When you say “Boy Scout” the iconic image of scarf-clad young men helping the elderly across a busy intersection comes to mind for many. But few know that one program in the Boy Scouts of America is actually open to teenage young men and women. This lesser known program is called “Venturing,” and the Scouts who participate in Venturing work with fellow members in Crews to set and achieve lofty goals and learn ideals which will last them for a lifetime.
Like other Scouting programs, Venturing has a system of awards that the Scout can work to earn, the highest level of which is known as the “Silver Award.” (The Boy Scouts of America recently announced that the Silver Award will be renamed to be known as the “Summit Award.”) Among other requirements, the Silver Award requires a teenager to set personal growth goals, learn First Aid and CPR, participate in a leadership skills course, learn and lead a forum on ethics, and serve as a leader in their home Crew. Additionally the Scout must receive three letters of recommendation from community leaders, educators, or members of the clergy.
The most recent BSA statistics show that only about 0.34% of all Venturing Scouts earn the Silver Award. Which makes the achievement of three local Scouts that much more significant. Royce Picot, Mary Kate Thornburg and Dacotah McGaffic, all of whom are members of Venturing Crew 617 in Manassas, each earned the Silver Award. Despite all being from the same Crew, each Scout worked on their award program independently. Each Scout coordinated with an adult advisor to help them devise attainable goals and how to follow through and achieve those goals.
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