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 Scouts is a separate program. Like the ties between Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts, there are some ties between Venturing and Sea Scouts. Sea Scouts 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
• BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• Historic Trails Award
• International Activity Badge
• Interpreter Strip
• International Activity Badge
• Kayaking BSA
• Leave No Trace Award
• Mile Swim BSA
• National Outdoor Awards
• NOVA Awards
• Physical Fitness Award
• Religious Emblems
• Scuba BSA
• Snorkeling BSA
• Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement
• Whitewater Rafting BSA
• 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

• Nov 2015: New NYLT patch, Trained patch available to youth now as well as adults

• 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

• July 4th – Independence Day
• 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.
• July 30, 1920 – First World Scout Jamboree in Olympia, London, England.

Each program level award is divided into four areas, Adventure, Leadership, Service, Personal Growth.

Program Level Awards (new)

• Venturing Award -- Level 1: 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.
• Discovery Award -- Level 2: 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.
• Pathfinder Award -- Level 3: 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.
• Summit Award -- Level 4: 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.

Expert-level Awards

• Quest Award -- Focuses on the traditions of sportsmanship and lifelong fitness.
• TRUST Award -- Focuses on the principles of religion, community, and tolerance; its purpose is to provide a pathway for personal development in the forms of service and devotion to God.
• Ranger Award -- High-level outdoor/high adventure skills advancement program, training for the skills of an elite outdoorsman.

Other Awards

• Quartermaster Award may be earned by Venturers or Sea Scouts.

See also:
Sea Scouting
Scouter Awards

• 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.