A board of review is scheduled after a Venturer completes the Discovery, Pathfinder, or Summit award requirements. The purpose is to review the quality of the candidate’s experience and, through discussions and stories about the fun, adventure, and benefits of Venturing, to decide whether the Venturer has fulfilled the requirements for the award. But think of the reviews more as group interchanges where a candidate’s peers participate, and are empowered and encouraged to fully engage in all that is said.
Remember, the board of review is not an “examination,” and it is not meant to test a candidate on skills and activities required for an award. They had to use those skills to get to the board. The board of review is more of a conversation with the Venturer to let them share what they want to about the journey. Instead, it is an opportunity to learn about the Venturer’s attitudes, accomplishments, and ideals, as they recall and relive their journeys. You will know you have it right when your Venturing boards of review are fun and rewarding experiences, and every Venturer looks forward to them.
It is recommended that the youth and adults involved in the board of review should review the following guide and award requirements as well as complete the Venturing Board or Review and Venturing Awards Modules through scouting.org.
Remember, the board of review is not an “examination,” and it is not meant to test a candidate on skills and activities required for an award. They had to use those skills to get to the board. The board of review is more of a conversation with the Venturer to let them share what they want to about the journey. Instead, it is an opportunity to learn about the Venturer’s attitudes, accomplishments, and ideals, as they recall and relive their journeys. You will know you have it right when your Venturing boards of review are fun and rewarding experiences, and every Venturer looks forward to them.
It is recommended that the youth and adults involved in the board of review should review the following guide and award requirements as well as complete the Venturing Board or Review and Venturing Awards Modules through scouting.org.
Board of Review for Discovery and Pathfinder Awards
Discovery and Pathfinder boards of review consist of the award candidate’s peers in the crew. The board is chaired by the crew president, unless the president is the subject of the board; then a crew vice president becomes the chair. There is no required number of Venturers for the board, but a group of three—the chair and two members—is considered most appropriate. Fewer than that does not fully reflect the importance of the award milestones. The chair selects the other board members from the crew.
Two adults registered with the crew, preferably members of the crew committee, must be present during the board of review in a nonvoting advisory capacity. The crew Advisor and associate Advisors are not members of the board of review, but may be present as observers, and they may serve as one or both of the registered adults present. At no time should there be more adults than Venturers present at a board of review. The Venturer’s parents, relatives, or guardian should not be in attendance in any capacity.
During the Venturing Board of Review the candidate guides the discussion during the review. The board should try to ask questions which guide the candidate to discuss their experiences as they relate to Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth, and Service. A discovery or Pathfinder board of review should last about 30 minutes, however please be sure that both board members and the candidate have enough time to touch on every subject.
After the board of review, the candidate will wait outside the meeting room while the board makes the decision with the majority vote required, the board chair casts the deciding vote in the presence of a tie. The board can call the Venturer back in for any needed clarification, however, the board should not be asking new questions or bringing up any new information not previously discussed in the review. If the advancement is approved call the candidate in and congratulate the Venturer on earning their advancement. The board of review date becomes the effective date of the award.
If the board determines the candidate has not fulfilled the requirements:
Two adults registered with the crew, preferably members of the crew committee, must be present during the board of review in a nonvoting advisory capacity. The crew Advisor and associate Advisors are not members of the board of review, but may be present as observers, and they may serve as one or both of the registered adults present. At no time should there be more adults than Venturers present at a board of review. The Venturer’s parents, relatives, or guardian should not be in attendance in any capacity.
During the Venturing Board of Review the candidate guides the discussion during the review. The board should try to ask questions which guide the candidate to discuss their experiences as they relate to Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth, and Service. A discovery or Pathfinder board of review should last about 30 minutes, however please be sure that both board members and the candidate have enough time to touch on every subject.
After the board of review, the candidate will wait outside the meeting room while the board makes the decision with the majority vote required, the board chair casts the deciding vote in the presence of a tie. The board can call the Venturer back in for any needed clarification, however, the board should not be asking new questions or bringing up any new information not previously discussed in the review. If the advancement is approved call the candidate in and congratulate the Venturer on earning their advancement. The board of review date becomes the effective date of the award.
