Resources

Venturing Trust Award

Background

In the years since Venturing started, the program has been defined by the activities Venturers do and a popular activity is service. Religious organizations charter the majority of Venturing crews. Following in the tradition of the Quartermaster, Ranger, and Quest awards, a similar, challenging award program has therefore been created for Venturing's religious life emphasis. The Trust award is a unique opportunity for the youth of Venturing.

Trust is an essential aspect of our relationship with others - both personally and corporately. Learning to trust is the challenge. Today young people live in an increasingly pluralistic society made up of multiple nationalities, cultures, and religions. One way to work toward a safe future is to learn to get along and work together. Understand is a good start toward trust.

While working on the Trust award, Venturers will learn more about themselves, their communities, their religion and culture, as well as those of others. As with many other requirements throughout the Venturing Program, Venturers will be required to share what they learn with others.

Purpose

• Help Venturers learn about their own religion and how it affects their lives.
• Give Venturers the opportunity to pursue understanding and knowledge of cultures other than their own.
• Promote understanding and tolerance.
• Learn how to resolve conflicts both internally and externally, with positive outcomes.
• Understand how other world religions work and how multiple religions can work together.
• Learn about religion and culture within the context of the BSA.
• Develop highly trained Venturers who may become a training and leadership resource to dens, packs, and troops, religious organizations, the community, schools, and families.
• Provide Venturers a variety of practical, hands-on experiences while having fun.

Requirements

Five Areas of Requirements (each has required sections and electives):

1. Tending your Faith. Learn about your own religious journey, and earn the religious emblem for your faith group.
2. Respecting the Beliefs of Others. Learn about freedom of religion in the US and learn about religions other than your own in your community.
3. Understanding other Cultures. Learn about the historical significance of cultures in the US and study one cultural group in detail.
4. Serving your Community. Complete a community service project and learn about organizations in your community that serve youth.
5. Transforming our Society. Learn counseling skills, conflict resolution, peace and reconciliation, and how to apply them in your own life.

Award

An illustration of the Trust medal is pictured on the top right of the front side of this sheet. It features the world enveloped in a pair of silver hands. The world has been a symbol of Scouting, communities, and religions for many years. The silver hands are both a representation of the Religious and Community Life Bronze Award and of the caring, nurturing, and understanding that the Trust award instills in a Venturer. The medal is suspended from a ribbon with a solid field of purple. The purple represents both the color of the Religious Life programs of Venturing and is a historic color of religion and royalty for much of the world.

• Trust Award Handbook, No. 33154
• Trust Award Medal, No. 14268
• Trust Award Pocket Card, No.
• Trust Award Certificate, No.

Resources/Links: http://www.crventuring.org/Resources/Trust_Award_Links/

Award worksheets:  http://usscouts.org/usscouts/venturing/Worksheets/index.asp