Similarities and Differences between Boy Scouting and Venturing

PROGRAM	BOY SCOUTING			VENTURING
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Unit Type	Boy Scout Troops	Venture Patrols within Troops	Varsity Scout Teams	Sea Scout Ships		Venturing Crews
Uniform	Boy Scout tan uniform shirt with red shoulder loops	Boy Scout tan shirt with Venture strip above pocket, red loops	Boy Scout tan uniform shirt with orange shoulder loops & Varsity strip	Sea Scout uniform		Crew decides uniform, recommended uniform forest green shirt and green shoulder loops
Members are Called	Boy Scouts	Boy Scouts	Varsity Scouts	Sea Scouts		Venturers
Membership	Boys 11-17*	Boys 13-17	Boys 14-17	Boys & Girls 15-20**		Boys and Girls 15-20**
Adult Leader	Scoutmaster	ASM-Venture	Coach	Skipper		Advisor
Youth Leader	Senior Patrol Leader	Venture Patrol Leader	Captain	Boatswain		President
Activity Area	Boy Scout Program	Boy Scout program with emphasis on high adventure & sports activities		Sailing, Boating, Seamanship		Crew determines
YouthTraining	JLT & JLTC (Youth Leader Training)			VLSC, SEAL		VLSC, Kodiak, Kodiak X
Advancement	Tenderfoot thru Eagle Ranks, Merit Badges & Palms			Ranks: Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, Quartermaster		No Ranks***
				Bronze, Gold, Silver, Ranger, Quest, and Trust. Merit Badges, Star, Life, Eagle & Palms***
Recognition	All Boy Scout Recognitions	All Boy Scout Recognitions plus Venture Letter & activity pins	All Boy Scout Recognitions plus Varsity Letter & activity pins, Denali Award	Sea Scout Recognitions incl. Small Boat Handler, Qualified Seaman
				Venturing Leadership Award. Any significant achievement in the life of a Venturer (e.g. school, sports, community, church)
	Religious, Lifesaving, Meritorious Action, Hornaday, Council Achievement, BSA Lifeguard, Snorkeling, Mile-Swim, Fifty-Miler, Historic Trails, World Conservation, Interpreter, Firem’n Chit, Totin’ Chip, Paul Bunyan Woodsman, Den Chief Service Award
Order of the Arrow	Members eligible for election				Not eligible for election, can participate in program if already elected in a troop or team.
National Jamboree	Can participate				Age 16 and over may function as youth staff

* or have graduated the 5^th grade or have Arrow of Light. **or 14 and have graduated the 8^th grade
*** Per BSA's National Bylaws, Sea Scouts are the only program within Venturing to have ranks per se. Only boys under 18 who have earned First Class rank in a Troop or Team may earn Eagle in a Crew. The term "Venture Crew" is no longer valid. That group is now called a "Venture Patrol." The term "Venture Scout" is not valid for any program of the BSA. Members of a Venture Patrol are "Boy Scouts". Members of a Venturing Crew are "Venturers". The term "Varsity Team" as used by in-troop programs is no longer valid. That function has now been taken over by the Venture Patrol. No one can wear green shoulder loops on a khaki Boy Scout shirt. Venture Patrol Scouts wear red shoulder loops and Venturers do not wear a Boy Scout shirt. This chart was created by Bill Nelson based upon one supplied by Michael R. Brown. Last updated: 5/19/04