If the board determines the candidate has not fulfilled the requirements:
- Inform the candidate what needs to be done
- Do not reveal specifies about discussions
- The candidate has the ability to appeal the decision for the Discovery and Pathfinder board of reviews
- Candidate can reapply for a new board of review before their 21st birthday
- It is recommended that the same board members participate in the new board of review at the reapply date.
Questions for Discovery and Pathfinder Boards of Reviews
These are suggested questions for different awards based on the requirements, but the board needs to make sure they are talking about all aspects of the APLS method
- Adventure Questions --> Discovery Award
These are suggested questions for different awards based on the requirements, but the board needs to make sure they are talking about all aspects of the APLS method
- Adventure Questions --> Discovery Award
- Tell us about the adventures you most enjoyed
- What made those adventures fun?
- Talk about an adventure that took you out of your comfort zone and how the experience impacted you
- What is the best story you have from these adventures?
- Describe your most beneficial adventure, as well as what made it so impactful.
- Tell us what you would change about the crew's adventures - discuss any strengths and weaknesses regarding your experience.
- Tell us about the adventures you led and describe what went well and what you would change.
- Describe the parts of your vision that were accomplished and what still needs to be fulfilled.
- What leadership course did you attend?
- Describe how you benefitted form the course.
- How could the course been better?
- Share a story about your experiences as a leader.
- Share how you have been able to use what you learned.
- What do you feel is the greatest benefit you have enjoyed from Venturing?
- Which areas of personal growth have you explored?
- Tell us something you witnessed or participated in that brought one of the points of the Scout Law to Life.
- Share how your experiences in Venturing have exemplified one of the ideals expressed in the Scout Oath.
- BE AWARE! During a Board of Review the candidate may but are not required to share a personal refection within one of the areas (Development of Faith, Self, Others) if they do not want to share the board cannot hold this against the Venturer in the award decision process.
- Described a service you performed
- Share how providing that service made you feel.
- How do you feel that experience has changed you?
- Explain how the service made a difference in the lives of others.
Board of Review for Summit Award
The Summit Award—Venturing’s highest—represents a new milestone of accomplishment. Servant leadership and community service are the cornerstones, as the Summit Award recipient becomes a mentor to others and sets examples of excellence. The board of review, thus, should be a celebratory experience, where the fun, adventures, and benefits of the program are recounted much like stories around the campfire or the dining table.
The Summit Award board of review is chaired by a representative of the local council or district advancement committee. The chair must take Board of Review training and Awards training, must be at least 21 years old, and understand the Venturing program. The chair may cast a vote. The board is composed of Venturers, adult volunteers, and, if possible, a representative of the community who is well respected and who may add an element of prestige to the meeting. The two Venturers can be members of the Council, Territory, or National VOA who currently hold office. One must be from the candidate's crew. It is preferred that at least one of the youth should be holders of Summit Award, Silver Award, Eagle Scout, Quartermaster, or Girl Scout Gold Award who are also active Venturers. The board must include one adult advisor in addition to the chair who is registered with the BSA and is involved in the candidate crew and who works regularly with Venturing. There should also be at least one well respected member of the community and they do not have to be currently registered with BSA. The board of review must consist of at least five, but no more than six, members. At least one half of the members, excluding the chair, must be Venturers currently participating in the program.
The Summit Award board of review is chaired by a representative of the local council or district advancement committee. The chair must take Board of Review training and Awards training, must be at least 21 years old, and understand the Venturing program. The chair may cast a vote. The board is composed of Venturers, adult volunteers, and, if possible, a representative of the community who is well respected and who may add an element of prestige to the meeting. The two Venturers can be members of the Council, Territory, or National VOA who currently hold office. One must be from the candidate's crew. It is preferred that at least one of the youth should be holders of Summit Award, Silver Award, Eagle Scout, Quartermaster, or Girl Scout Gold Award who are also active Venturers. The board must include one adult advisor in addition to the chair who is registered with the BSA and is involved in the candidate crew and who works regularly with Venturing. There should also be at least one well respected member of the community and they do not have to be currently registered with BSA. The board of review must consist of at least five, but no more than six, members. At least one half of the members, excluding the chair, must be Venturers currently participating in the program.
