Youth Recognition and Advancement

Note: The following requirements reflect the current standards as found in the Sea Scout Manual, 10th edition (2000). There are some minor revisions from the 1997 printing of the Sea Exploring Manual, but none that will make earning rank advancement substantially easier or more difficult.

All "Web Resources" mentioned in these files are unofficial and linked to the requirements by the editors of this page for informational use.

Current copies of reference materials, such as merit badge pamphlets, U.S. Coast Guard navigation rules, International Yacht Racing Rules, OSHA requirements, International Code of Signals, and others change frequently. They should be available in your ship's library and are not reprinted in the Sea Scout Manual.

Note: Boy Scout merit badge requirements are used in Sea Scout advancement. Merit badges and other Boy Scout insignia except the Eagle Award are not worn on Sea Scout uniforms.

Long Cruise Badge The Long Cruise badge may be earned by both youth and adults registered in Sea Scouting. Once the individual has completed the requirements that follow, the Skipper submits a statement to the Boy Scout council service center where the badges can be secured. Click here for Long Cruise Badge requirements.

The Eagle Award Eagle Scout is primarily a recognition for boys in Boy Scout troops. However, having attained the First Class rank in a Boy Scout troop, a male Venturer may continue to work toward becoming an Eagle Scout until his eighteenth birthday by meeting the requirements as prescribed in the Boy Scout Handbook. Leadership requirements may be met in the Ship as Boatswain, Boatswain's Mate, Yeoman, or Purser. The personal conferences will be conducted by the Skipper and the bridge of review for each progress award must be reviewed by the Ship Committee. Click here for Eagle Award requirements.

The Venturing Recognition Program

• Provide a pathway for personal development.
• Encourage Venturers to learn, grow, and serve.
• Recognize the high level of achievement of Venturers who acquire Venturing skills.
• Identify trained and highly motivated Venturers who will be a training, leadership, and program resource for other Venturers, Scouts, organizations, and the community.
• Help define Venturing.

Earning the Venturing Silver Award will identify you as a Venturer who:

has direction in his or her life.
knows how to plan and accomplish goals.
is skilled,
lives the Venturing Oath,
is a leader,
is willing to see others, and
is one of the proud few to wear the

Venturing Silver Award.

Step 1. Venturing Bronze Award

The Bronze Award is the first step towards the Venturing Silver Award. The five different Venturing programs (Arts and Hobbies, Outdoor, Sea Scouting, Sports, and Youth Ministries) each have their own Venturing Bronze Awards. All five Bronze Awards contain the common elements of experience, learning a skill, and sharing your experiences and skills with others. Earning at least one Bronze Award is required for the Venturing Gold Award. The Bronze Award is designed as the entry-level award for a Venturer so that they can acquire usable skills that will carry them along the trail to the Venturing Silver Award.

To earn the Sea Scouting Bronze Award, the Sea Scout must earn the Ordinary Rank. Requirements for the Sea Scout Bronze (Ordinary rank) Award may be found in the Sea Scouting Manual. The Bronze Award is a colorful, campaign-style ribbon that may be worn on the Sea Scouting or Venturing uniform. If all five are earned, all five may be worn on the uniform. The ribbons have an icon representing the area in which it was earned superimposed on the ribbon. Additional information may be found on BSA's national web site.

Step 2. Venturing Gold Award

The Venturing Gold Award program recognizes significant accomplishment in a Venturer's life as he or she has proven outstanding performance in a broad spectrum of activities. These activities relate to Venturing's six experience areas of leadership, citizenship, social, outdoor, service, and fitness. It challenges Venturers over an extended period by offering challenging and stimulating opportunities for Venturers to develop and achieve personal goals in the areas of leadership, character development, and personal fitness.

Venturing Gold Award candidates must be active and registered Venturers for at least twelve months before final qualification. They must serve in a leadership role within the twelve months before final qualification. They must participate in a district, council, or national Venturing event or activity. They must also earn the Venturing Bronze Award.

They must set and accomplish one personal goal related to each of the six experience areas. They must plan and lead at least two Ship activities built around the six experience areas. They must recite the Sea Promise. Three letters of recommendation from adults outside the Ship are required, and the candidate must pass a Ship Bridge of Review. Finally, they must be approved by their Ship Committee.

The award is a gold medal featuring the Venturing logo inside a compass dial. The medal is suspended from a white ribbon that is worn around the neck. Additional information may be found on BSA's national web site.

