Celebrate Venturing!
On May 29, 2014, over 100 Venturers, Advisors, and friends and
family members from the Greater St. Louis Area Council gathered to
celebrate Venturing over the last year at the annual Venturing Celebration
Dinner. The Venturing Celebration Dinner is something that is planned by
the Council’s Venturing Officers’ Association to bring to light the
accomplishments of its Venturers and to have one last get together to start
the summer off right! After a wonderful barbeque meal prepared by a local
Boy Scout Troop as a fundraiser, the evening venue began with a guest
speaker and several recognitions. Venturers who earned Bronze and Gold
Awards were called to the stage; Ranger, Quest, and TRUST awards were
presented; Sea Scout accomplishments were recognized, and the
Venturing Silver Awards were presented to 8
youth. The council then recognized 8 youth with
the Venturing Leadership Award, and 6 adults with
the Venturing Servant Leader Award (an award
created by the council VOA to recognize adults for
their dedication to being a servant leader for the youth). Staff who would work
at the local summer camp and at the council's Venturing camp were
introduced, as well as the current VOA officers and advisors, and youth that
were elected to hold Area, Regional, or National positions for the upcoming
term were introduced and presented with their Gold epaulettes.
A National Court
of Honor took place, in
which Emily
Mausshardt, the Central
Region Venturing
President, was inducted into the National Youth
Leadership Society, and the final award of the
night was the Greater St. Louis Area Council
VOA Outstanding Service Award for one youth
and one adult who went above and beyond in
service to the council Venturing program. The
VOA president gave a report of Venturing in the past year and promoted upcoming Council events,
and the program concluded with a brief word from the Greater St. Louis Area Council Scout Executive.
The night ended with cake and more socializing!
What does your Council do to celebrate
Venturing and Scouting throughout the year?
Maybe a council-wide event is something that
would be good for your Venturers. There are
so many ways to celebrate Venturing, and so
many people that should be celebrating!
~ Lizzie Schneider