Venturing News

Venturing Volunteer is Leave No Trace Volunteer of the Year

Howard Kern, longtime member of the Venturing Fishing Committee was recognized at the fall executive board meeting of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics as the 2007 Volunteer of the Year. According to Bill Evans, Associate Director, Venturing who is a Leave No Trace board member and was present for the announcement, "Howard is a pioneer and leader in BSA Leave No Trace training. Howard has had a major impact as a Leave No Trace Master Educator and charter member of the BSA Leave No Trace taskforce." In addition to his Leave No Trace contributions, Howard has contributed to development of the Venturing Certified Fly Fishing Instructor program soon to be released and the Boy Scout Fly Fishing merit badge. Howard works as Vice President of Investments and Assistant Branch Manager for UBS Financial Services, Inc. in Los Angeles, California. Howard, an avid fly fisherman, also devotes time as the Project Coordinator for the California Golden Trout Project in a collaborative effort with the California Department of Fish and Game, US Forest Service, and other conservation groups. Congratulations Howard for all of us in Venturing!

Character Scholarship Program

Lindeenwood University announces that it will award over $1 million per year for youth leaders who have been members of youth-serving agencies, including the Boy Scouts of America.

Click here for additional information, including an application form.

10th Anniversary Venturing Commemorative Rifles

In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Venturing, Henry Repeating Arms Company has been issued a licence by the Boy Scouts of America to produce three special edition rifles. The three Special Edition Commemorative Venturing Rifles include a .22 caliber "Golden Boy" rifle, a Henry Lever Action .22 rifle, and a .44 caliber "Big Boy" rifle.

For more information, see the press release on the Henry Rifles Web site: http://www.henry-guns.com/press_venturing.cfm.

Thomas Joyce visits Bass Anglers Association

The Southern Region Venturing President, Thomas Joyce recently visited the College of Bass Anglers Association's Tournament, held on Lake Lewisville, Texas. The Tournament was sponsored and filmed by Fox College Sports. Thomas is currently a student at the University of North Texas. Pictured with Joyce is Troy Heckaman, Founder of the College Bass Anglers Association. Also pictured is a fully equipped Ranger Bass boat which was used by one of the five finalist teams in their fishoff - Saturday, September 29, 2007.

BSA Shooting Sports Grant Program

NSSF Senior Vice President Chris Dolnack, left, presents a donation check to Roy Williams, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is sponsoring a special grant program for BSA local councils. Grants are available for a variety of purposes, but innovative programs that will attract new members and entice current members to continue on the Scouting trail are most desirable.

Councils are encouraged to be creative when applying for grants. They can apply for grants to support weekly shooting leagues, the purchase of portable airgun ranges, supplies to start and support Venturing crews that shoot and compete, get one or more staff or volunteers trained in mulitiple shooting sports disciplines as well as a USA Shooting (Olympic) coach, build their own shooting recognition plan (patches and trophies), and much more. There is nothing wrong with improving an existing camp range, but that can be doine can do so much more to offer a convenient, year-round shooting program.

• Click here for more information

2006 PADI Scholarship recipients

Level 1 Scholarships: PADI Open Water Diver Certification
Ten (10) scholarships of $250 each.

Level 2 Scholarships: PADI Open Water to Rescue Diver Certification
Four (4) scholarships of $500 each. This scholarship includes Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver certifications.

Level 3 Scholarships: PADI Open Water Diver Materials
Five (5) Venturing crews of up to sixteen (16) members receive scholarships annually of PADI Open Water Diver Deluxe Crewpak materials, (manual and DVD or Interactive Multimedia CD-ROM, logbook, and PIC envelope - $130 value per crewmember) to use towards a PADI Open Water Diver certification course.

Level 4 Scholarship: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Certification
One (1) scholarship of $2,200 presented annually. Career path includes Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and Instructor Development Courses.

Level 5 Scholarships: PADI Instructor Development Materials
Five (5) scholarships presented annually for instructor development materials (Instructor Manual, IDC Candidate workbook and additional pertinent materials), instructor examination fees, and instructor registration fees ($1250 value per scholarship) to use in career path development. This scholarship is used by chosen applicants to complete a PADI Instructor Development Course and subsequent instructor examination. Applicants are responsible for completing Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and Instructor Development Courses on their own.

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