move forward into the experience of Venturing.
• Level 2 -- Discovery Award The adventure of participating with the crew unfolds, and each Venturer begins to discover his or her interests and talents. As the Discovery Award recipients develop new skills and competencies, their eyes are opened and the world expands for them.
• Level 3 -- Pathfinder Award The Venturer’s capabilities and skills expand and with them come increased responsibility for defining their own way forward in life, service to others and formal planning and leadership of the crew toward its goals.
• Level 4 -- Summit Award The highest award of Venturing, the Summit Award, goes to those Venturers who have matured in their personal direction, skills, and life competencies, and who have accepted the responsibility to mentor others and serve their communities in a lasting way.

• Guide to Safe Scouting
• Buddy System
• Climb On Safely
• Safe Swim Defense
• BSA Swim Test
• Safety Afloat

Boy Scouts who earn the Swimming merit badge will learn about safety when swimming and diving, how swimming can contribute to overall fitness and health, and gain some basic competitive swimming skills.

Required for the Eagle Scout Rank, the Swimming merit badge was one of the original 57 merit badges created in 1911.