Venturing Awards
Venturing Scouts are older and likely to have developed specific hobbies and interests by this point. In order to help them continue to learn and develop these passions, the Venturing program has additional awards beyond their rank advancement program for Venturers to participate in. These awards are time consuming and challenging and will likely take a Venturer months to years to complete depending on how much time they devote to them. Due to the commitment involved Scouts who earn these awards are highly respected. These awards represent an impressive knowledge and skill set related to: outdoors, sports, faith, and/or science.
Ranger Award
The Ranger Award relates to a Venturer’s outdoor skill set. In order to be a Ranger a Venturer most demonstrate skills in; first aid, communication, wilderness survival, communication, Leave No Trace, emergency preparedness, cooking, land navigation, and conservation. Once the have shown the required skills in these eight areas they will choose four additional areas from a list of 18 options. These include aquatic and terrestrial outdoor activites/sports, shooting sports, history and natural sciences.
Quest Award
The Quest Award is for the Crew’s athletes. This award shows knowledge and dedication to; sports, fitness, and health. In working towards the Quest Award a Venturer will practice and teach others about first aid, sportsmanship, teamwork, various sports, rules and equipment of a variety of sports, diet, exercise, and how to properly assess fitness. Once these have been completed the Scout will choose an additional area to learn about related to; sports history, nutrition, communication skills, and Drug-Free fitness.
TRUST Award
The TRUST Award is designed for Venturer’s who want to delve more deeply into their faith, their culture, the cultures of others, and the way communities are built on respect and understanding. As a Scout moves through the TRUST Award they will learn more about their own faith, and the role that all faiths play in the Boy Scouts of America’s programs. They will also learn how to use the values of themselves and others to serve their communities.
Nova and Super Nova Awards
Nova and Super Nova Awards are a series of Science based Awards. Venture Scouts can earn one of several awards covering S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities to earn the Nova Award patch. For the true science enthusiast they can earn multiple Nova Awards and take their learning further for a Super Nova Award. Venturers can earn progressively more challenging Super Nova Awards starting with the Dr. Sally Ride Bronze Award, to the Wright Brothers Silver Award, up to the Dr. Albert Einstein Gold Award.
Shooting Sports Award
While working on the Ranger Awards Venturers have the opportunity to participate in a Shooting Sports elective. In order to earn that elective Scouts must demonstrate an understanding of safety and proficiency in one of seven types of shooting; air pistol, air rifle, archery, muzzle-loading rifle, shotgun, pistol, or small bore rifle. Venture Scouts that demonstrate that skill in five of the seven areas are eligible for the Venturing Shooting Sports Award.
Venturing World Conservation Award
For Venturers that have a passion for conservation and environmentalism this is a great award. Versions of the World Conservation Award is available in the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA programs, but true to the spirit of the Venture program this version goes more in-depth than in other programs as asks Scouts to take their knowledge to the next level.