Venturing as a Scouting Ministry

P.R.A.Y. Webinar

Presenters

• Bob Vogt– Serves as an Area Venturing Advisor– Past Missouri Conference Scouting

Coordinator– 50 years in Scouting

• Amanda Vogt– Board Member of the GCUMM– Served as National Venturing President– Instructed/Mentored youth leadership

Venturing Crew 2783

Scouting Ministries in the UMC

• Girl Scouts of the United States of America– Daisy/Brownie– Junior– Seniors/Ambassadors

• Boy Scouts of America– Cub Scouting– Boy Scouting– Venturing/Sea Scouting

Girl Scouting

• Daisy: Grades K-1• Brownie: Grades 2-3• Junior: Grades 4-5• Cadette: Grades 6-8• Senior: Grades 9-10• Ambassador: Grades 11-12• Units are owned by the local Girl Scout

Council and can use your facilities for meetings

Cub Scouting

• Age Range: 7-11 years old

• Tiger Cubs, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts

• Cub Pack is sorted into Dens

• Continuous Unit

• Chartered by local UMC or other community organizations

Boy Scouting

• Age Range: 11-18 years old

• Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life and Eagle Scouts

• Troop is sorted into Patrols as a continuous unit

• Chartered by local UMC or other community organizations

Sea Scouting

• Age Range: 13(and completed 8th grade), or 14, through 20 years old

• Co-ed• Sea Scout Ship• Example Activities: Sailing,

Canoeing/Kayaking, Land Activities, Service Projects

• Chartered by local UMC or other community organizations

Venturing

• Age Range: 13 (and completed 8th grade), or 14, through 20 years old

• Co-ed

• Venturing Crews

• Chartered by local UMC or other community organizations

Youth Groups as Crew Membership Base

• Take your existing group and expand the membership base

• Fun activities/New resources• Training Programs• Award Programs• Youth get a chance to experience

leadership in a safe environment

Age Requirement Benefits

• Chance to recruit 8th grade confirmation classes

• High School/College Students

• Offers a wide variety of activity options

Co-ed Challenges/Benefits• Benefits:

– Guys and girls can learn/challenge each other to succeed at events

– Structured setting to spend time with all friends

– More inclusion (unifies the group)

– Life is Co-ed!

• Challenges:– Separate sleeping,

changing, and showering facilities

– Adult supervision/facilities

– Public Display of Affection

Selling Points for Forming a Crew

• Liability Insurance Policy/Coverage

• Facilities

• Training Programs

BSA Liability Insurance Policy

• Comprehensive General Liability Insurance– More than $5 million in coverage for bodily

injury and property damage

BSA Facilities

• Hundreds of Camps across the nation!– Traveling for Mission Trips– Weekend Campouts

• Program Capabilities– Climbing/Rappelling/Challenge Courses– Lodge/Cabin facilities– Campfire circles– Water Crafts (canoes, kayaks, sailboats,

stand up paddle boards)

Training Programs

• Youth Protection Training

• Adult Basic Leader Training

• Outdoor Trainings

• Introduction to Leadership Skills Courses

• Youth Officer Training• National Youth

Leadership Training• National Advanced

Youth Leadership Experience

Youth Leadership

• Pre-designed nationally recognized leadership courses

• Opportunities to lead youth group events and trips

• Youth participate in the planning process of meetings

TRUST Award

• Purpose:– Learn about their own

religion– Opportunity to pursue

understanding of other cultures

– Learn how to resolve conflicts with positive outcomes

• Sections of the Award:– Tending your faith– Respecting the beliefs

of others– Understanding other

cultures– Serving your

community– Transforming our

society

P.R.A.Y. Awards

• God and Country Program:– God and Me: 1st-3rd Grade– God and Family: 4th-5th Grade– God and Church: 6th-8th Grade– God and Life: 9th-12th Grade

Good Samaritan Award

• The purpose of the award is to provide UMC a means to recognize an individual youth who demonstrates the attributes of the Good Samaritan described in Luke 10:25-37

• This award recognizes ministry to others through outreach, humanitarian assistance, or advocacy

• The candidate should demonstrate “significant” personal and selfless contributions toward others or assistance to individuals in need

• It is the responsibility of the local UMC to determine qualifications of the award recipient

Cross and Flames Award

• The Cross and Flame Award recognizes adult leaders who have given exceptional service in the use and promotion of the Scouting program for young people; one who has served children and youth through the UMC

• A minimum of three years of service is required

Contact Information

• Bob Vogt– revogt1@gmail.com– (636) 394-6809

• Amanda Vogt– venturingpresident@yahoo.com– (636) 394-6809

Questions?

Putting the “Wow” Into Your Program

• It’s more fun!

• Keeps the Youth in your youth group longer

• Your group will grow

• Your youth will develop as leaders and gain important life skills

Float Trip

• Kayaks• Canoe Backwards• Only Bow Paddles• How many can fit in a

canoe before it sinks• Wear Pirate Clothing

or Hats• Play catch between

boats

Built a cardboard boat and then raced it on a lake against other cardboard boats?

Flipped a canoe just for the fun of it?

Raced an eight inch tall sail boat down a

rain gutter?

Stood on water… Using a paddle board of course

Dinners

• Eat Dessert First• Have a Formal Dinner• Wear a Tie/Dress• Progressive Dinner• Utensils Less Meal• Smorgasbord• Pizza• Unusual Desserts

Made 30 Dutch-oven dishes (including breads,

entrees, sides, and desserts) for one meal?

Hiking & Backpacking Trip

• Youth Select Trail• Different Trail

Leaders• Fun Songs Along the

Way• Stop & Do

Teambuilding Games Along the Way

• Historical Area

Teambuilding Games

Zoo Trips

• Shoot the Animals (Photo Scavenger Hunt)

• Fill in the Blank Fact Sheet

Played with an alligator?

Horseback Riding

• Wear Western Clothing

• Arrive with Cowboy Hats on (Wear Helmets when Riding)

• Dude Ranch• Horse Camp

Caving

• By Lantern (Electric)• Youth Teaching the

Geology of the Cave• Wild Caving• Squeeze Box

Squeeze Box

Mud Caving

Line danced as Jessie from Toy Story?

Skiing

• Crazy Helmet Decorating

• Skill Challenges

Tomahawk Throwing

Jumped face first off a cliff for the fun of it, and then climbed back up?

Gone rock climbing with 100 people

during a lock-in at an indoor

climbing gym?

Climbing/Rappelling

Stacked 20 milk crates on top of each other while standing

on top?

Sports

Tug of War

Geo Caching

Broom Hockey

Gone ice skating with your friends?

Used tractors to create a prayer garden out of an overgrown church yard?

Scouting For Food

Been installed as the CEO of an organization with 240,000 people as a 19 year old?