Scouting magazine

BSA alters age and grade eligibility requirements for Venturing

The Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board today announced a change in the age and grade requirements for the Venturing program.

Effective May 1, 2010, the minimum age/grade requirement will be changed to 14 years of age or 13 years of age and completion of the eighth grade. The previous requirements mandated that participants be 14 years of age and have completed the eighth grade.

The change was made to accommodate boys and girls who have late birthdays, usually from June to September. Under the previous requirement, these boys and girls were not able to immediately join a Venturing crew with their friends when their class graduated from the eighth grade. Now that's no longer an issue.

The new requirements do apply to Sea Scouts, who are part of the Venturing program. But Explorers and Venturers who are part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints won't be affected by the change.

Still have some questions about the ramifications of this decision? Check out the detailed FAQs outlined on this Web site.

Sam Houston Area Council celebrates 100th Anniversary of the BSA

Scouts, Scouters, and supporters of the Sam Houston Area Council gathered Feb. 18 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America and look toward the next 100 years.

Held to honor Scouting’s century of service, the evening drew many special guests including Houston business and community leaders, elected officials, astronauts, Distinguished Eagle Scouts, and other area luminaries.

According to the council, the highlight of the evening was the announcement that Mr. Harry Bovay Jr. (above with a Texas A&M Cadet), through the Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation, hopes to name the Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America as a key beneficiary of future funds from the foundation which may potentially result in future donations of up to $25 million.

A gallery of 15 paintings on loan from the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Tex., gave guests the opportunity to see some of the prized, original artworks of two famed illustrators of the Scouting experience: Norman Rockwell and Joseph Csatari.

The more than 13,000 Boy Scouts who attended enjoyed the midway of interactive concourse displays sponsored by community partners that included Houston sports teams such as the Astros, Texans, and Rockets, as well as NASA, the Children's Museum of Houston, the Houston Zoo, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The evening also featured a video tribute to Scouting by Mike Rowe, an Eagle Scout and star of the Discovery Channel’s "Dirty Jobs," an interactive Boy Scout history drama, and a fireworks display.

Members of Texas A&M’s Corp of Cadets ushered in all of the guests, and His Eminence Cardinal Daniel DiNardo gave the invocation.

Follow the jump for more photos from the event.

Adventure Base 100, Vol. 8: Tupelo, Mississippi

Another stop for Adventure Base 100 means another great video from the team behind this nationwide tour. 

This edition takes you to Tupelo, Miss., birthplace of Elvis Presley. It's also the home of the Tomes brothers, who prove that Scouting can truly be a family affair.

Next stop: Houston, Tex., March 2-6.

On deck: Tampa, Fla., March 12-14.

Previous Adventure Base 100 videos:

Vol. 7: New Orleans, La.

Vol. 6: San Antonio, Tex.

Vol. 5: Austin, Tex.

Vol. 4: Sacramento, Calif.

Vol. 3: Las Vegas, Nev.

Vol. 2: San Diego, Calif.

Vol. 1: Pasadena, Calif.

Ask the Expert: Is it a violation of BSA policy to have "closed" meetings?

Have you been searching for an answer to a Scouting-related question? Ask the Expert is here to help. Send us your question, and Cracker Barrel will seek out the answer.

We received the following question from Janet Riley:

Our Patrol Leaders Council is a closed meeting. When my son wanted to present some camping ideas to the PLC, he had to get special permission from the SPL to do so.

I was specifically asked not to come in [to the meeting] when my son did because the SM said it would be perceived as “interference.” I am the committee chair and told our Scoutmaster that it is a violation of BSA policy to have closed PLC meetings. Who's right?

Janet is referring to Youth Protection Guidelines, which every adult volunteer must know. Here's the specific excerpt she cited:

"No secret organizations. The Boy Scouts of America does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders."

To interpret the rules, we asked Joe Glasscock. Here's his response:

This is an issue where both sides have a point. The PLC meeting is a closed meeting, not a secret one. I can see the Scoutmaster's point that having a lot of extra people would be a distraction.

