Venturing Priest Breakout April 2007 Building a

Venturing / Priest Breakout April 2007 Building a fun, Priesthood centered activity program for Priesthood quorums

Challenges of Priest-Age Boys 16 -17 § The Priest age is a “turning point” of life for young men. 2

Characteristics of a Priest-age boy 16– 17 Physical § Pronounced § Increase bodily developments in strength and reaction § Wants more formal team activities and participates in group sports; looking for group acceptance § Desires more Challenge & Risk (High Adventure) 3

Characteristics of a Priest-age boy 16– 17 Mental § Ability to think abstractly, to set goals, and plans for his future § Begins to question the world around him § Desires to develop character and personality 4

Characteristics of a Priest-age boy 16– 17 Spiritual § Begins to define one’s self in terms of opinions, beliefs and values § Challenge of authority, and even doctrine § Pulls away from family and looks for other mentors or adults A church study several years ago found that parents have the greatest impact on 12 and 13 year old boy in how he behaves and exercises his agency. However, as young men approach 15 and 16 and grow toward manhood, major influence in his life becomes his leaders and his peers – particularly his YM leaders. 5

Inactivity Rate Among Priests We are losing more youth to inactivity: § 1 -11 yrs old § 11 -13 yrs old 68% § 13 -15 § 15 -17 yrs old = 42% (-28%) = (-4%) (-18%) 72% = = 50% (-8%) 6

Priest’s Quorum Activity Challenges § Many Priest Quorum’s struggle with quality mutual night activities. § Their view of “Scouting” is, merit badges, wearing the uniform, pressure from parents to earn Eagle, etc. § They feel that mutual is less important because they no longer want to pursue Scouting ranks. 7

Vitalizing the Priest’s Quorum? Given the characteristics and challenges facing Priest-age young men, what can we do as leaders to make sure that our voices remain louder than Satan’s? What do we really want to have happen in the lives of our young men of age 16 and 17 ? 8

Goal of the Priest’s Quorum? §Retain the Active §Reclaim the Less Active §Grow the Quorum What can we do as Leaders to help the quorum accomplish these goals? Answer: Help YM Have Spiritual Experiences Through a STRONG ACTIVITY PROGRAM! 9

Aaronic Priesthood Activity Program for Priests § § If you build it—they will come! I f you don’t—they will go elsewhere. 10

President David O. Mc. Kay of “The spirituality of a ward will be commensurate with the activity the youth of that ward. ” 11

Activities “Aaronic Priesthood activities should strengthen testimonies and foster personal growth. They should be based on the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. They also should provide opportunities to apply the principles taught in Sunday quorum meetings and feel support in living them. ” General Handbook of Instructions, 12

How do we vitalize the Priests Quorum? Through a Fun, Priesthood. Centered Activity Program in the Priests Quorum which Includes Venturing. 13

Section 2: Venturing – A Laboratory for Applying Gospel Principles 14

Venturing for Priest’s Quorum? When properly applied, [Venturing] acts as a laboratory for boys with dedicated leaders serving as trained laboratory instructors, monitoring and encouraging the application of the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood by providing action experiences that appeal to quorum members. “On My Honor”, Thane Packer pg. 10 15

Why Venturing? Remember the 5 Steps of Learning Process § Exposure § Repetition § Understanding § Conviction § APPLICATION 16

Venturing for Priest’s Quorum? Application There action limitations in whatever we try to teach on Sunday. We do better when our Sunday lessons are fortified, through the experience of doing at another place and time. This is where Venturing becomes the laboratory for Aaronic Priesthood holders. 17

Venturing for Priest’s Quorum? § What is Venturing? § How does it differ from Boy Scouts? § How does it meet the challenges of the Priest-age boys? 18

Venturing for Priests § Venturing is a activity program, tailored exactly to the needs and interests of 16 – 18 year olds. § It was designed to meet the needs of Priest-age young men while achieving the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. § Venturing resources blended with Duty To God requirements can provide the structure and focus to help 16 -18 yearold young men prepare for missions 19

Have we forgotten anything? 20

FUN! 21

Venturing Methods 1. Adult Association 2. Leadership 3. Recognition 4. Ideals 5. Group Activities (FUN) 6. High Adventure (More FUN) 7. Teaching Others 22

Venturing is Flexible § Every Priest Quorum is unique. Venturing is flexible; it can be tailored to each quorum’s needs. § Venturing does not have a required uniform. § Young men can decide if they want to work on Venturing awards, or decide not to work on the awards at all. 23

Recognition & Awards 1. 5 Different Bronze Award Programs (LDS Religious Life, Outdoor, Sports, Sea Scouting, and Arts) 2. LDS Religious Life Bronze Award is based on Duty to God 3. Gold & Silver Awards 4. Ranger Award (High Adventure Program) 24

Leadership Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course § Created to help teach young men leadership skills § Modeled after BYU Leadership Course § Teaches young men vision, communication, listening, organization, planning, delegation, teamwork, trust, group problem solving and leadership styles. 25