Step 3. Venturing Silver Award

The Venturing Silver Award is available to all Venturing youth members. Its purpose is to provide a pathway for personal development; encourage Venturers to learn, grow, and serve; and recognize a high level of achievement of Venturers who acquire Venturing skills.

Candidates must be proficient in emergency preparedness (including standard first aid, CPR, and Safe Swim Defense), participate in Ethics in Action complete the Venturing Leadership Skills Course; earn the Venturing Gold Award; and earn at least one of the first Venturing Bronze Awards.

Sea Scouts work with their Skippers to establish a plan of action for earning the Silver Award. Sea Scouts can choose to work on the requirements alone or with other Sea Scouts as a Ship activity. Sea Scouts can work on requirements in the Bronze Award program, Gold Award program, Silver Award program, and the Quartermaster Award program simultaneously. They could also work on each program separately. It's up to the Sea Scout and Skipper as to how they earn the award. After completion of all requirements, the Silver candidate will go through a Ship Bridge of Review.

The Venturing Silver medal features an eagle superimposed on a compass dial. It also has a red, white, and blue background behind the eagle. The medal is worn suspended from a green and white ribbon, which is suspended from a silver Venturing bar. A cloth knot is also available. Additional information may be found on BSA's national web site.

Quest Sports and Fitness Award

In the years since Venturing started, the program has been defined by the activities Venturers do. Sports have become a very important activity within crew programs. The resounding popularity of the Ranger Award for the outdoor emphasis caused the need to create a similar, challenging award program for Venturing's sports emphasis.

Statistics throughout the United States are showing that Americans as a nation are overweight and out of shape. Heart disease and diabetes, diseases which are the results of being overweight, are rampant. These diseases, historically found in older people, are now being found more and more in the youth. Young Americans are not being encouraged to watch their diets and start an exercise program.

While working on QUEST, Venturers will be required to learn more about what makes up a nutritional diet as well as design your own personal exercise plan based upon your lifestyle, fitness levels, and desires for a healthy and long life. Hopefully this program will introduce Venturers to a sport or sports that they will enjoy the rest of their life. As with many other requirements throughout the Venturing Program, Venturers will be required to share what they learn with others. This sharing may be done through various sports clinics and presentations with other groups. In the electives section, Venturers will be required to choose at least one sport in which to become proficient.

An illustration of the Quest medal is pictured on the right. It features the Vitruvian Man (c1492) by Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci actually drew the figure as he was influenced by Vitruvius, a Roman engineer of the first century B.C. It is based on a model of ideal proportions which Vitruvius established. Like that balanced man that both Vitruvian and da Vinci modeled, the modern Venturer must be balanced physically, mentally, nutritionally, and even socially. The Vitruvian man stands before a red, white, and blue background. That background reminds us of national pride as our athletes compete against the world. The medal is suspended from a ribbon with a solid field of green. The green represents the sports field as well as the completion of journey started with the bronze medal with its half green and half white ribbon. A factsheet with additional details is available here.

Religious Emblems Religious emblems are provided by the authorities of various faiths to stimulate the spiritual growth of Venturers in those faiths. The requirements and procedures for earning any of the emblems are available at your council office. See Religious Emblems "Quick-Reference" Chart, No. 5-206A. Information about religious emblems is also available from P.R.A.Y. Note: Not all religious emblems available to Sea Scouts are shown.

Aquatic Awards

BSA Lifeguard, Mile Swim BSA, Snorkeling BSA, and Boardsailing BSA are special awards that you may qualify for as a Sea Scout. These recognitions are not worn on the dress uniform.

	The BSA Lifeguard emblem is especially important in Sea Scouting. It improves your ability to help others in all types of aquatics activites. A BSA Lifeguard Application, No. 4435, is available from your BSA council service center.
	The Mile Swim, BSA emblem is earned by swimming a continuous mile under safe conditions in the presence of a special counselor approved by your council. See Boy Scout Requirements for more details.
	The Snorkeling, BSA emblem introduces Scout- or Venturer-age youth to the special skills, equipment, and safety precautions associated with snorkeling, to lay a solid skill and knowledge foundation for those who will later participate in more advanced underwater activity. Secure a Snorkeling, BSA, Application No. 19-176, from your council service center.
	The Boardsailing. BSA award has been developed to introduce Scout or Venturer age youth to basic boardsailing skills, equipment, and safety precautions. Secure a Boardsailing, BSA, Application, No. 20-935, from your council office.

Other Awards

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