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RESOURCES
Click on the below links for more information.
Venturing Leadership Award
Crew Excellence Award
Venturing Awards Information

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VENTURING RECOGNITION DINNER
Friday, June 5
Beaumont Scout Reservation Dining & Education Facility
6480 Beaumont Reservation Dr.
High Ridge, MO 63049

$18 per person

Please download the Dinner Invitation & RSVP and return the reservation card by Friday, May 29, 2009.

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SWIFT BASE SUMMER CAMP PROVISIONAL WEEK
July 5-11
This summer, the Greater St. Louis Area Council offers a provisional week at Swift. While other units are at camp, we’ll assemble a unit from those who want to go without their unit.

This is great for:

• Venturers who could not attend Swift the week their unit
  planned.
• Venturers who joined their crew too late to attend a high
  adventure that was planned for this summer, such as
  Philmont.
• Boy Scouts of Venturing age who want to attend.
• Venturers who want to go back another week!

With this week, we’ll also offer the Kodiak program for anyone attending camp this week (additional nominal fee to attend). This outdoor leadership program will be done around the regular Swift Base program. More information about Kodiak is at http://www.kodiak-bsa.org/.

Unit leadership will be headed up by Advisor Jeff Abernathy (abernajb@mac.com or 314-608-3444), who can answer any questions you have regarding this opportunity. All Scouts or Venturers must be registered in their units, and eligible to be a youth in the Venturing Program (graduated the eighth grade and at least 14 years old). All other camp regulations apply, including the need for health forms, and all other camp rules.

This week will include all the great Swift fun: rock climbing, rappelling, Challenge Course, water skiing, tubing, horseback riding, etc. Reserving your spot to participate costs $25, with the full week costing only $210 if paid in full by May 1 ($220 after May 1). This fee includes a T-shirt and other crew items throughout the week. Don’t wait -- deadline to register is June 30, 2009. Sign up now!

Download the registration form: Swift Base Provisional Week 2009

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SCUBA VENTURING CREW FORMING NOW!
Can you picture yourself and your friends scuba diving on a shipwreck in the clear, warm water of the Caribbean during spring break next year? That would just be a sample of the kind of exciting activities we do in Venturing Crew 2287. We hope to go to Florida Seabase in 2010!

Interested in joining? Contact Bill Cowley at bcowley@charter.net.

COUNCIL VENTURING OFFICER ASSOCIATION (VOA) OFFICERS 2008-09*

DISTRICT PRESIDENTS

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KODIAK
The Kodiak course combines the elements of leadership and service to others as the two key tenants of Venturing. Servant leadership is a philosophy that teaches the leader to work with and through a team to accomplish the mission.

Kodiak's methods are the following: Challenging outdoor treks to use nature as a classroom (no indoor sessions). Five leadership skills, called "commissions," are taught. They can be offered over a week, or over two weekends. It uses a hands-on teaching approach with very short presentations.

For more information on Kodiak, contact Rick McIlvoy, rmcilvoy@sbcglobal.net, 636-394-5728 (home), 314-609-8001 (cell)

KODIAK X
This supplementary addition to the Kodiak course adds an additional two leadership commissions and completes the final leadership skills training.

Kodiak can be combined with any high-adventure outing.

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VENTURING BASIC LEADER TRAINING: Please go to your district's web page to find out when the next Venturing Basic Training is available. You can also check the neighboring district's schedule if your district's dates are inconvenient.

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UPCOMING VENTURING EVENTS

Other activities available year-round:
Rock Climbing
Camping areas / Cabins
Sailing & Canoeing
Horseback Riding
Rappelling Tower
High Ropes & Challenge Courses
Summer Camp at Swift Base

Other support items:
Liability and accident insurance
Awards and Scholarships
Adult and youth officer training
Youth Leadership Skills training
Ethical controversies modules
Guide to Safe Activities

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EXPLORING POST OPPORTUNITES
There are more than 50 Exploring posts in the St. Louis area and a multitude of others throughout our council.  Our posts range in career areas from aviation to paramedic fields.  The most popular posts we have involve police and fire departments, and hospital sponsorship.

If you would like a current post directory, please contact Tom at tkroenung@stlbsa.org.

We also have needs to create law, engineering, computer technology, culinary and Veterinary science Exploring posts.  There are many teenagers from our area interested in these fields, and we really want to offer them a career awareness program.

Exploring is a great investment to the young people and our future.  If you or your company would be interested in starting a post or get more information, please contact Tom at tkroenung@stlbsa.org.  You can visit www.learningforlife.org/exploring to learn the latest.

Thanks for your interest in Exploring and helping us grow!

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OPEN HOUSE --  (it's always open...)
Yes, it is that time of year to welcome new recruits/new freshman to your crew. As older members move on or graduate out, replenish those you lost with new enthusiastic young adults.

Contact Ben Brennecke at 314-256-3072 to schedule your open house date and to receive support materials.

Open House Guide booklets can be downloaded from the FORMS page.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
PADI Diving, VFW, William Koch Sea Scout, Regional President, William Minto Memorial, Marine Technology Club, National Eagle Scout Association, Lindenwood University.

Contact Ben Brennecke at 314-256-3072 for more information

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SEA SCOUTING -- SQUADRON NEWS
Sea Scouting has been around for more than 50 years. Sea ships have been formed around the council with the purpose of teaching sailing to young adults. There is an advancement program where Sea Scouts can earn the Quartermaster Award that recognizes proficiency in sailing. For more information on developing a Sea Ship in your area, contact Jack Pierson at 314-645-4699

QUICK LINK TO CENTRAL REGION VENTURING NEWS -- Venturing around the 13-state area: www.crventuring.org