How to Get Started § § § Don’t announce in Priesthood Meeting or Mutual that there is a new program called Venturing and we’re going to do it. Do meet with one of the young men that is a leader. Without a sales pitch let him borrow a Ranger Guidebook. Ask him to look at it and report back in a week what he thinks. Don’t assume the young men want to earn Venturing awards. Do assume that the young men want to have fun with their friends. Don’t say, do you want to work on the Outdoor Bronze Award? Do ask them to choose from a list of over twenty outdoor activities the 4 -6 they would like to do. 26

How to Get Started Purchase the following: § Venturing Leader Manual, No. 34655 C § Venturing Leadership Skills Course, No. 34340 A § Venturing Handbook, No 33493 § Ranger Guidebook, No. 3128 A Total cost approximately $27 27

How to Get Started 28

Get Trained § Fast-Start (grandcanyonbsa. org) § Youth Protection (grandcanyonbsa. org) § Monthly Roundtable § Specific Leader Training (Sept. 10, 2005) § Woodbadge 29

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Organize Crew 31

Program Capability Inventory 32

Venturing Interest Survey 33

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www. scouting. org 36

Planning Worksheet Our Monthly Activity plan Week #1 Duty to God Activity__________ (1. )___________ Priesthood purposes (2. )___________ (1. )___________ Youth activity (2. )___________ chair: ________ Adult advisor: ___________ 37

Crew Officer’s Seminar Agenda 38

Cooperative Games 39

Problem-Solving Initiative Games 40

How to buy a car 41

Job Interview 42

Job Interview 43

Crew / Priests Quorum Integration § First, make sure that Priests Quorum 1 st & 2 nd Assistant are TRAINED in their Duties and are actively having Quorum Presidency Meetings § Second, make sure that the Crew President is Trained in his responsibilities and is leading the Crew (under the direction of the Bishop) 44

Crew / Priests Quorum Integration § § The Venturing Unit must not operate independent of the quorum. Planning for Crew is done during Priests Quorum Presidency Meeting “Venturing is part of the Quorum Presidency’s responsibilities. Each scout unit should have a … Crew President who is nominated by the bishopric and sustained by quorum members. This leader is usually the quorum president [1 st Assistant]. ” (LDS Scouting Handbook, pg. 3) “At least once each month, after the foregoing matters have been considered, the quorum presidency meeting is used to make plans for the quorum’s scout unit. If youth and adult leaders are not already present, they are invited to the meeting at this time. ” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2 –Section 2, pg 184 -185) 45

Section 3: Duty to God 46

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Elder Hales “I promise you that your achievement of the Duty to God Award will provide you with a living testimony that will sustain you throughout your life. ” 48

Duty to God “The Duty to God program helps young men accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. It helps them develop skills and attributes that are needed to succeed in life. ” 49

Importance of Monthly Outings §Application §There action limitations in whatever we try to teach on Sunday. We do better when our Sunday lessons are fortified, through the experience of doing at another place and time. This is where Scouting becomes the laboratory for Aaronic Priesthood holders. 50

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Duty to God and Venturing § Many Venturing requirements can fulfill goals and requirements of the Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God Program. § So run a consolidated program! “On my honor, I will do my best to do my Duty to 52

Duty To God & Scouting If you plan carefully… You can accomplish many Duty to God Requirements through Venturing/Duty to God Mapping Docs at: LDS Venturing Guide 53

Quorum Activity Plan Example Consolidated Program Month JAN FEB Deacon Quorum Activity Plan Lesson/Activity Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood/First Aid Quorum Lesson #22 Mutual: Basic first aid skills Quorum Lesson #1 Mutual: First aid Quorum Lesson #2 Mutual/Combined YM/YW: Frisbee Golf Quorum Lesson #15 Mutual: First aid Campout: Snow camp, survival skills, snow shelters. Testimony of Christ/Physical Fitness Quorum Lesson #38 Mutual: Physical Fitness Quorum Lesson #5 Mutual: Physical Fitness Achievement PDS-2 ED-5 QA-1, 4 SD-4 CSD-1 First aid merit badge PD-7 PDS-10 PD-2 SD-1, 2 Physical Fit. MB 54

Tracking Duty to God § Variety of tools and approaches § Individual § Vertical vs. group vs. horizontal § Formats – Printed (PDF) – Document file – Excel spreadsheet – Stored on Web (Duty. To. God. org) 55

Role of Parents §Parents have the primary responsibility to help your sons succeed. §Become familiar with the guidebooks and review them with your sons. §Help them set and accomplish goals. §Talk with them about their progress, compliment their efforts and sign completed goals. 56

Role of Parents, Leaders, Quorum Pres. §Conduct Role Play – New Quorum Member Visit 57

Other Duty to God Ideas § Conduct Semi-annual Duty to God Firesides with Parents. § Use FHE as a tool to fulfill Duty to God § Read Letter to Elder Dellenbach on Duty to God 58

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