For the Summit Award, a youth must carry out a service project. A youth may begin working on the project proposal any time after successfully competing the Pathfinder Board of Review. After completing APLS Requirements and Service project the candidate must complete the Advisor conference. Application and service project booklet are submitted to the local council service center after the Advisor conference. The council should then submit the application to the Board of Review Chair.
A Summit Board of Review is scheduled once the council verifies the application. All Board members should meet prior to the board of review to go over the candidate's application and service project workbook. A Summit Board of Review should last about 45 minutes. The candidates discusses experiences, accomplishments and benefits and plans for the future. Through this discussion the board should touch on ALPS Method.
A Summit Board of Review is scheduled once the council verifies the application. All Board members should meet prior to the board of review to go over the candidate's application and service project workbook. A Summit Board of Review should last about 45 minutes. The candidates discusses experiences, accomplishments and benefits and plans for the future. Through this discussion the board should touch on ALPS Method.
After the board of review, the candidate will wait outside the meeting room while the board makes the decision with the majority vote required, the board chair casts the deciding vote in the presence of a tie. The board can call the Venturer back in for any needed clarification, however, the board should not be asking new questions or bringing up any new information not previously discussed in the review. If the advancement is approved call the candidate in and congratulate the Venturer on earning their advancement. The board of review date becomes the effective date of the award.
If the board determines the candidate has not fulfilled the requirements:
For a Summit Board of Review meeting minutes is highly recommended to be recorded and may be used to compose the follow-up letter. This will also be helpful with the reapply process. The minutes must be destroyed after the follow-up letter or after the reapply date.
After the Review, regardless of the outcome, the board chair notifies the Crew Advisor and the local council of board's decision.
If the board determines the candidate has not fulfilled the requirements:
- Inform the candidate what needs to be done
- Do not reveal specifies about discussions
- Candidate can reapply for a new board of review before their 21st birthday
- It is recommended that the same board members participate in the new board of review at the reapply date.
For a Summit Board of Review meeting minutes is highly recommended to be recorded and may be used to compose the follow-up letter. This will also be helpful with the reapply process. The minutes must be destroyed after the follow-up letter or after the reapply date.
After the Review, regardless of the outcome, the board chair notifies the Crew Advisor and the local council of board's decision.
Questions for Summit Boards of Review
These are suggested questions for awards based on the requirements, but the board needs to make sure they are talking about all aspects of the APLS method
- Adventure Questions
These are suggested questions for awards based on the requirements, but the board needs to make sure they are talking about all aspects of the APLS method
- Adventure Questions
- Tell us about the adventures, either with the crew or outside the crew
- Which adventures did you lead and how did they go?
- What lessons did you learn?
- Did leading an adventure make it more or less enjoyable?
- Focus should be on the importance of taking and accepting responsibility, providing support, and strong examples behind the scenes.
- Tell us about your experience serving as a mentor to the leader of an adventure.
- Did everything go the way you thought it should?
- What would you do differently next time?
- Part of the Personal Growth should be about the personal Code of Conduct of the candidate and how they developed that code.
- What benefits have you gotten from Venturing Program?
- Tell us something you witnessed or participated in that brought one of the points of the Scout Law to Life.
- Share how your experiences in Venturing have exemplified one of the ideals expressed in the Scout Oath.
- BE AWARE! During a Board of Review the candidate may but are not required to share a personal refection within one of the areas (Development of Faith, Self, Others) if they do not want to share the board cannot hold this against the Venturer in the award decision process.
- Describe your service projects
- Share how providing that service made you feel.
- How do you feel that experience has changed you?
- How did people react to it?
- Explain how the service made a difference in the lives of others.
Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if you would like the BRMC VOA President and Advisor to help you learn more about Venturing Board of Reviews or if you would like assistance in conducting a Board of Review within your unit.