John Unger (Advisor, Crew 99, Huntsville, TX) wrote a pretty cool article on the other day. I reprint it here for your enlightenment...

OK, here are some ideas for honoring those Venturers who, individually and with their Crews, help with Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Wood Badge courses, Powder Horn courses, or church and community organizations.

I've mentioned this before: Our council SE approved the wearing of the Bushman's Braid for any Venturer or Sea Scout who commits to helping staff a Wood Badge, Powder Horn, University of Scouting or other adult training. (Yes, I know there's no place to wear it on a Sea Scout uniform but if they wear a green shirt sometime they can still wear it.) It is a mark of pride for our Venturers to wear that braid.

(Side note - we've moved from using the leather thong of the original Bushman's Braid to a cord.)

The Corps of Discovery - an under-utilized (IMHO) method for recognizing and encouraging those Venturers who live a life of service to others in Scouting and out of it.

Venturing Leadership Award - an excellent method Natonally recognized of honoring the outstanding Venturer or Advisor - which has a knot that they can continue to wear as adults!

Private thank yous: Letting your Venturer know that his or her work is appreciated. I have a Venturer who has for several years helped me as an aide teaching ARC Fundamentals of Canoeing, demonstrating strokes etc. I tell her how much I appreciate her help - it makes teaching so much easier.

Public thank yous: Have to be careful not to embarass anyone here, but in the appropriate venue publicly acknowledging the work of the Venturer is an excellent method. Something tangible might be offered (a mug, special patch, pin, etc) with this, but not always.

Of these all, I think the most meaninful to the Venturers I've known is the public and private "thank you" from adults they respect and love. Followed at the appropriate time with the braid or CoD and culminating in the VLA. We have to be careful not to make the tangible recognitions "cheap" - but to make them the result of prolonged service.

From my perspective in working with the young men and women who have passed through our Crew, these have been sufficient honors for them. (Not counting the recognitions for awards they have earned - that is a different matter.)

YIV,
John Unger