University of Scouting and College of Commissioner Service

Class_Catalog_2023_01_02 (1)

2023 University of Scouting & College of Commissioner Service

Class Catalog

Venture Scouting Program (Scheduled Classes)

VSP1019 8:15-9:05 AM

Chris Castillo

VSP 101A (CED 220) - 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.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP1020 11:05-11:55 AM

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.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP1040 1:50-2:40 PM

Will Sandoval

VSP 104 - Conducting Venturing Boards of Review

Venturing is unique among Scout programs in that the youth conduct the Boards of Review for their peers. Learn how to conduct a Board to celebrate the accomplishments of your crew mates. This class will focus on Discovery and Pathfinder ranks.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP1050 2:45-3:35 PM

Heather Verdin

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 affect others involved. Learn how to lead these essential components of the program in your crew.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP1060 3:40-4:30 PM

Christine Sandoval

VSP 106 - Putting the "P" in ALPS; Conducting a Structured Personal Reflection

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.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP1071 9:15-11 AM

Heather Verdin

VSP 107A - Crew Program Planning

The essential knowledge for adults serving as mentors for youth during the annual program planning process, Crew Advisors, or mentors to youth activity chairs. Topics covered include Advisor responsibilities, recognition in the Venturing program (with an emphasis on the new awards program), and how to plan the Crew's annual program. Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3020 9:15-10:05 AM

VSP 302 - Recruiting Projects for Crews

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.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3030 10:10-11:55 AM

Christine Sandoval

VSP 303 - Planning Tier II Adventures

The key to a successful event is successful planning. Planning is hard but essential. Get introduced to a tool used by one of our crews to make your next event a success.

Topics covered include Youth/Adult responsibilities, mentoring, and timeliness.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3040 2:45-3:35 PM

Will Sandoval

VSP 304 - Recognizing Your Accomplishments; Planning Venturing Courts of Honor

Celebrating your crewmates accomplishments is essential to the crew's health. Learn

how to plan a Court of Honor to make the most of the event. Come away with script and program text and ideas for many awards and learn how to write your own.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3050 1:50-2:40 PM

VSP 305 - How to Incorporate Initiative Games into Meetings

Introduce initiative games into your crew's program. They are a great way to break up activities, build cohesiveness, 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.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3060 3:40-4:30 PM

Heather Verdin

VSP 306 - Mentoring

Perhaps one of the hardest things to do for a Venturer is to mentor another Venturer or Scout. Yet, Venturing asks us to do just that. Go beyond the mentoring training and learn what it takes to successfully mentor another crewmember and how to take that back to your unit to build a better program.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3139 9:15-10:05 AM

Will Sandoval

VSP 313 (CED 313, SBP 313) - Presenting the Kodiak Challenge

This session focuses on organizing and presenting the Kodiak Challenge at the unit level. The Kodiak Challenge is a unit run leadership class that follow ILSC/ILST. Designed to improve unit's leadership skills while on a dynamic, multiday week long adventure. This course will provide valuable information to will enable Units (Crews, Troops, and Ships) to deliver this content to their youth will incorporate updates from ILSC that were released by National on Dec 3.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3140 8:15-9:05 AM

Will Sandoval

VSP 314 - Finding Your Crew Identity

How to distinguish your crew from all the others. What sets you apart? Let's talk about what your crew brings to the table and how to leverage that into tangible items (from crew hats to patches, to apparel) that identifies you. Come away with ideas, where to go to get these items, and an understanding of BSA's branding guidelines.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3150 8:15-9:05 AM

Heather Verdin

VSP 315 - Transitioning "Youth" to Adult

You've had a great run; but now you're 21. You've aged out of the program. You've had a coffee cup grafted onto your hand. Now what? Maybe you are 18 and aged out of Scouts BSA but want to help out and still be a youth at the same time. Tips on how to stay engaged. This course targeted to Scouters that have recently aged out of one of Scouting's programs (Scouts BSA, Sea Scouting, Venturing, and/or Exploring).

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3160 10:10-11 AM

Will Sandoval

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. This course will be taught in conjunction with part of the Venturing Youth Master's Track, will incorporate updates from ILSC that were released by National on Dec 3.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3209 11:05-11:55 AM

Heather Verdin

VSP 320A (CED 224A) - Social Media and Virtual Programming: Effective Use and Guidelines

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.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3240 8:15-9:05 AM

Mike Meredith

VSP 324 - Incorporating Advancement into Your Crew's Program

Most Crews don't think about advancement as a regular pat of their program, but advancement is important to recognize achievement. An experiences Venturing Advisor will discuss ideas for how to incorporate advancement into your Crew's regular program.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3250 2:45-3:35 PM

Mike Meredith

VSP 325 - Navigating the Summit Process

This session focuses on requirements for the Summit Rank in general, and the Summit Project in particular. Summit Candidates, Crew Advisors and adult mentors for Summit Award candidates will gain the background knowledge to be able to guide youth through the process of achieving Venturing's highest distinction. Emphasis will be places on selecting and executing the Summit Award Project. Recommend taking VSP 301 prior to this course.

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP3260 3:40-4:30 PM

Mike Meredith

VSP 326 - Other Venturing Awards

You've earned Discovery, Pathfinder, and Summit. Now what? The Venturing program is more than just these ranks. Maybe your interests lie in shooting, outdoors, in a place of worship, or on an athletic field. Take your game to the next level by pursuing shooting sports, Ranger, Trust, or Quest awards among others. Make them a part of your crew's program. Recommend VSP 301 prior to this course

VSP3280 1:50-2:40 PM

Heather Verdin

Maximum number of participants: 20

VSP 328 - Crafting a Unit Electronics Policy

Electronics are a necessary part of our everyday lives. We carry around a device that fits in our pockets that has more computing power and connectivity than the computers that were on the spacecraft that landed on the moon. How do we properly use this tool? Learn how to establish ground rules for their use in scouting.