The New Venturing Awards Program has Four Levels:
- Venturing Award
- Discovery Award
- Pathfinder Award
- Summit Award
Each award has a focus. For the Venturing award, it’s joining; for Discovery, it’s participation; for Pathfinder, it’s leadership; and for the Summit award, it’s mentoring.
- All Venturers should earn the Venturing award soon after formally joining the program.
- Venturers then proceed by earning the Discovery and Pathfinder awards.
- Finally, Venturers earn the Summit award, in which a young person formally serves as a mentor to other Venturers in his or her crew.
Venturing Award
The first step in any journey is the courage to begin. At this level, the new crew member makes a commitment to join and move forward into the experience of Venturing.
Award Focus: Joining
- Commitment to a new experience
- BSA training on personal safety
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.
Award Focus: Participation
- Small-group management skills training
- Earn first-aid and CPR certifications
- Goal-setting training
- Time-management training
- Minimum of 24 hours of service
- Establish and achieve at least one personal goal, including peer and advisor review
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.
Award Focus: Leadership
- Project management training
- Plan and lead at least one crew activity of one day or longer
- Serve in elected leadership position for six months or more
- Experiential training in conflict resolution, communications, group dynamics, cooperation, and ethical controversies
- Plan and lead activity to enhance crew sustainability
- Plan and participate in service of 36 hours or more
- Establish and achieve two personal goals
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.
Award Focus: Mentoring
- Mentoring and coaching skills training
- Mentor a crew member in planning and leadership of crew activity
- Serve in elected leadership position for six months
- Lead the delivery of small-group management skills and training
- Complete advanced leadership training
- Plan, develop, and give leadership to community service project
- Complete goal development and planning for all realms of personal growth
- Create personal code of conduct for review by peers and adult advisors
- Lead and guide ethical controversy and conflict resolution discussion with crew
Download the 2014 Venturing Program Update
How is the switch going to happen? Check out: Transition to New Awards