The Venturing Silver Award

The Venturing Silver Award is available to all youth Venturing members of the Boy Scouts of America. The purpose of the Venturing Silver Award is:

Background

Even though your crew's program may be different from another crew's, you share some similarities with other Venturers. First is your age, since all Venturers must be at least 14 years old and not yet 21. Next is your curiosity and desire to learn more about life and the things around you. You probably like exciting, informative programs and activities at your crew meetings. You want to acquire new, usable skills that make you feel like you are really growing in your life. You like a challenge. And, you like to be recognized for your hard work and achievement.

Venturing should be an exciting, advanced-level program where you learn and use advanced skills for your own enjoyment and growth, as well as to benefit others. Life is a series of experiences, and the Venturing Silver Award is similar. It will lead you on a pathway of exciting life experiences that will guide you to become a skilled venturing leader.

Earning the Venturing Silver Award will identify you as a Venturer who:

How to Earn the Silver Award

Like any high, worthwhile recognition, the Venturing Silver Award will be challenging and will take time to earn. It will take you at least 12 months, but there is no limitation on the maximum amount of time other than you will need to complete all work before your 21st birthday.

Silver Award Requirements (Overview).

These are requirements that all Venturing Silver Award candidates must complete:

 

First, sit down with your Advisor to make a plan of action on how you will earn the Venturing Silver Award. On many of the requirements you will work on your own, while some you will work on with other Venturers. Many requirements will require contacting and working with a specialty consultant, someone who has extensive knowledge and skill in a particular area.

You will learn a skill from this person, and the specialty consultant will determine your proficiency in that skill. You might find it more convenient to work with several other Venturers at the same time with this specialty consultant. Many requirements invoice a time element, such as working as a volunteer for three months. Take this into consideration when you are planning. You should probably work on several requirements at the same time, such as serving as a crew leader while working on a Bronze Award requirement.

You can receive dual credit for work required in different places. Examples: If you get certified in Standard First Aid, you can use this credit toward Silver Award requirements No. 2, Ranger Award core requirement No. 1, and Youth Ministries requirement No. 8.

When you have completed a requirement have either an Advisor or a specialty consultant initial(1) and date your track sheet to confirm your completion of that requirement.

When you have completed all Silver Award requirements, ask your Advisor or crew president for a Silver Award review. The review committee will be made up of Venturers and Adults. They will determine if you have successfully completed all requirements, and the recommended to your BSA local council that the council, representing the National Court of Honor, present you the highest Venturing award a Venturer can earn - the Venturing Silver Award.

Purpose

Advancement has been an important part of the boy Scouts of America since the issuance of the first twelve merit badges in 1911. When the Boy Scouts of America introduced the Exploring program (predecessor to Venturing) in 1950, the Silver Award program was also released as the advancement program for older Boy Scouts. From 1950 through 1966, 18,256 Silver Medals in general, i.e., Wolf, Antelope, Beaver, etc., where earned.

The new Venturing Silver Award is available to all Venturing youth members of Boy Scouts of America. Its purpose is to provide a pathway for personal development; encourage Venturers to learn, grow, and serve; and recognize the high level of achievement of Venturers who acquire Venturing Skills.

Requirements of the Silver Award:

Venturers must be proficient in emergency preparedness (including standard fist aid, CPR, and Safe Swim Defense); participate in Ethics In Action; complete the new Venturing Leadership Skills Course; earn the Venturing Gold Award (replaces the Exploring G.O.L.D. Award); and earn at least one of the five Venturing Bronze Awards.

Procedure of the Silver Award:

Venturers work with their Advisors to establish a plan of action for earning the Silver Award. Ventures can choose to work on the requirements alone or with other Ventures as in a crew activity. Venturers can work on requirements in the Bronze Award program, Gold Award program, and Silver Award program simultaneously. They could also work on each program separately. It's up to the Venturer and Advisor a to how they earn the award. After completion of all requirements, the Silver candidate will go through a formal review with Venturers and adults from the crew.

The Silver Award Medal:

The Venturing Silver medal features a super-imposed eagle over a compass dial. It also has a red, white, and blue background behind the eagle. The medal is worn suspended form a green and white ribbon, which is suspended form a silver Venturing bar. A cloth knot is also available.

Venturing Silver Award Progress Record and Application

Please print or type all information. Give month, day, and year for all dates.

Part I - Personal Data:

Name/Nickname


Address

City ST, Zip

Home Phone/Birthday

School or College Grade or year in College

Church or religious affiliation

Date entered Venturing

Part II - Requirements

(Requirements are listed in no particular order)

1. Venturing Bronze Awards (Earn at least one.)
mm/dd/yy Advisor Approval Bronze Award
_ _ Sports
_ _ Youth Ministries
_ _ Arts and Hobbies
_ _ Ordinary (Half of Quartermaster)
_ _ Outdoor (Half of Ranger)
2. Emergency Preparedness:
mm/dd/yy Advisor Approval Emergency Preparedness
_ _ Completed Standard First Aid or equivalent course
_ _ Completed CPR certification
_ _ Completed the BSA Safe Swim Defense training course
_ _ Led or participated in a group swim using the BSA safe Swim Defense
3. Leadership:
mm/dd/yy Advisor Approval Leadership
_ _ Completed the Venturing Leadership Skills Course
_ _ Served for at lest six months in an elected or appointed crew, distric, or council leadership position.
4. Ethics in Action:
mm/dd/yy Advisor Approval Ethics in Action:
_ _ Participated in at least two Ethical Controversies
_ _ Organized and led or helped organize and lead an Ethics Forum
_ _ Completed Venturing Gold Award