Updated Feb 11, 2024
| Session | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor |
| 1 | VSP 101 – What is Venturing? | Introduction to the mission of Venturing, its aims & methods, and unique place in the Boy Scouts of America. Youth-led aspects of the program are emphasized, including District and Council Venturing Officers’ Associations. This course is valuable for all Scouters who wish to learn more about the Venturing program. | Tammy Odenbaugh |
| 2 and 3 | VSP 107 – Crew Program Planning | (2 Sessions) The key to a successful unit is a dynamic program that meets the needs of the crew’s youth. Learn how to do this in a fun and engaging way. Topics covered include Youth/Advisor responsibilities, recognition in the Venturing program (with an emphasis on the rank program, including Scouts BSA), and how to plan the Crew’s annual program. | Tammy Odenbaugh |
| 4 | VSP 102 – Crew Meetings | Does your crew run effective meetings? Want to make them better? What are the elements of a good meeting? We’ll provide a template for you to follow/modify to meet your needs. | Matt Biscoe |
| 5 | VSP 104 – Conducting Venturing BoRs | Venturing uses ethical controversies to help young adults develop the ability to make responsible choices that reflect their concern for what is a risk and how it will effect others involved. Learn how to lead these essential components of the program in your crew. | Mike Meredith |
| 6 | VSP 105 – Leading a Crew Ethical Controversy | Venturing uses ethical controversies to help young adults develop the ability to make responsible choices that reflect their concern for what is a risk and how it will effect others involved. Learn how to lead these essential components of the program in your crew. | Matt Biscoe |
| 7 | VSP 106 – Putting the P into ALPS – conducting structured personal reflections. | Personal growth is one of the four pillars in the ALPS model. Walk away with an understanding of how this is supposed to work, how to conduct an effective Structured Personal Reflection, and it’s importance in the lives of your crewmates. | Heather Verdin |
| 1 | VSP 324 – Incorporating advancement into your crew’s program | Most Crews don’t think about advancement as a regular part of their program, but advancement is important to recognize achievement. An experienced Venturing Advisor will discuss ideas for how to incorporate advancement into your Crew’s regular program. Includes Scouts BSA advancement. | Mike Meredith |
| 2 | VSP 302 – Recruiting projects for Crews | (2 Sessions) Keeping your crew going is the name of the game. You’ve got a great program, now you have to tell people about it so they beat a path to your door. And, oh by the way, you need to do this to earn your Pathfinder Rank. Learn how to do this from folks who have done it themselves. | Mike Meredith |
| 3 | VSP 316 – Conducting ILSC | Conducted at the Crew level, Leadership Skills for Crews (LSC) is the first step in the training continuum for Venturing youth leaders. Ideally, the course is run annually for the Crew by senior youth who have previously taken the course, although in Crews with less experience it is often run by the adult Advisors. This class will educate Venturing leaders on how to implement the syllabus and establish youth-led training as an integral part of the Crew’s annual program. | Heather Verdin |
| 4 | VSP 325 – Navigating the Summit Processes | This class is designed to help Venturers navigate the trail from Pathfinder to Summit. Come learn how to fill out the required paperwork, prepare your project, and prepare for your Board of Review. | Mike Meredith |
| 5 | VSP 305 – How to incorporate Initiative Games into your crew meetings | Introduce initiative games into your crew’s program. They are a great way to break up activities, build cohesiveness, and leadership and problem solving skills. And, they are fun! Walk away with an understanding of how to select, organize, and incorporate these activities into your next crew meeting or outing. | Tammy Odenbaugh |
| 6 | VSP 320 – Social Media | Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr…) are very popular among today’s youth and are a very powerful means of communication. Zoom, discord, and other virtual platforms have become vital for day to day life and crew meetings/programs. The purpose of this class is three-fold: to give crew advisors background on how to tap into social media as a resource for engaging with the youth in their crews, to inform them of how to do so in a responsible way, and give them a solid understanding of how to best use virtual programming. BSA policies regarding social media, online safety, and youth protection will be emphasized. | Heather Verdin |