On the other hand, any parent, and certainly the Committee Chair, should be allowed to attend with the understanding that they would be seated in an outer circle and would not have voice in the decisions of the PLC.

We hope that clears it up for you, Janet. Thanks for your question!

Adventure Base 100, Vol. 7: New Orleans, Louisiana

A great month for the City of New Orleans just got even better. After celebrating the Saints' Super Bowl win, the city got a visit from Adventure Base 100. 

The video features an uplifting story about Eagle Scout William McCorkle, who helped rebuild a community center damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Next stop: Tupelo, Miss., Feb. 20-21.

On deck: Houston, Tex., March 2-6.

Previous Adventure Base 100 videos:

Vol. 6: San Antonio, Tex.

Vol. 5: Austin, Tex.

Vol. 4: Sacramento, Calif.

Vol. 3: Las Vegas, Nev.

Vol. 2: San Diego, Calif.

Vol. 1: Pasadena, Calif.

Have your Scouts and Venturers join the Outdoor Nation

As a child, Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, saw being outdoors as necessary to his mental and physical health. “The woods were my Ritalin,” he writes. “Nature calmed me, focused me, and yet excited my senses.”

But convincing teens of the positive side effects of outdoor exposure isn’t always easy. That’s why the Boy Scouts of America and the Outdoor Foundation are teaming up to create a digital community for “outsiders”—boys and girls who share a passion for the outdoors.

The Outdoor Nation Web site uses sharp graphics and a clear message to “inspire and empower future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.” To accomplish this goal, the site offers visitors an online community where they can meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts, complete outdoor-themed missions, and earn free gear. But don’t worry, parents. All of this fun is moderated to ensure that visitors aren’t exposed to inappropriate content.

The BSA isn’t the Outdoor Foundation’s only teammate on this initiative. Thirty other organizations are on board, including The North Face, REI, the National Park Service, YMCA, and the American Hiking Society.

The fun has already begun, and the first 500 members ages 13 to 30 get a free T-shirt for signing up. So don’t delay in passing this information on to your Scouts today.

 

Adventure Base 100, Vol. 6: San Antonio, Texas

Check out the latest video from the Adventure Base 100 folks. You'll meet Eagle Scout Anthony Trevino, who helps the men and women serving our country overseas get a little piece of home.

Previous Adventure Base 100 videos:

Vol. 5: Austin, Tex.

Vol. 4: Sacramento, Calif.

Vol. 3: Las Vegas, Nev.

Vol. 2: San Diego, Calif.

Vol. 1: Pasadena, Calif.

Csatari 100th Anniversary print available now available to order online

This excellent painting by BSA artist Joseph Csatari encapsulates the essence of the 100th Anniversary in a single image. Now is your chance to have this memorable keepsake in your home or office. It would also be a fitting addition to the site of your unit's meetings.

The 11-by14-inch poster is available now at the Scout Stuff Web site for $5.99. It will also be showing up in your local Scout Shop soon. 

If you're looking for something more elegant, you'll want to consider the framed print. The painting is printed on canvas and comes already framed. The $99.99 keepsake ships directly from the supplier and takes four to six weeks to arrive.

"Jeopardy!" will feature special BSA category on Feb. 25

Get the DVR, TiVo, or VCR ready, because you won't want to miss this. On Feb. 25, the iconic quiz show "Jeopardy!" will feature a special category all about the Boy Scouts of America.

The game show of questions and answers will also spotlight the BSA before the first or second commercial break, so stay tuned for that, as well.

Don't know when "Jeopardy!" airs in your town? Click here to find out.

Your 100th Anniversary celebration photos

Last week, we asked you to send us photos of your unit's 100th Anniversary celebration. And we were impressed with what we got. It's clear that the BSA Centennial spirit is alive across the country. That's certainly the case at the library in Alton, Ill., where Troop 7 has created the Scout history window you see above. It's a great chance for the "uninitiated" to learn about Scouting. Thanks to Richard Ruedin for the photo.

Follow the jump for more photos. And keep them coming all year by e-mailing us your favorite shots.